David Whiting Live

Video & Baptism from Sunday (a video) - Don't Miss This!

On Sunday, we had an amazing story and baptism. If you were at the first service, you saw the story, but not the baptism. So here they are together (from the 2nd service).

I love this story! These stories never get old.

And tomorrow is going to be great too! I am looking forward to starting the new series (a week late). And there are two more baptisms.

Here's the video:

2012.01.08 - Maureen Hibbard Baptism.

If you receive this by email - click HERE to see it.

A Baptism Invitation (for Northridge) - this is really cool!!

This month a young woman will be getting baptized at Northridge and she posted a FACEBOOK update to invite people. She's been attending a small group and Starting Point. With her permission, I wanted you to read it. Take a look! It's awesome! Could baptism be any more clear?

How it works: After the worship band (read: a band that plays contemporary Christian music) sings for about 10-15 minutes, the pastor gives a 30ish minute sermon (read: a talk) before the band plays again. At some point during this process, a video of me will be introduced and shown. This video (called a testimony) is just me talking to a camera for a few minutes describing how I came to choose to follow Jesus. There's a pool of waist-deep water right in the front, and I'll walk out into it as the video is playing. Once it's done, I'll under go a full immersion baptism (read: I'll be dunked under water for a few seconds). I'll be wearing a t-shirt and shorts. (Totally legit question, if you ask me. I was curious about how that worked too.) 

Here's a link to my church's website, it can give you a better idea of what the environment is like there: www.northridgerochester.com. It's very casual - please be comfortable. Jeans/sweaters/sweatshirts are what most people wear.

The baptism lasts about 5 minutes; the service lasts about an hour. 

I'm choosing to do this because Bible calls us to get baptized, so I will be doing so as an act of obedience to God and a public acknowledgement of my belief in Jesus Christ. I do not believe that doing this saves me from Hell; I believe (because the Bible says) that only believing in Jesus can do that. 

I know church can be intimidating. I avoided it for years. If you are coming and are not comfortable going alone, please let me know. I have lots of friends at church and would be happy to make sure you have someone to sit with. I realize I invited all my Facebook friends to this, but do not let that convince you that I don't care if you come. If we are friends, it would mean a lot to me if you came. If we're not really anymore, I'd love the opportunity to reconnect.

Afterward, I'll hang out by the info desk in the front lobby if anyone wants to say Hi. 

Jessy

PS - There are lots of people who have helped (and continue to help) me on this life-long journey, but I've chosen this photo as my event picture as a shout out to Lindy and Heidi. They both live out of state and can't attend but have been so vital to my journey - they bought me a Bible and answered endless questions and accusations about God. They are still a crucial part of my support system. Thanks guys :)

The PRODUCT Goal of Northridge Church

Here is a great quote by Peter Drucker (1909-2005):

All nonprofits have one essential product: a changed human being.

I think it probably should say, "All nonprofits SHOULD have..." or "All successful nonprofits have..." Northridge Church ought to be designed to be nothing less than an agent of supernatural transformation of lives.

It Doesn't Get Better Than This (Tomorrow)!!

Tomorrow we have four more baptisms.  At the first service, two teens will get baptized. In both cases, dads will be baptizing their daughters! How cool! I baptized all three of my daughters and there is nothing like it!

At the second service, a new Christian will be baptizing her parents. There is NOTHING better than that.  She, herself, came to Christ a couple of years ago and was baptized last year. Now, she will be baptizing both her parents, who have become Christ-followers in the last year. And her dad trusted Christ on Easter!  That TRULY is what all of this is about. Seeing people follow and trust in Jesus and turning around and helping those they love to follow and trust in Jesus.

And don't forget - the services times are at 9:00 and 10:45.  If you want to see all the baptisms - we will probably put them online, but if you want to see them live, you will need to come to the first service and stick around for the first ten or fifteen minutes of the second service.

Laying Down Ladders @ Northridge - Easter Sunday Summary

Hey Northridge... Here are a couple of updates - some amazing news from Sunday:

1. If you missed Easter Sunday, this was a Sunday you will want to see.  You can watch the sermon (and the laying down of ladders) HERE.
   
   
2. We had 111 ladders put in offering baskets on Sunday!  WOW!
   
   
3. We had 41 people turn in cards with their contact information - saying that they were laying their ladders down and placing their faith in Christ!
   
   
4. Our firstfruits offering for CREATING SPACES was $221,231!
   
   
5. We had 1793 people show up at Northridge on Sunday.

Amazing! I'm so thankful for all God is doing!

How Big Is "Supper?"

It is hard to describe the great joy of working with new believers. Recently I received an email from a couple wondering if they should feed their children before coming for "The Lord's Table." They didn't know if it was a snack or a meal, and whether it would be enough food to fill their stomachs. I LOVE the freedom and innocence of that question, and it was a reminder that as focused as we are on new believers, I still use insider language that doesn't make sense to everyone. I've got a lot of learning to do.

And maybe it says more about me than I want to admit. Maybe the answer would be different if we did the "The Lord's Table" (as we call it) more like the 1st century church.  So - who is the one who was thinking closer to 1st century culture? I don't think it was me...

Kelli's Story - An AMAZING Video... worth your time

I love Kelli's story.  We showed it in church a couple of weeks ago, but wanted to be sure everyone got a chance to see it. It will be worth a few minutes of your day!

Kelli's Testimony from David Whiting on Vimeo.

I LOVE that she specifically thanks those who have given to the building - to reach people just like her!

 

Small Groups = Changed Lives

I love our small group ministry at Northridge! I rarely go a week without hearing a story of how God is using a small group in someone's life.  In fact, this Sunday - everyone at Northridge will hear a great baptism story and the impact of a small group on one man's life.

Here is a recent email I received from another person at Northridge (shared with permission):

Thank you for instituting small groups at Northridge. Last night as our group sang worship songs in the hosts' living room, a wonderful sense of family came over me as I realized how much we are getting to know and trust each other. Two years ago, this kind of fellowship, that would have seemed so foreign and uncomfortable to me, has now become something wonderful that I crave. I know it is God changing my heart, slowly, and I am truly thankful for what is happening. Praying and opening up with guys I trust is powerful - everybody is facing difficulties, but sharing and facing those daily difficulties with Christian brothers who love me and care about me and who pray for me is more than just a comfort; It is God working and living through people and touching people like me. And it is changing my heart in ways I never expected. I'm not just on the receiving end, as I also sense when God is working through me to minister to another brother, and that too is wonderful. ...Be encouraged that the small seeds you planted two years ago (in encouraging us to join a small group) are reaping a harvest of healing and of opportunities to genuinely bear each others' burdens. Small groups are a wonderful blessing, and your leadership and your life example had a major role in helping us discover the joys and benefits of small group participation. I'm very thankful God has you leading and teaching people like me the way to live a life honoring Jesus Christ.

We have 126 small group leaders at Northridge. Thank you, small group leaders, for all you do to make a difference in people's lives. I love parnering with you for Kingdom advancement.

"What Do You Mean You Don't Want to Go Visit Your Cousins?!?!?"

I hesitate to write this blog because I know it annoys people when parents brag about their children. So - let me say... this blog isn't bragging about my children... (try to be gracious with me).

This week, I am on a study break away from my family.  Since I'm away, they have planned on leaving Friday and driving to New Jersey to visit Sue's family. My daughters LOVE to be with their cousins. My wife LOVES to be with her sisters and parents. I can't emphasize strongly enough how much they love being with their cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. This summer we were camping with Sue's family and I had to come back to Rochester because we had a guest speaker coming into town.  We let the girls keep camping - just because they LOVE being with the fam. And we are SO thankful for that.  (OK, I'm getting to the point.)

So back to this week... When I told Emily that they were headed to New Jersey for the weekend, her first question was, "Are we going to miss church on Sunday?" I LOVE that my daughter's first negative response was about missing church.  Yesterday, our two older girls talked to Sue about staying in town. The reason? They don't want to miss youth group. When Sue told me, I admit, I got sappy and got tears in my eyes...

I am SO thankful that my girls LOVE youth group. I'm so thankful for a youth pastor and wife who love my daughters and my daughters love them. I'm so thankful for youth leaders who are committed to my children and they love and enjoy them. I am SO thankful that my daughters love to serve in High Point and didn't want to miss a Saturday practice. I am SO thankful that my daughters LOVE our church! I love that they believe serving (HIGH POINT, HOT SPOT, Worship leading in youth group) is important enough to miss hanging out with family that they really enjoy.

So my wife and girls will be at Northridge Sunday. I am living my dream... being in a church that my entire family LOVES!

So - THANK YOU Mark, Gretchen, and all the youth leaders! You CAN'T possibly know how thankful Sue and I are for you. I love bragging about you guys! 

(And I think my daughters are great too, but I don't want to annoy anyone by bragging about them.)

Why I Hate Politics - part 2

Yesterday, I mentioned one reason that I dislike politics (you can read that HERE). I would summarize it this way: You can't win your enemies to Christ; you win your friends to Christ, and politics alienate at least 50% of my potential friends.

There is a second reason I dislike politics. Too many Christians talk and live their lives as if politics is the hope for our country and for their future. When challenged, they will say that the country's only hope is Christ, but that only seems to happen once their thinking is challenged. In reality, by what they read, watch, listen to, think about, and say - their hope is found in who gets elected in November every two years.

Years ago, after having the privilege of meeting with Steve Largent (at time the #3 Republican on "the Hill") - I remember being amazed at how a politician has less hope in politics than the average Christian. That interaction changed me. Mr. Largent helped me clearly see that writing legislation for the good of society is a noble, worthy task. Public service is an honorable vocation. But no matter their motivation, politicians can only do so much. What I discovered was not how powerful congressmen are, but how limited their power really is.  All they can actually do is rearrange the yard markers on the playing field of life.

They can't change a human heart.
They can't heal a wounded soul.
They can't turn hatred into love.
They can't bring about repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation or lasting peace.
They can't change someone's eternity.
In other words - politics can't change the world.

The ONLY thing that can bring those miracles is the power of the love of Jesus Christ. That is a love that conquers sin and wipes out shame and heals wounds and reconciles enemies and patches broken dreams and ultimately changes the world - one life at a time.

I don't like politics because it TOO EASILY causes Christ-followers to forget where our hope is. It is always and only - in CHRIST!