I want to preface this - with a bit of an admission: I am a slacking blogger. I see it, I admit it, I repent of it. Shoot, even this post is over a week old. So - please - forgive my inconsistency, or complete absence rather. Now then, let's move on.
The New Venue - Salt Company (I.C.) started out meeting in the Blue Moose Tap House; and what a great venue! It was downtown, well-known, accessible. However, "the Moose" is also one of the most sought after locations for well-known bands on the Midwest leg of their tour. That being said, some weeks (depending on what 'show's have been promoted) we end up getting bumped.
So...where to? We'd been asking God that same question for well over a month. Finally, after door upon door swung shut - we circled back to a place called "The Fiield House". As one of the barmaids from the Blue Moose explained to us - The Moose and The Field House are essentially both bars. But the difference is the atmosphere and cliental. The Moose - with so many on tap - serves primarily beer. The Field House, on the other hand, is much more of a club - base-thumping music, dancing, and shots. It just feels darker.
As we moved in lighting and gear last Tuesday - we were all given to pause. How is this going to turn out? Will people show up? Will God show up? Can the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ really conquer a place like this? We hit our knees on the sticky, black-light lit floor - and prayed that God would reign in that place. Then Mark suggested that the 8 of us - sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" over the place. The verse, "Holy, Holy, Holy, though the darkness hide Thee - though the eyes of sinful man Thy Glory may not see," seemed rather pertinent. The sound of our voices echoed through that place, almost as a sign of what was to come. It was as if God was calming our hearts for what He was going to do there. And - sure enough - He showed up. People came, His Spirit came, something happened.
It's still amazing to me how God draws people. God draws people, and then, as the Gospel is preached - as Christ is exalted - His Spirit moves in and moves on people's hearts and lives. And yes, that's what 'happened'. As our guys stepped away from the mic during "From the Inside Out" (Hillsong United) - that entire place (that entire bar) was filled with voices just praising Jesus Christ. Even if they didn't know Him - they were drawn into something so full of life.
Of course, there are many, sort of 'side-stories' - worthy of being mentioned here: like the bartender getting caught up in the Truth of God's Word; or the hurting students who came back to receive prayer; or even the barmaids from the Blue Moose, coming over because they didn't want to miss Salt.
All of us - who've ever been in full-time ministry (whatever that means) - we've all spent a good amount of time being "evaluators" - I think I want to spend more time simply being a participant.
For the praise of His Glory.
