Monday, January 26, 2009

Numbers

Yesterday was an interesting day of numbers for me. When we moved into our current church campus, the city of Rolling Meadows fire department regulations required us to keep an attendance count of our meetings. Thus, Benny and/or Mel take a count at some point in each service.

Our morning attendance was 176 in the main service with another 46 kids in three “children’s church” meetings. That’s about the usual count. What was interesting was that Lou told me that we had exactly 100 Internet hookups. Each hookup represents at least one, but often more, individuals (one group out west has some 40 regular participants). It is a great way to expand attendance! We had 54 hookups for the evening study.

During the afternoon, after I took Cynthia to the airport (she is now in Florida to help with the birth of our 8th grandchild—David and Stacy will soon join the “three boy” club), there were a number of folks doing various Grace Impact Ministries tasks. I volunteered to put postage on this week’s mailing to our radio and TV responders.

I was amazed to learn there were 56 packages to send out, containing a total of 49 new contacts! Tom Bruscha sent me a note that there were some 51 responses to Forgotten Truths last week. Think about it: That’s exactly 100 new contacts for the message of grace last week!

By the way, the Grace Impact/Grace School of the Bible ministries have expanded into a four-office suit—along with two additional production offices—in the church building. We still have several “off site” offices but having more things under one roof makes us more efficient in many ways. All of these ministries—GIM, GSB or Shorewood Bible Church—are really one in heart and spirit, living examples of what Paul called “fellowship in the gospel.”

Maranatha!

2 comments:

Lking said...

Brother Richard,
Your numbers are fantastic. We enjoy hooking up by internet as there are no Grace Churches in South Alabama. I wish some or one of your students would plant a Church in South Alabama. All we have are the regular demoninations here.

I enjoy your blog very much.
God Bless You!

yuno_wye said...

Really enjoy the Forgotten Truths TV programs and the downloadable sermons from the Sherwood website also!!! There are no churches in central Virginia that rightly divide the Holy Bible. We had been watching Les Feldick for a number of years and later on found your program on the same channel. Found a few people on facebook and myspace who are also dispensational believers who also enjoy you and Les. Paul is the same to us as Moses was to the Jews, the Lord used them to speak to the people He was dealing with at that time. Again, thank you and your staff for such wonderful programs!