Here's pictures of the Thomas Elementary, on Hwy 370 just east of town.  The cafeteria area will hold about 175 chairs.  The school will let us use their chairs as well as store some stuff there on sight.  This is a huge praise, as we won't have to purchase chairs or a trailer to store them in!  We will also be able to use three classrooms just off the cafeteria for children's ministry.  The principal at the school was extremely kind, and we are excited about being a blessing to her school.   

Journey Church Logo

Check out our sweet logo!  

Our friend Chrstine, who works in the Communication Department at CCC has created this logo for our use.  It's just another step on the road to creating an identity for our new church.  Thanks Christine, for using your talent to get us up and running!

Prayer Meetings

We have had two prayer meetings for Journey church so far, with plans to have one every two weeks.  I've got to tell you, they've been great.  What an encouragement to pray with a dozen or so people all in one accord - that God would begin a new church to help disconnected people connect with God.  

It reminds me of doing a house project.  If you're painting, there is all kinds of prework you have to do, from choosing colors to setting up the drop cloths.  But there is nothing as fulfilling as rolling that first bit of paint on the wall.

To me, praying is like putting the paint on the wall.  We're working hard getting things lined up for Journey Church to launch, but praying together actually feels like we're accomplishing something!       

The next prayer time is scheduled for Monday night Sept. 22nd at the Warren's.  Shoot me an email if you're interested in attending... and even if you can't come, please keep praying.

We're Official!

This week we received our articles of incorporation, meaning we are an official church and ready to roll!  So if you want to drop a note in the mail to us, or want to send a gift of any kind, send it to 

Journey Church

P.O. Box 345 

Gretna, NE, 68028

We are shooting for a preview service on January 18th, with a second service on February8th.  Our goal is weekly services beginning March 1.  Much ground will be covered between now and then.  Please pray!

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...

Values

About five minutes ago, as I sat in my bed working on a rubik's cube, these ideas came to me as potential values for Journey Church people... Tell me what you think. This is the first draft.

At Journey Church, we...

• Depend on God
• Declare the Gospel
• Display Grace
• Do good

We depend on God for all things - salvation, wisdom, guidance, resources, relationships. Everything!

We declare the gospel becasue it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believes. (Romans 1:16)

We display grace to people regardless of their past or present situation.

We do good, because we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

please tell me what you think...

Good Questions

Here's some good questions a friend asked today.

1. When will the plant start?

• Ideally, the best time to start a church is in September. The second best time after early fall is January. At this point, it seems January is going to be a good time to start. CCC has asked me to stay with small groups stuff until September 15. After the 15th, I'll be fully devoted to getting the church plant started.

2. Where are we meeting?

• At this point, we're trying to secure Thomas Elementary School for the plant. It is located on hwy 370 about a half mile east of the High School. It has adequate parking and a great sized gym.

3. What about Wednesday night stuff for children?

• Don't know the answer to this. Without a facility, we'll have to think creatively about programs. It may be we don't have a traditional Wednesday night program. But we just don't know right now...

thanks for asking questions... Keep them coming!