Boom-shaka-laka will always be special word for me.

So here is part of an email that I sent to our Catalyst folks... It does a pretty good job of explaining the significance of the word "Boomshakalaka" for us...

Last Sunday we began communicating the reasons we need to make the transition to double services and what it would mean for us. In the weeks leading up to this I shared with a few pastor friends that I was nervous that as a church with so many people in their 20s and 30s we wouldn't be able to get enough folks to commit to the first service each week. I had been prepared to begin targeting families if we didn't get enough commitments.

During my little speech I made the comment that if you and your family were willing to attend the first service (9:30ish) to write the word “Boom-sha-ka-la-ka” on the 2 Service Question Card we had placed in your Beaker Mini (what we call our bulletin).

I moved on, preached a sermon, woke and slept a few times until Wednesday morning staff meeting rolled around. Pam Moriarty handed me the cards with all the questions and said something like, “a lot of the cards say Boom-something or another.”

I respond, “Oh really, how many of the cards say Boom-sha-ka-la-ka?

I was stunned as Pam removed a rubber band as she handed me the cards and casually said, “Pretty much all of them.”

In my mind I was thinking, “Pretty much all of them? What the heck does she mean pretty much all of them? Pam needs some coffee this morning”

 I must confess to you that there had never been a scenario playing in my head that answered the question of what we would do if essentially the entire church was willing to give up their spot in the second service to make room for new guests. That scenario had never played in my head because stuff like this doesn't happen in normal churches, but when was the last time we were accused of being normal?

In all seriousness, Catalyst... You blow me away! You humble me! You remind me how fortunate I am to lead you in ministry and share life with you!

I must make one more confession, Boom-sha-ka-la-ka is currently my favorite word. When I hear it, write it, or speak it I am reminded of your willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of reaching others with the message of Christ. My biggest fear in this whole two service process was eliminated as many of you wrote this crazy word for the first time in your life.

Boom-sha-ka-la-ka Catalyst! Boom-sha-ka-la-ka!