Lauralyn Vasquez

“He [Christ] is Isaac, the beloved Son of the Father who was offered as a sacrifice, but nevertheless did not succumb to the power of death. He is Jacob the watchful shepherd, who has such great care for the sheep which he guards. He is the good and compassionate brother Joseph, who in his glory was not ashamed to acknowledge his brothers, however lowly and abject their condition. He is the great sacrificer and bishop Melchizedek who has offered an eternal sacrifice once for all. He is the sovereign lawgiver Moses, writing his law on the tables of our hearts by his Spirit. He is the faithful captain and guide Joshua, to lead us to the Promised Land. He is the victorious and noble king David, bringing by his hand all rebellious power to subjection. He is the magnificent and triumphant king Solomon governing his kingdom in peace and prosperity. He is the strong and powerful Samson who by his death has overwhelmed all his enemies.5”
― Timothy J. Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism

“An element of class you’ll notice in my story is the persistent sense of needing to “help” and “fix.” These characteristics are considered by many to be trademarks of the dominant class.”
― Debby Irving, Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race

“Realize that your responsibility is to work yourself out of a job and to move other people”
― Jim Egli, Small Groups, Big Impact: Connecting People to God and One Another in Thriving Groups

“Our retention rate rose from 20 percent to 37 percent in just 4 months. Overall, the Assimilation System raised the level of awareness among our church body in regard to how important first-time guests are to our church and that we are committed to creating a welcoming environment for those that are not yet a part of our church family.”
― Nelson Searcy, Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church