What an incredible start to this Crew SZN! So many people gathered across Miami and beyond in Crews, and even in the off month, so many people asking to still join in crew! The many stories of transformation through crew, I can’t wait to hear what God does this SZN not only through each of you in crew but in you as well.

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To start the SZN, I want to start with the why. Why do we have crew?

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Do you know when the first small group took place? Yes, while the first small group at VOUS took place 10 years ago, think back further. We have evidence that back in Acts, people were meeting in small groups. 

In Acts 2:42–47 it tells us, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

So they heard the messages that were being preached by the apostles and broke it down in groups while eating and fellowshipping. Isn’t it wild that 2000 years later we still follow that same model? 

When you look at the scriptures, you see how as they continued to gather, God continued to move in souls around them. As they gathered, they gave back to their community around them. They became more hungry for God’s word, not just in the temple, but in their homes as well. And God is still doing the same today! As we continue to meet in crews, we continue to see lives being transformed in crew. How do I know? You are living proof of this! 

Do you remember the first time you came to crew? Do you remember why you stayed? Do you remember the transformation that took place by going to church and breaking down that message in crew while hanging with others? And now what God did in you, He’s doing the same in your crew. And as we gather in crew, we take time every month to be the hands and feet and serve our community through ILMC. We take time to love on the people around us. We come together for those in need and celebrate people too, just like they did in Acts.

The same way God used the first small group leaders in Acts is the same way He’s using every single one of you today. I’m excited to continue to see how God is transforming lives through crew and how He uses me in His process. 

Through this, let’s keep this momentum going, let’s keep letting God use us in His process of transforming, discipling, and changing lives around us as we gather in Crew this week!

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