The Big Three-O (from Douglas Poole)

Dear Cypress Family and Friends,

It seemed a little surreal to me as I drove onto the Cypress campus this morning...30 years. Not all that many people get the privilege of throwing themselves everyday into the vision that they believe in to the core of their being. Fewer still get to do it with co-laborers that feel more like family than colleagues. And how many get to do it for the substantial part of their adult life? Jacque and I truly feel like the most blessed people on the planet.

This Sunday night we all get to celebrate the One behind the whole thing...our Lord. Our creative team has outdone themselves in coming up with a way to honor God for His transforming power in the lives of so many people for so many years. We will all laugh at pictures of our founders with shaggy hair, old school glasses and vintage 80’s attire. We will be stirred to our soul by some ‘Yea God’ stories. And Dr. Hap Arnold, the chiropractor who started a bible study that eventually led to the launching of Cypress Meadows is driving over from Orlando to make a cameo appearance. Whatever you do...whatever you do...please don’t miss this moment and milestone in the history of our church. Sunday 5:30 PM, Countryside High School Auditorium. (Reminder: This will be the only service this weekend. No services on Saturday night or Sunday morning.)

Let me wrap this up by simply saying that 30 years ago I had a vision, hopes and dreams to be a part of building a prevailing church that would see a steady stream of lives transformed by God’s amazing grace. This morning I fell to my knees to thank God for the sheer outrageous grace of heaven that has so exceeded what a wretch like me deserves and turned vision into reality. Yea God! Yea God! Yea God! I hope sometime this Anniversary weekend you will find a quiet place to spend a few moments thanking God for including you as well.

Happy 30^th!

Douglas