WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Tag Archive | Nashville Flood
Tag Archive - Nashville Flood

God’s Perfect Timing

May 24, 2010 in Cross Point Church, Multi Campus with 34 Comments

I don’t normally write blog posts that update you on Sunday’s activities, but I had to take a moment to stop and celebrate with my online friends. God has been doing an amazing work at Cross Point for years, but the past 3 weeks have been simply amazing. Thousands of volunteers out serving and loving on their community has changed us, proving once again that there is often a close relationship between crisis and transformation.

Yesterday, God gave us the privilege of opening our fourth campus right smack in the middle of one of the hardest hit areas of Nashville. To be honest the Bellevue campus was supposed to open back in January. At least that was our original plan. Buying the build took longer than we expected. Building out the building took longer than we expected. And if I’m really honest I wasn’t really happy about it. Opening a campus in late May is not what we call “wise strategy” in the church world.

But once again God showed His timing and His wisdom champion all (one day I’ll learn). Opening the Bellevue campus after having the opportunity to serve so many of our neighbors impacted by the flood was amazing. Around 1,200 people showed up for opening day (proving acting like Jesus is really the best marketing)!  I saw a twitter yesterday afternoon that made me tear up. My friend Lisa twittered:

Cost to repair our flood damaged home… $50K.  Sitting next to our neighbors at church we’ve prayed about for years…. Priceless.

Here’s a couple pics from the launch…

Thanks to each one of you who have made commitments to Faith, Hope & Love. Your faithful giving is making all of this possible. Cross Point, I’m so proud to be one of your pastors!

Beautiful Things

May 15, 2010 in Missions with 13 Comments

Getting ready to go out and join a bunch of Cross Point volunteers at the Cross Point Bellevue campus for a day of flood relief in our community. If you want to join us you can meet us out there at 9 am.

I can’t be out there all day as I also have a book signing at Life Way Christian store downtown from 11-1 with my friend Angie. If you’re in town drop by and see us!

Just finished listening to this song which we did last Sunday at all of our campuses. It’s my inspiration for the day. Haven’t been able to get it out of my head all week.

Nashville Flood Cleanup Continues

May 13, 2010 in Missions with 19 Comments

NASHVILLE FLOOD: Volunteer Highlight from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

I might be even more proud of our Cross Point volunteers this week than last week. Last week we were running on pure adrenaline. This week the people serving are doing so out of pure commitment.

While a lot of the “sexy” clean up is over there is still so much work needed to be done. The hurting people of Nashville need our help.

Here are two immediate serving opportunities if you’re interested.

You can meet this morning at the Cross Point Nashville campus at 9am, or really anytime in the morning, and we’ll send you out with a team.

Then on Saturday we’re partnering with Way FM to impact our city. If you’re interested in helping with flood relief just meet us at the Cross Point Bellevue campus at 9 AM. Last week we had 1,600 volunteers come out and this weekend I’m again praying for 2000!

I continue to be blown away with the unique opportunities we believe God is giving us to make a difference here in Nashville. Thanks for your relentless help.

If you know of anyone who still needs assistance have them email us at help@crosspoint.tv.

Measuring Growth

May 11, 2010 in Leadership, Spiritual Growth with 62 Comments

As Cross Point has grown I’ve had to listen to the uninformed critics often claim that “we’re a mile wide and an inch deep.” It’s always seemed funny to me that people automatically assume that a growing church must also be a church that is somehow watering down the Gospel.

I’m part of a small team here at Cross Point which is studying spiritual formation. We are more committed then ever before to helping people become radically devoted to Christ.  We’re asking questions like…

-How do you measure spiritual growth?

-What practices do we need to encourage among our attendees to develop sustained spiritual growth?

-What expectations should the church have for people when it comes to them becoming more like Christ?

I’m discovering it’s a lot easier to measure attendance and offering than matters of the heart and that’s probably why we’re often tempted to measure our church’s success based on those two factors.

While we’ve got a long way to go and spiritual formation cannot be solely measured by our desire to serve our neighbors in need, it certainly can be a sign of health.

Most of you are familiar with the text in Matthew often referred to as the Great Commandment.

Matthew 22: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

I’ve been amazed at the national attention Cross Point has received for simply loving their neighbors over the past week. Our church has caught the eye of the local press, national talk shows, CNN, and I even heard Senator Lamar Alexander on the news thanking Cross Point on the Senate floor yesterday for our service to the community of Nashville.

I believe a church or any organization for that matter will see what it’s really made up of in moments of crisis and pressure. I’m very proud watching how Cross Point is responding in the middle of one of the greatest tragedies our city has ever faced.

If this is what a mile wide and an inch deep looks like, than you can call me shallow any day!

Besides serving what attitudes and actions do you think the church should be looking for when measuring spiritual growth?

Wet Work

May 8, 2010 in Cross Point Church, Missions with 11 Comments

I shot this video on my iphone while we were working yesterday in a flooded home. This will give you an idea of what most of our teams are facing day in and day out. Remember this was shot on day 5 of relief work.

Flooded House from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.

Today we’re blowing it out. Praying 2,000 volunteers come out to help us continue to bring hope to the hopeless. Let’s go Cross Point!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

May 7, 2010 in Cross Point Church, Missions with 43 Comments

Our teams spent another day (day 4)  out amongst the flooded homes of Nashville ripping up carpet, cutting out drywall and helping clean up. We ran into a contractor who was actually charging $8,000 to do what one of our teams is doing for FREE in about two hours.

In another crazy set of circumstances I got to sit down with Anderson Cooper on the set of his show for a quick dinner over pizza as we talked about flooding, importance of volunteerism, social media, and life.

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No! We did not coordinate our outfits. :)

Most profound statement he said to me came after I asked him, “How is it that you live in such crisis every day?  You go from one painful event to the next and the next and the next.” He said. “Pete, when you’ve experienced as much pain as I have you actually become more comfortable being with people who are also in pain. At least they’re real. No masks.”  Interesting. Might have to explore that further one day. He mentioned the Tennessee Flood Fund we started on his show last night and we’re praying it will generate some much needed financial assistance for those suffering major setbacks here in Nashville.

Love this short video  Matt Singleton put together. It still gives me chills to think we were riding on a boat through the neighborhoods of Nashville.

Have I told you lately how proud I am of you Cross Point!! It’s amazing how you guys keep going. You’re kicking exhaustion and sleep depravity in the teeth and I love it. You’re making a difference. Keep it up. Today is our last weekday to be out in the streets and it all culminates Saturday with a MASSIVE serving Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m.

I’m praying for 2,000 volunteers to show up!! You won’t want to miss being part of the day that Cross Point rises up and impacts this city by loving on our neighbors. On Saturday you can either go to the Belleuvue campus or the Nashville campus. You choose. See you there at 9 a.m. For any help, or further directions, you can always go to crosspoint.tv for more information.

Local Businesses Partner for Flood Relief

May 6, 2010 in Cross Point Church with 7 Comments

I had the opportunity to talk with Eric Berg of August Enterprises about the incredible spirit of volunteerism that is making THE difference in the relief effort in Nashville. The entire August Enterprises staff took a day from the office to come work with us in homes and communities in middle Tennessee. If you are a manager, owner,  or a president of an organization, we encourage you to consider the incredible opportunity of allowing your staff to serve the individuals and families in our community.

Your team can meet us tomorrow at the Bellevue Campus at 9:00 a.m. or Saturday morning for a HUGE “Serving Saturday” (I’m praying for 2,000 volunteers) at either the Nashville campus or the Bellevue campus at 9:00 am. For more information go to crosspoint.tv.

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