This morning in my quiet time my mind will not let go of this one thought, this one question that Alan Hirsch has challenged us all with, "We need to be asking the question: If our church were to disappear tomorrow would anyone in the community miss us?" For us in Reliance, this is a deep matter. How do you establish a church that grows and is so healthy that the community will lean upon it. Will come to look at it as a place of refuge. Will know it as a center of love. Will see it as a beacon of hope. It would become unfathomable to think of it not existing and if anything did happen to it, the community would feel it had suffered a deep loss. I am more convinced now than ever before that God is not leading us to build another building in St. Pete or to gather the saints that already exist. Abigail Van Buren said, "A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." I feel this is the truth. And it leads direction to my thoughts. I wish I could add that I know exactly how everything is going to flow in the next several months and that we will make no mistakes but I know that is not true. What I do know is that God has called us to plant a church in Fl and that it is His desire for it to be modeled His way and not the worlds way. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35. It is my pray, our pray, that God might use us to greatly impact our new coming community in a great way for Him. To help build and live out Authentic Life Through Christ! Please join us in that prayer!-----------------Danny I had to share this great thought that Danny had.... As I Daily stress about the move and job and house, ect. , I know that God is in this and he will take care of all the little things. Truly though they seem big to me, those are little things, and loving others and the ministry, well that is much bigger than me and God is faithful, his promises are true and I claim those promises and that hope. I look to him, our strong tower and know that he will supply all our needs!!!!!
Last week at our Bible study, we got to hear from Rod and Patty Dempsey and their church planting experience. It was great to hear from someone else's perspective, someone that had been there and has lived it. God did the work, their team was willing to work for him, to talk to people and God did a great work !!! Thank you guys for sharing !!! This week were heard a word from Danny. He read in Acts 14 about how Paul was stoned, and encouraged us that even though the people turned on him there where he witnessed, people were saved and healed. God did the work !! Even though Paul was stoned, he was healed, the scripture says Acts 14:20 " Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe." God healed him and he was right back up and about God's work. He was stoned so that the people thought he was dead, they drug him out of the city, wow, we serve a mighty God !!! God is willing and ready to do the work. Are we willing ? Are we willing to take persecution and whatever else may come our way, trusting in God to do the work ultimately? I stand in awe I as realize we are about 60 days out...... In 60 days we will be moving, unpacking, packing.... wow time flies, please pray for us as we begin this mission, as we put feet to a vision, to a work for God . As we live out and encourage others "Authentic life through Christ" Pray we can have the steadfastness and boldness of Paul, and the other disciples that carried God's word. |
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