Posted by Tiffany Cooper

… As Easter weekend approaches, churches are preparing to reach as many people as possible with the redemptive message of Christ. Many are planning community outreaches, special services and utilizing creative elements. It’s a time of anticipation and excitement!

For some of you, this may be your first Easter in a ministry role. I remember my first Easter as a church planter. Want to know what I remember about that first Easter? It’s not what you think! Although most of that Easter is a blur, I clearly remember trying to decide what to wear. The decision was not made lightly. Oh no, much thought went into that first Easter ensemble.

I came from a more traditional church where special Easter dresses were an event. As a church plant, we were purposefully making decisions to reach people in the city who were outside the church walls, people who may never have entered church walls. Every decision mattered, even what I was going to wear for Easter. I didn’t want to be too dressy because I wanted everyone to feel comfortable. Embarrassing enough, I even remember thinking that I should at least wear an “Easter-like” color if I wasn’t going to wear a dress.

It seems a little silly now but that’s how passionate I felt about reaching people far from God. Every decision set the tone. Today, I don’t lose sleep over my Easter outfit but I do feel incredibly passionate about reaching people with the amazing truth of God’s love. Although my Easter experiences vary, they all carry urgency for life change.

Whether this is your first Easter in a ministry role or your 50th, it matters in the kingdom. What you do, whether big or small, will make a  difference!

Leading ladies, we would love to hear one of your Easter memories.  Something on the lighter side, like an outfit? Something powerful, like life change? Favorite memory?

Posted by Lori Wilhite

Jesus + Twenty-six people + an audacious faith = Fifty years of life change.

A few weeks ago we celebrated our church’s 50th Birthday. We celebrated God moving in people’s lives over the last 50 years.

Central started with twenty-six people. Twenty-six people who had no idea what God was going to do, but were willing to step out in faith and sacrifice to follow Him wherever He would lead. Twenty-six people who didn’t have a pastor but had someone better, they had Jesus. Twenty-six people who believed that if they anchored themselves in the Bible and dedicated themselves to sharing the love of Jesus Christ maybe, just maybe, God could make an amazing difference in Sin City.

If your church is in the launch phase, has recently launched, is a few years old, or is decades old, be encouraged. God took the acts of faith of twenty-six ordinary people in one of America’s most unlikely cities and used them in incredible ways. You never know what God is going to do through His church, you and your team. You never know the plan that He’s already working in your ministry. Hold tightly to the calling God has on your life. Cling to the vision that He has for your ministry. Work hard, serve humbly, and love well.

We’d love to hear about your church! How long has God been using it in your community? What do you know of its history?

Posted by Lori Wilhite

Over the last month, we’ve been dancing around some big news that Brandi and I have been waiting to share.

Yes, we have JustONE starting Monday. Monday!! We’re excited to kick it off!

And, we have new Virtual Community Groups launching Monday as well! If you aren’t in a group, well, you’re really missing out. They’re fantastic.

And, before we know it, we’ll be Road Tripping to Retreat … and really hope you’ll be able to join us!

But, today we get to announce our other piece of news that we’ve had tucked in our pockets.

Because …. It’s officially official.

Brandi and I are currently writing our first book for Pastors’ Wives and Women in Ministry, in partnership with the fabulous team at Hachette and Faith Words. We’re tackling the challenges of leadership that keep ladies from embracing the joy that they can experience in this call that God has on their lives. Our hope is that we can encourage women to … dare I say it … lead and love it.

We would absolutely covet your prayers during this time as we work on this project.

Please pray for God’s guidance in the creative process so that we can clearly communicate the message that He would have us share.

Pray for lots of energy and caffeine as we attempt to write around our kids’ school and bedtime schedules.

And pray that God will multiply our efforts many fold as we seek to continue to serve our families, churches, and this community well.

We love you ladies and have been so blessed and inspired by you over the last (almost) five years.

We’re now accepting lots of writing advice and pep-talks! 🙂

We pray your families have an incredible Christmas as you worship, serve, and share Jesus. We love you ladies and will see you again in January. Have a blessed few weeks!

Pete, Brandi, Jett, Gage, and Brewer Wilson

Herbert, Tiffany, Cale, Cade, Caris, and Case Cooper

David, Lisa, Charlie, Victoria, and Zane Hughes

Bil, Jessica, Mason, Cole, and Sophie Cornelius