It was a joy to see most of you at SoupFest last Sunday. And thanks to all of you who served so well to make it happen. That was a group effort! Our speaker said many interesting things on Sunday. One that stuck out to me was the story of the Sudanese people who had been experiencing what might be called the birth of the church in north Sudan – as very few Christians existed there previously. This Spiritual birth/revival has occurred in the midst of incredible conflict and bloodshed. Not only had the Spirit been at work among seemingly unlikely people to draw them to Christ and making disciples – but they brought this evangelistic enthusiasm with them to Egypt when displaced. What struck me about his telling of the story was the fact that many people had been praying for this and wanting this for a while – but it had not come. Then, all of a sudden God brought people who felt a strong call to make disciples. It reenforced the idea that this kind of evangelistic fervor only comes with and by the Spirit of God. We can make plans all we want, and put forth great efforts at discipleship and evangelism (and we must!), but nothing happens unless the Spirit of God moves. So, if we are going to be an evangelistic and disciple-making church, and I think we must be, then we must first be a praying church, pleading with God to be at work in us and before us and through us. And as we prepare and plan (again, as we must), and take steps to grow in faithfulness as a light for God, let us remember that God must be at work to give increase, or there will be no life at all.