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

Into the Wild–July 2011 Message Series

Robby Bradforddiscipleship, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, Old Testament, preaching, Sunday themes, teaching1 Comment

The upcoming series of messages here at First Assembly of God in Lafayette, Indiana is a nice fit into this midsummer month! Into the Wild will look at the lessons learned by the children of Israel in the desert after they were delivered from Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land. Maybe you’ve experienced a stretch of life where … Read More

Independence Day Celebration SUCCESS

Robby Bradfordchurch growth, Church life, evangelism, First Assembly of God Lafayette, Independence Day Celebration, outreachLeave a Comment

This past Sunday night’s Independence Day Celebration at First Assembly of God in Lafayette, Indiana was amazing!  Beyond the thousands of people who showed up on our grounds, and the thousands more who crowded into the parking lots and streets around the church (creating the most intense traffic I’ve ever seen in Lafayette), the program, games, huge bouncy castles, fair … Read More

Graduate Goes to El Salvador

Robby BradfordAGWM, Assemblies of God, Church life, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, missions1 Comment

Landon Thompson just graduated from McCutcheon High School here in Lafayette, Indiana this past month.  He’s a popular kid who’s been raised by John and Bonnie Thompson who have long emphasized serving, giving, and missions.  Two of his siblings attended a discipleship school called Master’s Commission in Fort Myers, Florida where young people are encouraged to find the anchor to … Read More

First Church of the Fireworks

Robby Bradfordchurch growth, evangelism, first assembly, First Assembly of God Lafayette, Independence Day CelebrationLeave a Comment

This weekend at First Assembly of God in Lafayette, Indiana, we’ll have more people on our grounds and looking at our building and saying the name of our church than at any time during the year.  That’s thanks to a tradition appreciated by our community by putting on a quality fireworks display, along with offering good food, fun for kids, … Read More