Victory Weekend
By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Victory Weekend, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, Southeast celebrated the 2,765 individuals who made decisions to be baptized or become members of the church in 2011. It’s a traditional celebration at Southeast to stop and thank God for all He has done.
As the worship team at each campus sang “Oh happy day, happy day that took my sins away,” hundreds of new members on all three campuses were escorted to the
front of each Sanctuary to celebrate what God has done.
People in the procession were all ages from grandparents to young children, men, women, children, young couples, teenagers and whole families.
Once all new members were on stage, there were whistles, cheers and loud applause.
“In 2011, God did something spectacular,” said Senior Minister Dave Stone. “We are grateful for every story of life change. The great composer Johann Sebastian
Bach signed S.D.G. on the music he wrote, which stood for Soli Deo Gloria, ‘to God alone be the glory.’
You have decided to sign S.D.G. on your life. You are saying, ‘All I do, I want God to receive all the glory and honor.’”
Stone called the sea of new members “humbling.”
In reviewing what God has done this year, Oldham Pastor Kurt Sauder said the 2,700 people who launched the Oldham Campus are full of passion and energy for
new life in Christ. Indiana Pastor Eddie Johnson said that campus grew 20 percent in 2011, and life change is evident.
Stone said the weekend 686 were baptized at Southeast’s three campuses was one of the most incredible weekends of his life.
“At the Blankenbaker Campus, 120 were in line waiting to be baptized,” he said. “And each one had a story.”
Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman told of a Presbyterian minister who approached him. At first, he thought he might want to debate the merits of baptism. Instead, he
wanted to be immersed.
Stone told the story of an assistant football coach at the University of Louisville who called after losing the game to the University of Cincinnati earlier that afternoon.
“We lost this afternoon, but I’m ending the day with a win,” he said.
Stone encouraged new members to begin their journey in Christ-likeness.
“When you give your life to Christ, the past doesn’t count,” Stone said. “God says your slate is wiped clean. His unconditional love accepts you just as you are, but he
loves you too much to leave you there. Put Christ on the throne of your life and keep Him there.”
He challenged everyone to a new mission.
“You should be a walking advertisement of the difference Jesus can make in someone’s life,” Stone said.