Scared

There are days where I wonder, "What the heck am I doing? I just resigned a "secure" job in order to plant a church with no guarantee whether or not it will succeed. I have to raise support to do this....and this economy is not that great." I get scared that we are going to lose our house, our savings (what little we have), etc.... I sometimes worry that the church plant won't grow and that in a year I will be doing who knows what. I sometimes feel that this calling is way over my head and that I am not the "type" of person who can be "successful" in church planting.

Last evening was a time like that. Kim and I talked about it. We prayed about it. One worry was the leadership team meeting last night. I left there at 8:30 and asked John to call me when the meeting and discussion was over. John called last night around 10:30 The leadership team came to a recommendation that they will cover my insurance for 2009 and 2010 which is good...but now needs to go to congregational forum. So that was good but it also made me a little nervous about finding more streams of funding.

Earlier today I thought much the same type stuff...until I called Kim. Kim told me that she just received a call from a person who attends another COB church and chairs the evangelism team. They were given some money from their churches building fund to give to mission projects. It looks pretty good that they will be supporting us...not only that but the woman said that she and her husband want to come to a meals and mission night, learn about the church plant and possibly serve on the core group. (And the husband is a pediatric surgeon).

God is so good and meets us right where we are. These things aren't "in the bank" so to speak but it is awesome to know that when I was unsure and scared God showed up.

Continue to pray for us as we develop a Core Group, seek additional funding streams, and work on the development of Veritas-the Church Plant.

Core Group

I am blown away by the Core Group that is developing to plant Veritas as a church plant. We might be small but the talent, ability, generosity, and faith that these people have is incredible. Kim and I are blessed to have not only core group members like these but to call them friends.

Our worship leader is amazing. Last night during Veritas worship (the last one until we launch in September) he played another original worship song called Conversation. Amazing!! I am excited about what we can do with such an awesome worship leader. We are talking about putting together a CD of original music from our community as a means of outreach and publicity.

I am excited about the future of the Children's ministry. I believe we have two awesome people (my wife and the wife of the worship leader) who will probably co-direct our children's ministry which is divided into Veritots (Nursery: Ages Birth through 3) and Veritas Kids (3-9...which will be divided into two groupings during the Sunday morning gathering)

I am excited about the others who bring so much to us. two awesome guys in the multimedia and tech realm who will run sound, put the mediashout together, put together original videos, etc... An awesome woman who has her own bakery...but is all about hospitality. And others who I am waiting to find out where they feel called to serve.

I am just so excited about what God has done and what he will do. We are still looking for some more core group members....but the ones he has brought so far are amazing and a God-send.

Things are coming together. We have a meeting Thursday night with the Session of English Presbyterian Church regarding the possibility of using their space for our worship gatherings. We have a meeting in two weeks with our Mission Support Team who will help to find funding streams and support. We are also putting together a steering team as a liason between the district and the core group.

Much is happening....and God is moving....Thanks for your prayers.

Veritas- The Church Plant

For those of you who don't know...Veritas will becoming it's own Church Plant launching in September of 2009. I have shared this vision with the Hempfield COB and we are in the process of transitioning from HCOB to Veritas. I will be moving from my role as Pastor of Youth Ministries and Nurture into Church planting in August. This is a scary endeavor but one that God has been leading us through for the last 4 years. There are lots to be done and lots to be prayed for. We are in the process of gathering a core group (some from Veritas as it is now, and some from other places). We are in the process of gathering financial support from various places (people, churches, etc..) I have a meeting on the 26th to talk with English Presbyterian Church about using their space to hold our Sunday gatherings.

We could use your prayers and support during this time as we trust God to do amazing things not only in our lives, but in the lives of those that we will be reaching out to, blessing, and loving on. Below is a list of prayer requests. Also if you are interested in learning morning about Veritas- the Church Plant, joining the Core Group, giving financially or being on the prayer team, please let us know.

Here are some prayer requests that you can pray for (thank you very much in advance for your prayers, support and encouragement)

1. Core Group- We are looking at trying to have between 15-20 people sign on to be our Core Group for the Church Plant. At this point we have a total of 5 people who have signed on, with a few others who are praying and thinking about it...but we could use some more people. We are having a series of, what I am calling, Meals and Mission, where we have dinner and then share the vision of the church plant. So please pray that through those Meals and Mission nights we would be able to put together a team of 15-20 people willing to take a step of faith and launch out in mission with us. (BTW...if you or someone you know might have interest in joining a core group, please let me know.)

2. Informational Meetings- We are having a series of Informational meetings at Hempfield in the next few weeks in order to share with the congregation the vision, dreams, and plans for this church plant. Pray that they would go well, that people would be responsive, willing to hear, willing to respond, and that some good helpful discussion would take place.

3. Mission Support Team- We are working on developing a mission support team who would get together and work monthly on developing financial streams and avenues in order to fund the work of the church plant. Pray that we would be able to meet soon, that the people who are "supposed" to be on this team would sign up, and that the work of the team would meet with support.

4. Which brings me to finances. Our budget for the first year of the plant is roughly 90,000. Currently we have 5,650 in the bank and 10,000 more promised, so we need to raise close to 75,000 dollars more. We are asking Hempfield to support us with 20,000, 4 other churches at 5,000 each, our core group at 15,000 and individuals at around 25,000. Please pray that we would have the opportunity to share with others about this vision and that God may speak to the hearts of others who might be able to give to this work. Pray that the financial piece of the puzzle would come together. Pray for Hempfield, as they discuss this proposal...may they see with eyes of faith and not just with "worldy financial eyes"..and may they prayerfully discern whether or not to support us. Pray for individuals to step forward to help with this mission.

5. For those who God misses the most. Pray that we would have opportunity to get out and bless the community in real and tangible ways. Pray for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ. Pray for relationships to be formed with those who don't know Jesus. Pray that we may be known in our community as people of love, grace, mercy, and compassion.

6. Venue- Please pray that we would be able to work out a place to hold our Sunday Gatherings. We have a meeting with English Presbyterian Church in Marietta on Thursday February 26 at 6:30 PM. Pray that if God is leading us to that church building that all the details would fall into place. If it isn't the Lord's will may it not fall into place, and may God direct us to another space.