The Journey

Our Steps Are in Faith

There are several good reasons to start a new ministry work.

The first and best reason is when God speaks to your heart and lets you know that it is His season to move forward in faith and go a new thing.  The second reason is that starting a new ministry work is a great way to walk out the great commission and keep our lives focused on winning and discipling new believers (us old timers in church often forget that we are the church and the church, us, are really made for the lost).  The third reason is that statistically starting a new work is the single best way to reach people with the gospel of the good news.  This is especially true when the new church is designed differently than what is known currently as the normal church. 

God has called us to start a new work in 2007 and we accept that call.  This call is not based upon our circumstances, thoughtful planning, or an emotional pull.  Kresha, Zeke, and I have embraced the word (voice) of the Lord for this season as have others around us.

The word: Plant a new work.

Noah built an ark not based on torrential rains or a Weather Channel potential disaster report that predicted flooding in the future.  He built an ark based upon simply hearing God say it is time to build (Genesis 6:1-22).

Moses had a conversation with a burning bush that led him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites and he started a massive 'movement'.  His obedience was based upon hearing God and not upon a positive CNN Commentary by an expert in Egyptian political seasons that predicted it was a great time for a leader to rise up and free the Jewish people (Exodus 3-4).

Paul was on a business trip for his church (arresting and brutalizing a crazy group of Jews who believed Jesus should be followed) when God showed up and convinced him to join Him in true religion--relationship with God through Jesus (Acts 26).

Joshua woke up the day after Moses died (who was the emancipator and leader of the Jewish people for the last 40-years) and knew exactly what to do because of God's voice (Joshua 1).  He was not dependent upon the circumstances, emotions, or intellect but rather simply rested in what God has spoken.  In fact, later on in Joshua's story he does go to war based on what he thinks and is soundly defeated so he turns to God again for answers.

What is similar in all of the above examples?  Faith comes by hearing and each of these men heard and believed and acted.  They heard from the Great Expert instead of an expert.  They heard and they believed.  They heard and stepped out towards a place the could not see.

Abraham is a great example of this as in Genesis chapter 12 God tells him to "Get out of your country...to a land I will show you." Take careful note here that Abraham is asked to leave where he is without knowing where he is going; he is told to go before he knows where and readily accepts it.  He hears God give the first step of direction and that is enough as he steps out in faith and begins to know God in a new and personal way.

When you hear me (or us) speak or when you read portions of this blog that speak about the new work you are only hearing the first step because that is all we have heard. 

Even though that is all we have heard, it is not all that we know.  We go forth with God's promise to Abraham embedded in our hearts and ingrained in us thorugh our experiences together:

"I will make you a great people...I will bless you and you shall be a blessing...and in you all the peoples of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:2-3)

Encouragement

fI am always amazed at how many opinions I have and how freely I throw them around.  I am also amazed at how hurtful they can be and how wrong my opinions look to me a couple of weeks later.

When I am honest with myself I can see where my selfish words and self-seeking attitude has brought needless pain and heartache to others.  Part of the story of what God has done in me is that

I am much more careful of how I say things and much more considerate of what my words mean to those around me.

Do you ever accidentally get it wrong and hurt people in the process? 

We are in the middle of a large transition.  God's hand has guided us in this decision and has given us favor among our Freedom family.  This gracious way of 'leaving' and this honoring of the other over the honoring of ourselves is the mark we want to hit during this time of transition. 

And the wrong words and the wrong attitude (even an accidental word or attitude) can take away from God being rightly honored.

We all know that wrongly placed words can hurt people.  Worse then wrongly placed words or false and inaccurate information is a potentially divisive spirit that looks for problems where none exist and spreads gossip as if God enjoyed it.  God is not honored nor is He pleased when we shape events He is orchestrating into events we can manipulate and make petty.

Please do everything to avoid mean-spirited talk or empty-headed chatter.

 

Please do share the stories of the new relationships and experiences this year, share about what you learned about the Lord, and tell how you got closer to Jesus this year (and are looking more like Him!).                                                                                                                                                         

Please do talk about the church plant and what God is doing.  Be encouraged to ask all the questions you want and to engage in the discussion of what God is doing.

 

God will be honored as we tell the story of His people--you and me--walking hand in hand in obedience and peace and joy.

The Announcement

As much as we would like to tell each of you the story of what God has done this year in and through us it is simply impossible.  Instead, we will just tell you where we sense the Lord leading us.

About 3-weeks ago I met with Pastor John and shared with him that I felt the Lord was leading me to plant a church this next year.  During a time of prayer at the beginning of November I could clearly sense this new direction.

This had been my hope and my plan but I thought it was still a year or so away.  God had prepared Pastor John thru a prophetic word about a month before and quickly confirmed Himself through elders, friends, and several 'outside' individuals. 

This church will be planted out of Freedom Fellowship where many of us moved to this past January.  We are a part of FF so we ask that your prayers be with our family at FF during these times of transition. 

So, this is what I would ask of you right now:

• Hear God and work thru the emotional and intellectual stuff and submit to what He is saying
• Be careful in how you discuss this church plant and do not allow yourself to be drawn away into silly conversation or evil conjecture
• Be in remembrance of how words can hurt and how we can do damage to others with careless words and thoughtless actions
• If you are at FF please remain faithful in your service and in your giving
• Pray for vision, timing, wisdom, and the right heart/motives

As always, please feel free to communicate with myself, David, Wes, and Pastor John in regards to this new leg of our journey.  All questions are fair game and we assume nothing but that God is in control and has great plans for us.

We are currently not asking people to join us in this endeavor as it is just in the beginning stages of formation.  So do not worry…this blog is not written to ask you to join us.

That blog will come sometime in 2007.

Just kidding!  I will post more of the vision and direction for this new venture in the future.  If you have an immediate tug on your heart and you feel like you want to join us from the very beginning please let me know via e-mail.

Thanks for your love!