We had a MIRACLE EASTER. From our kickoff on Good Friday to Sunday at our last service it was nothing less than a Modern Day Miracle. You could say it was like the Feeding of the 5000.

On Ed Young Blog I read something that I really like:

“Numbers That Count”

Are the overall numbers important? Sure. But for me, it’s the numbers within the numbers that really matter.

We are one church.
We have one vision.
We strive to reach one life at a time with the message of the one true Savior of the world.
Did the numbers meet our expectations? If one person stepped over the line of faith, then the answer is yes. Because that’s the only number that really counts.

Thanks Ed

The Lord is allowing me to Pastor the greatest set of people in the world. Karen and I and the boys are probably no less than 1500 miles away from those Smoky Mountains. We are taking a little break, I will also be taking a blogging break for the next week. Going to see the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

Love Ya

gene

Is this CHURCH CAMPUS a BUZZ or WHAT? Check out our latest donation to, THE LORD’S CHILD, a tractor trailer and our NEW BOX TRUCK. These two invaluable transportation items will help us impact hundreds of thousands of children in the Appalachian Region. Praise the LORD for all He is doing. Chuck and Rosemary Laney Donated the Semi-Trailer. Big Thanks to Chuck and Rosemary for all that you do for these CHILDREN.

Picture Below: Chuck Laney, Luke Laney, Joey Mathews, Me, Darla and Howard Walker

This Easter weekend we are expecting 4500-5000 people to attend one of our 9 services at The Gathering.

Ÿ 4 Children Services for Pre- Registered Children to receive Easter Blessing Baskets and NIKE shoes

Friday @ 5pm & 7pm

Saturday @ 10am & 12noon

Ÿ 5 Easter Services

Saturday @ 5pm & 6:30pm

Sunday @ 9am, 10:30am & 12noon

Come and experience Easter @ The Gathering. You will never be the same again!

UPDATE: Good Friday Over 700 + Children Receive Nike Shoes and Easter Baskets. Another 1000 Register for Saturday.

Check Out Live at 5 we made the NEWS Again!!

gene

A Pastor that is so proud of his staff.

I was so proud of my young Timothy, Joey Mathews, this weekend.  For those of you that were not able to be in a service this weekend, Joey closed out our “Wanted” series.  Joey played football at the University of Tennessee, but this weekend He played on God’s Team and in my opinion He won the SUPERBOWL.  Joey, I know Kristin and Mom and Dad are proud, but tonight YOUR PASTOR IS PROUD OF YOU.  What an honor it is to have Joey and Kristin work with our students.

Question: Where are ALL the PEOPLE coming from?

Answer: OUR GOD is GATHERING HIS PEOPLE!

David May is under strict instruction to not let anyone know what our numerical count is on the weekend. Why? Because the Lord has explicitly told me not to worry about the CROWD, but to worry about HIS PRESENCE and HIS CONVICTING POWER in our services.

However, David did let me know that we had 454 more people this weekend then we had 11 weeks ago.  The Lesson in this is for us to keep dwelling in Unity and Staying Thirsty for HIS PRESENCE and HIS POWER.

I am so pumped about helping 1,680 less fortunate Appalachian Children with Brand New Nike Tennis Shoes and a Free Easter Basket.  500 Families will also be receiving a GIGANTIC BOX of GROCERIES from The LORD’S Child.

Can’t Wait for Easter (All Nine Services)!

Get Involved.

gene

Many of you might know that my oldest son Corey is an avid basketball player. In my own opionion he is pretty darn good. He has the potential to be great if he would work at it. My Seth Alexander is going to be my outdoorsman. We currently are raising our first litter of coon hound puppies together and it is a blast. Never have I been more complete as a father. It is a wonderful privilege to raise these two young men. Outside my relationship with My Lord and my wonderful wife, these two young men are the HIGHLIGHT of my LIFE at 44 years of age. I want Corey to be involved in running one of the cameras at church and work in the MEDIA MINISTRY. Today on the way back from Game Stop Seth could not understand why he could not run a camera at church. Can you imagine Seth running the camera? Karen is watching a movie and Seth is sleeping on the couch. Corey is playing his new game and I am researching on the Internet. Some would say it is boring to just sit at home on Friday night. Not me, I love it!

Thank the Lord for my family. When we work hard at being a good parent or spouse the rewards are tremendous.

We are growing at church! See you at one of the Five Services and don’t forget to sign up to serve in one of our Nine Easter Services.

Pastor Gene

I hate to admit it!!! I came home after church and ate a chicken sandwich and went straight to take a nap. I literally could not move, I have heard of Pastors doing Five Services, but it is another thing to actually do them. Chuck Laney told me on Saturday Night, after the service, that the steel has been delivered. Hallelujah!! I have never been more excited at what our Lord is doing in my life and in the life of our church family. We are growing so fast that it is absolutely imperative for us to protect our UNITY as a church family. As new people begin to join our church family it is extremely important for us to exemplify, Love and Grace and Truth, we don’t have to be involved in this God Thing called The Gathering, WE GET TO. Let me encourage all of our people to recognize that in a Non-Denominational Church it is imperative that we leave our Religious Baggage at the DOOR.

Dr. Falwell, who was one of my heroes, would always say, “I am a friend of anybody that is a friend of JESUS.” I have learned when we are serving we don’t have time to complain. Remember it is your church therefore we must protect the UNITY of it. It seems like the longer I watch the Vision unfold I realize it is so much bigger than me and it is an absolute honor and privilege to be your pastor.

David May let me know that The Lord’s Child registered  1680 children and that we are going to be able to make their Easter just a little brighter with a brand new pair of Nike Tennis Shoes.  Also, we had 500 families that will receive one of our Easter Blessing Baskets packed with food for a fantastic Easter Dinner. And every one of those children will receive their very own Easter Basket. I’m almost positive that the report was 16 different Cities and 8 Counties represented at registration. Tell me The Gathering is not reaching out to this area and the surrounding community. I am so proud of all of our Volunteers…you are the best.

I Love Pastoring The GATHERING!!

gene

P.S. Darla Walker and Terri Danis did a great job on the new Bistro. Don’t forget to pick up a cup of coffee at each service.

Can you believe it? FIVE SERVICES ALL IN 24 HOURS. I have never been more proud of all of our Volunteers than I was this weekend. I love what Max Sherrell said, “We don’t have to do five, we get to do five”.

Many of you know that the Lord does not want me to know the attendance at our church during this season He has me in. He has made it clear to me that I am not to worry about the crowd, but I am to concern myself with feeding His sheep, “Fresh Bread and New Wine”.  David May, who is such a blessing to our church, chased me to my car and let me know that we broke a very interesting attendance record this weekend. That is good, however, I made it clear to him that the Lord wants me to rejoice not over the crowd but rather over His Presence. I will say this to all of you that call The Gathering your church home, I have never been more proud of a group of people.I would be lying if I told you that I was not proud of our growth, but let me make it VERY CLEAR to ALL, I am begging our Lord not for a greater crowd this week, but for GREATER CONVICTION in our services. This journey we are on with Simon Peter is rocking my world. To think, Simon walked with our Lord for only 3 1/2 years and look at how the Lord used him. There is such a sense of REVIVAL in our church. Let me encourage each one of you to protect the unity and pray that the Lord would use us to touch this world.

Don’t forget the 9 Easter Services!

We are going to EXPOSE this County to the “Less Fortunate.”

I’ve heard that steel might be going up this week. Can you believe that?

Pastor Gene