We’ll be returning to Philadelphia tonight after having spent the last four days in Nashville, Tennessee. I was invited to preach at a conference here and we had a blast. We fell in love with the group – people of all different ages, different stages of life, who loved each other and were really seeking God together. During my talks I tried real hard to draw a distinction between religion and the Gospel. Many of the folks attending the conference had grown up like me – in the church, were highly moral, knew the ins-and-outs of religion, but had missed the Gospel. By God’s grace, our time together was incredibly fruitful.
One of my favorite moments of the weekend was during the Q&A session. An elder man, probably in his 60s, asked me, “You’ve described your experience of coming from religion to experiencing the Gospel. I’ve grown up in the church, I’ve prayed, read the Bible all my life, but I feel like I’ve been more about religion than the Gospel. Do you have any advise on how that change can happen for me?” Can you believe that? I was stunned by his humility and by what the Spirit was doing in his heart. Oh how I long to be asked that question a thousand more times in the years to come.
We were also pumped to share about 7 Mile Road and the work that is just beginning in Philadelphia. Our vision was met with excitement, encouragement, and prayer. That was cool. Overall, we thank God for opportunities like this one. It just fuels the fire for the work that we’ve been called to do and reminds us of why we need to plant 7 Mile Road.
by Ajay Thomas
Ajay lives in Philadelphia with his wife Shainu and their kids Hannah and Micah. He is responsible for preaching and vision as a pastor at Seven Mile Road.