Stacey and I are in New Jersey right now so I can interview for a lead pastor position.  Yesterday we got to ride a train and a ferry into New York City.  It was almost surreal at first.  It was like I’d been there before, even though I’d never been there.  Most of the things I saw have been on TV or in movies, so in many ways I felt like I’d already been there.

There were two things that really caught me off guard though.  The first thing was the scale.  I felt tiny among all the giant buildings.  I was even surprised how small the Statue of Liberty looked when compared to the buildings on either side of the Hudson River.  The second thing that was a little surprising to me was the population density.  I knew this is the most densely populated part of our country, but that knowledge didn’t prepare me for the reality.  It was stunning walking around the city seeing millions upon millions of people who don’t know Christ.

Many churches are growing like never before in the history of our country, but no matter how successful some churches may become, the truth is brutal:  we are losing the battle for the souls of our country.  I’ve always lived with a sense of urgency about evangelism, but after seeing New York City, that sense has been heightened even more.  I was broken by the sheer volume of people navigating life without the hope of Christ.

Our mission in important, folks.  Whether you’re in New York, Oklahoma, California, Idaho or Alabama, please “start spreading the news”.  Let’s get on it!