Jim Warren

One of the most interesting aspects of this adventure is how God led Jim Warren and I to have a similar heart for a church plant. As a matter of fact, about the same time I was speaking to my denomination about planting another church in the Omaha area, Jim Warren was having a cup of coffee with Ian Vickers. Jim was explaining to Ian that he felt God was calling him to consider a church plant in the Gretna area. Ian told Jim, "I think I know someone you should talk to..." and a few days later Jim and I were comparing notes.

We both desired to plant an externally focused, community church. So on my next day off Jim and I spent a few hours in Gretna. We noticed how fast the community is growing. (Gretna is the fastest growing city in the state, percentage wise, and has been for quite a number of years) We also noticed that there were only six churches in town. We looked at many acres of yet to be developed farmland. We drove through the many developments that had cement trucks pouring foundations.

One of the interesting things about Jim is that he was once mayor of Gretna. When I suggested it would be interesting to find out if there were any schools available to plant a church in, we were sitting in the school superintendants office within an hour. By the time we left, we had discovered that there is a school in Gretna with adequate parking and space to use. We discovered the price was extremely reasonable, many thousands of dollars cheaper than OPS would have charged. We also were asked by Dr. Riley if we would consider sponsoring a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter in the High School.

In a few short hours, God had brought us to...

• The fastest growing area of the state
• to an underchurched area
• with a location available at a fraction of what it might have been
• with an invitation from the school superintendent to help start an FCA group in the school.
• and with the potential of partnering with the well respected, one time mayor, Jim Warren.

Needless to say, I walked away extremely encouraged with the days events. Honestly, I drove away feeling that God had opened doors that demanded I walk through. I prayed on the way home, "Lord, if it's not the Gretna area, you are going to have to speak very loudly, because it seems like all systems go right now."

The next question I began to ask was, "What will this church look like?"