This past Sunday night all of our campuses came together for our annual Vision Night.  The theme was Remember the Future.  We took some time cherishing and celebrating the memories of the past and looking ahead to what God has in store for our future.  This is Lance LeBlanc and the HPC Time Capsule from 1994, the first year of our church.  He pulled out “my first workout equipment”…why do our guys on staff love to mess with me!?

During the night we were able to look at all that we were a part of in 2009…Here is a small snapshot:

• Across all of our campuses we have welcomed over 7000 first time guests
• Through HPC outreaches, we have served over 109, 000 people
• 50 new connect groups at Highland Campus- everything from “Kingdom Men” to “Westside Chicks”, we strive to connect with those in all different walks of life.
• Tigers Against Trafficking- this year it became an official on-campus student organization at LSU.  This organization not only addresses human trafficking, but is helps connect students with the Church in a tangible way.  TAT at LSU hosted a 5K run in March and also had one at Southeastern University in September.  TAT will launch at UL-Lafayette, Baylor, Oklahoma State U, and Regent University very soon.
• His Heart for Orphans, HPC’s adoption ministry, recently had a weekend focused on serving the foster children in the BR community. We celebrated the children with a “Champions 4 Life Olympics Game”. Six children were matched with families that are interested in adopting them!! 

It is so exciting to think that in the next year we will make room for more and see God do even greater things through the faithful men and women that serve in this house!

I received an incredible email from a precious lady in our church, Rea.  She shared several stories about how God has used her and her family to reach out to the people in their world.  Check out this life-changing story from Trent.  I love it…this is what it is all about!!

“At the end of the school year, I was making some bad choices. I was involved with the wrong crowd, slacking in school, disobeying & fighting with parents. Through the garage sale that my neighbors, Rea& her family had, I was able to attend Saturate at HPC over the summer, my parents were making me go as a punishment for my ways…LOL! Through attending Saturate, getting involved in EPIC & outreach, I was saved. In June, my mom & I were baptized together. My life has changed because of all this, Thank GOD!!!”

I had an incredible opportunity to speak at the Tennessee Titans Chapel on Sunday and my family was able to make the trip with me this time.  There is nothing like the bonding power of an 18 hour road trip; 6 bodies all squeezed together in one vehicle, watching the same movie over and over again…I think I can now quote EVERY line in the Disney movie Cars.  In honor of the movie as we left Baton Rouge I said, “I don’t care if we make good time on the road, just as long as we have a good time.”  Looking back on it, I don’t think we accomplished either!

Once we arrived, it was all gravy…our family always loves spending time with the Mawaes.  I was privileged to speak to the Tennessee Titans and their families in two different chapel settings.  I am so proud of Kevin Mawae and his leadership and influence in the NFL.  It is because of him and the tremendous favor God has on his life we are able to share with the team.  Unfortunately, the Titans didn’t walk away with a victory this weekend and one of their players got ejected from the game for throwing a punch! As a side note…the ejected player didn’t attend chapel…I promise it was nothing I said!!

As always, it was an honor to represent the heart of HPC to the team and their families.  I love sharing the passion of this house with others!

33 years ago today, Rachel Delynn Messer Haman was born at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA.  The world hasn’t been the same since!!  To celebrate her on this day, the kids and I gave her a card to tell her 33 things we love about her!  Thought I would share them:

1. Amazing Mom             
2. Superwoman Wife
3. Great Cook
4. She takes us to Blue Bayou
5. Caring Nurse
6. Fashion Diva
7. The Ultimate Bargain Shopper
8. Homework Helper
9. Super Model
10. Babealicious
11. iPhone-aholic
12. Interior Designer
13. Woman of the Word
14. Beautiful Smile
15. Always thinks of others
16. Make-up Artist
17. Ultimate American Idol
18. Smart
19. Coffee Lover
20. Cash Register Queen
21. Strong Personal Convictions
22. Compassionate
23. Packs our lunches
24. Makes us laugh
25. Faithful friend
26. Living the Dream
27. Correct us when we are wrong
28. Tears
29. Cleans up after us
30. Prays over us
31. Loves the beach
32. Mexican Food
33. Crazy about Jesus!!

I had a great opportunity to speak in a Leadership Development Meeting at Souls Harbor Worship Center this past Saturday morning.  Under the leadership of Pastors Marvin and Angela Poole this church is experiencing tremendous growth and will move to multiple services very soon.

I love environments like the one that we shared on Saturday…they are moments we can pop the hood of church life to work on the engine and inner parts.  I cherish times to invest the the work God is doing thru passionate men and women in the local church.  Check out this great church in Hammond, LA if you or someone you know is in the area.