January Happenings at our Church

Robby BradfordAlpha, Awake21, Awakening 21, baptism, church growth, Church life, fast, fasting, First Assembly of God Lafayette, life groups, vision1 Comment

January is more than a marking of our planet’s voyage around the sun or a change of the calendar! At Lafayette First Assembly, we like to take the opportunity to invigorate our spiritual lives and ask God to bring change to our circumstances and our hearts. So, here are some things happening at our church in the coming month that … Read More

Us and Them

Robby Bradfordassimilation, Christianity, church growth, Church life, community, fellowship, First Assembly of God Lafayette, leadership, social dynamicsLeave a Comment

I’m working to become a person who constantly realizes it’s not just about “Us and Them”.  The “Us and Them” mentality creeps in easily at church.  Those who are already a part running a particular ministry or enjoy membership in a certain group or have been a part of the church for a long time can easily begin to see … Read More

STORYTELLER–October & November 2011 Series

Robby BradfordChristianity, church growth, Church life, discipleship, First Assembly of God Lafayette, Jesus Christ, New Testament, Sunday themesLeave a Comment

I can’t believe it’s already October!  I’m looking forward to delivering a series of life-changing messages on some of the most famous stories Jesus told. You may know one of Jesus’ primary ways of teaching was through the “parable”–an earthly story that conveys heavenly truth.  These stories are rich in meaning and application. Bring someone to church with you and … Read More

Moving to the Center

Robby Bradfordassimilation, church growth, Church life, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, strategic planLeave a Comment

If you attend First Assembly of God here in Lafayette, you probably have noticed an increase in attendance over the past several months.  For those of you who are interested, here is a quick overview–our average Sunday morning attendance has seen an adult increase of 244 people on average per Sunday in 2011 over the same period in 2010! That … Read More

“Shake a Little Hand, Shake a Hand Next to Ya”

Robby Bradfordassimilation, church growth, Church life, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette1 Comment

Those are the words to a pre-schoolers’ church song that I learned back in the United Methodist Church in Albany, Indiana when I was about 3 years old.  I’m putting them up today because of what a woman said to me yesterday after our 9AM service at First Assembly.  This lady, new to Lafayette, said she loves our church, the … Read More

What’s a Pastor Do, Anyway?

Robby Bradfordchurch growth, Church life, discipleship, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, ministry philosophy, pastorLeave a Comment

I’ve been asked the question a thousand times in a thousand different ways, from the person who knows little about church and thinks I just stand up and talk on Sundays to the person who imagines I simply pray all day long in my office, read the Bible, and have spiritual thoughts.  It’s a question that deserves some exploration. You … Read More

Making Introductions

Robby Bradfordassimilation, church growth, Church life, evangelism, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette1 Comment

These are some thoughts about how our amazing church can become more and more effective at bringing people from the edge of our community in the core of the highly committed people who make First Assembly thrive as it does.  Getting to know more people through introducing yourself to people you don’t know and through introducing them to your social … Read More

Visioneering Process Update

Robby Bradfordchurch growth, Church life, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, strategic planLeave a Comment

For the seven months, our church has been involved in a Strategic Planning Process.  It started in January with a 21 day fast, involving a personal retreat I took to try to hear from God more on the issue of the overall vision, direction and plan for First Assembly. In February, the pastoral staff, the deacons and a few from … Read More