You read that right. Our final service of The Summit 2010 was this evening, but the reality of all we heard and experienced begins now. From the beginning we have prayed for much more than a conference.

Starting tomorrow, teams of people begin to Live Out Loud by engaging in ministries right here in our own city with the goal of continuing their involvement into the future. Some will minister through our outstanding City Union Mission. Some who are skilled in carpentry and other useful skills will be helping out a City Linc. Saturday a group will be doing evangelism and another group will be helping to get the ball fields ready for our largest evangelistic outreach – Youth League. Some are working as mentors with Middle Eastern refugees. Still others will be working with valuable ministries such as Veronica’s Voice.

God was stirring the hearts of many tonight, and I am convinced that over the course of this next year we will see others taking part in brief one or two week trips to interact and minister in opportunities on 5 continents. Actually, some of these opportunities are already full and there is a waiting list. Others will be taking a huge step of faith and stepping out for six months to a year or more taking on various types of missionary opportunities.  The fruit of the conference will only be known in the months and years ahead. We are just beginning.  But, wow! What a week!

One more mention of Chile – I got an email this morning that provided some very encouraging information about friends and contacts in Concepción. A couple of pastors have lost homes and churches, but for the moment it appears that there was no loss of life among them. I did hear from one friend who had lost  a friend and another friend lost his grandmother. One church where I was in August was spared extreme damage and had a well that they had not been using. Now that well is providing water for the entire area around them. Amidst all the damage, loss and suffering, some wonderful stories of heroism and witness are beginning to emerge. I’ll let you know if we have any direct pathways to help.