Possible Timetable

What would a reasonable timeframe look like for getting Journey church off the ground? We are praying that we will hold our first service as a core team in January. We are hoping to hold periodic services in January and February, and officially launch weekly services by March 1.

We need help making this happen. We need people to pray. We need people to come and serve. We need people who can give while we get this church up and running. Please consider what part God would have you play in bringing the gospel to an under reached part of town.

High School Ministry

Last week our high school pastor at Christ Community resigned. This has left a hole in the high school ministry, and the board has asked if I'd be willing to step in for a time being as the church searches for a new pastor. I've agreed. In fact, I couldn't say no. I love the student ministries too leave while it's hurting.
This does not mean that the church plant will slow down. CCC originally agreed to let me go full time planting starting September 15. It now looks like it's possible I will go 50/50 with my time beginning then, until the transition takes place.
It's all good. There are many pastors who start new churches in a 'bi-vocational' role - working somewhere else while they start a church. With Jim Warren's help, we feel we can still get Journey Church started in a reasonable time. But pray for us! We don't want to short change either the high school ministry or the church start.

Something to celebrate!

I just got off the phone with Jim Warren. Jim has been helping get a Fellowship of Christian Athletes bible study going in the High School. Jim just called to say that 16 girls were present on the first night! Even better, the leaders presented the gospel on the first night, and many of the girls prayed for the first time to begin a friendship with Jesus, and to follow Him with all their heart. So start praying for these girls, as well as the leaders of the Bible Study. It feels good to see God at work.

Now what?

Jody and I have just returned from three weeks away. We spent two weeks in Hawaii celebrating Jody's parents 40th wedding anniversary. What an amazing couple. And what an amazing family reunion. The we spent a week at the Okoboji Bible Conference, ministering to middle schoolers (and enjoying every minute of it!)

So we return rested and ready. What's next? Our plan is to enlist support from as many of our friends as possible. Tonight Jody and I perused the Christ Community address book, circling friends we've made over the past ten years. What a fun time remembering all the people we've had the pleasure of ministering with, and to, these past few years!

Soon we will mail each of these folks a letter, letting them know we'll be inviting them to attend an informational party to learn more about how people can support us, if they are so led. We'll host as many meetings as it takes to get the word out. See, the deal is that no church is started by one person, or one fmaily. It takes MANY people to begin a church. People who will pray; people who will serve; people who can give. So we're getting ready to get the word out. God is on the move! We hope many of our friends will be a part of it...