Dear Family and Friends,
What a year it has been!! As we come to the close of 2008 we look back and see how much our lives have changed. We began the year in Lodi, CA where Jeremy was on staff full time at Calvary Bible Church. We are now ending the year in Fremont, CA awaiting our next adventure of Church Planting in Chico, CA. It has been a very challenging year for us, but we are glad to say we have come out of it stronger and better than when we went in.
For those of you who don't know, after leaving Calvary Bible Church we decided to begin the adventure of church planting. After going to an assessment center in Wisconsin in July we were approved to plant a church with Converge PacWest. We are very excited to partner with this organization. They are extremely supportive and we are blessed to have found them. For the last several months we have been raising our support so that we can get to Chico and start! We are only $132 short of our monthly goal and biting at the bit to get going! We are hoping to be in Chico by the middle of January.
Elizabeth has been working the past several months at her parents medical practice, while Jeremy has been staying at home with the kids and planning for our future church. We have both learned so much through this experience. Jeremy has been able to walk in Elizabeth's shoes for the last few months and Elizabeth has been able to see how much she loves staying with the kids. We are both anticipating going back to their previous roles, but wouldn't take this time back for anything. God has taught us both so much and we have a better appreciation for each other!
Gabriella turned three at the beginning of this year. She has been a joy (and a frustration at times). She is very smart and compassionate. She loves to sing and dance and play with her baby brother. She is a very good big sister and loves to play mommy with Josiah. Although they do fight her compassionate nature always wins out.
Josiah just turned two at the beginning of this month. He is definitely a boys boy. He loves to growl and pretend to be all sorts of animals. His favorite is an elephant, and he does a great impression of one. He is very independent and can entertain himself very well. He loves to get into things that he shouldn't, but what two year old boy doesn't. He is also very sweet natured and loveable.
We hope this Christmas is filled with much joy and celebration for you all. Hopefully you will be spending wonderful time with family and remembering the birth of our Savior. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives and couldn't do any of this without your prayer and support. If you have pledged support to us, please send in your December support. If you have not and would like to help push us past that goal you may do so at www.sunergeo.com/donate.
Blessings!
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Amount Left to Raise: $132/ month
Monday, December 15, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
November 2008 Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We are so close we can almost taste it!! As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for. First and foremost we are so thankful for you! Without you we would not be where we are today. We have raised 75% of what we need because of your faithfulness and trust in God. Our partnership has only just begun and we are so excited to see where it is going to go.
We are also so thankful for our family. We have been able to leave Lodi and save money by living with Elizabeth’s parents and we are so blessed. We are thankful that God has sustained us during one of the most challenging times in our life! Our children are thriving and healthy! We haven’t seen a cold yet this year and are so thankful for that. Obviously as we come into this Thanksgiving we won’t have a hard time being thankful. Do you sense a theme?
With that we as always have prayer requests. We are praying that we will be able to move to Chico sometime in January. We need prayer that we will be able to find a house we can rent that we can afford that has the amenities that we need so that we won’t have to make any extra purchases. We are looking for a house instead of an apartment because we will begin meeting in our home with our launch team. We also pray that we will be prepared for what is ahead. We know that we have many challenges ahead of us. This church plant isn’t going to be easy and we need perseverance and courage to allow God to use us.
Thank you all. We appreciate you so much. If you have committed support to us please send in your monthly support for November. Remember you can set up automatic bill pay online at www.sunergeo.com/donate . If you have not yet committed to support us financially and have felt God telling you to do so now is as good a time as any. We know that many people think if they can’t give a large amount it won’t make a difference, but it will make a huge difference to us. We as always appreciate all of your faithful prayers. We hope you have a wonderful time to reflect on all that you are thankful to God for.
Blessings,
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Total amount to Raise: $2300 /month
Amount Left to Raise: $565/
We are so close we can almost taste it!! As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for. First and foremost we are so thankful for you! Without you we would not be where we are today. We have raised 75% of what we need because of your faithfulness and trust in God. Our partnership has only just begun and we are so excited to see where it is going to go.
We are also so thankful for our family. We have been able to leave Lodi and save money by living with Elizabeth’s parents and we are so blessed. We are thankful that God has sustained us during one of the most challenging times in our life! Our children are thriving and healthy! We haven’t seen a cold yet this year and are so thankful for that. Obviously as we come into this Thanksgiving we won’t have a hard time being thankful. Do you sense a theme?
With that we as always have prayer requests. We are praying that we will be able to move to Chico sometime in January. We need prayer that we will be able to find a house we can rent that we can afford that has the amenities that we need so that we won’t have to make any extra purchases. We are looking for a house instead of an apartment because we will begin meeting in our home with our launch team. We also pray that we will be prepared for what is ahead. We know that we have many challenges ahead of us. This church plant isn’t going to be easy and we need perseverance and courage to allow God to use us.
Thank you all. We appreciate you so much. If you have committed support to us please send in your monthly support for November. Remember you can set up automatic bill pay online at www.sunergeo.com/donate . If you have not yet committed to support us financially and have felt God telling you to do so now is as good a time as any. We know that many people think if they can’t give a large amount it won’t make a difference, but it will make a huge difference to us. We as always appreciate all of your faithful prayers. We hope you have a wonderful time to reflect on all that you are thankful to God for.
Blessings,
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Total amount to Raise: $2300 /month
Amount Left to Raise: $565/
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Nehemiah
Like most Biblical words this one sounds like a virus or disorder. "Oh he has Nehemiah, oh man his family must be devastated."
But this post has nothing to do with entomology, but rather a revelation that came to me in reading Nehemiah chapter 9.
Chapter 9 deals with Israel confessing their sin and reviewing all that God has done for them, a quick history if you will. While I was reading this it hit me like a ton of bricks,a revelation of sorts that has put my life in perspective.
You see we can read the Bible and say "what is with the Israelites? God has given them so much why can't they see it?" We can be stunned by the way that their current situation has made them forget how God has acted in the past. In my moment of revelation I saw myself in their shoes. You see I have been so consumed by the remaining amount of support that we needed I could not see the support that God had already provided. I have found myself so obsessed with the remaining amount of support that I could not be truly thankful to God for what he has already done.
So How does this change your life? Easy, one word, joy. I am so happy and encouraged because I can look back over the past few months and see God's fingerprints everywhere. It also helps that we got a big chunk of support today. Thank you to everyone who has given support. It has meant so much. I remember you in my prayers as I look forward to the our next phase of ministry together. We are getting closer!
But this post has nothing to do with entomology, but rather a revelation that came to me in reading Nehemiah chapter 9.
Chapter 9 deals with Israel confessing their sin and reviewing all that God has done for them, a quick history if you will. While I was reading this it hit me like a ton of bricks,a revelation of sorts that has put my life in perspective.
You see we can read the Bible and say "what is with the Israelites? God has given them so much why can't they see it?" We can be stunned by the way that their current situation has made them forget how God has acted in the past. In my moment of revelation I saw myself in their shoes. You see I have been so consumed by the remaining amount of support that we needed I could not see the support that God had already provided. I have found myself so obsessed with the remaining amount of support that I could not be truly thankful to God for what he has already done.
So How does this change your life? Easy, one word, joy. I am so happy and encouraged because I can look back over the past few months and see God's fingerprints everywhere. It also helps that we got a big chunk of support today. Thank you to everyone who has given support. It has meant so much. I remember you in my prayers as I look forward to the our next phase of ministry together. We are getting closer!
Monday, November 10, 2008
what is next?
So we find ourselves coming upon the holiday season still waiting on the funds to come in so we can move. We are getting closer with each new supporter but the anticipation is getting to me and it reminds me of Christmas.
Remember back when you were a kid... I will wait go ahead... I will not type when you are not looking go ahead. Are you there? OK, remember Christmas time. Counting down the days until Christmas break, the anticipation is a mix of materialism and freedom. You know in days you can stop being good because Santa does not watching you on December 26th he is recuperating. But more than that, you know that on December 25th all of your greatest wishes will be met in a frenzy of wrapping paper and toys. And oh the gift of the days off afterward to spend time with those new gifts. Ah Christmas so much better than summer or any other time of the year! It is the greatest time of the year.(pause for the song to start ringing in your ears)
Doesn't that paint a great picture? This unifying experience brings me to my point. Remember all those feelings? Are they flooding back to you?
That is how I look forward to church planting, I am filled with excitement like a kid looking forward to Christmas. It is not always obvious. I am a bit like a duck on a pond, the surface is calm but underneath those feet are churning a mile a minute or in this case my mind is moving with frenzy. To be honest I am a bit consumed, not with the process but with watching God work in people lives. I look forward to living the call that God has placed on my life... I look forward to God acting in the city of Chico CA... I look forward to what is next!
Remember back when you were a kid... I will wait go ahead... I will not type when you are not looking go ahead. Are you there? OK, remember Christmas time. Counting down the days until Christmas break, the anticipation is a mix of materialism and freedom. You know in days you can stop being good because Santa does not watching you on December 26th he is recuperating. But more than that, you know that on December 25th all of your greatest wishes will be met in a frenzy of wrapping paper and toys. And oh the gift of the days off afterward to spend time with those new gifts. Ah Christmas so much better than summer or any other time of the year! It is the greatest time of the year.(pause for the song to start ringing in your ears)
Doesn't that paint a great picture? This unifying experience brings me to my point. Remember all those feelings? Are they flooding back to you?
That is how I look forward to church planting, I am filled with excitement like a kid looking forward to Christmas. It is not always obvious. I am a bit like a duck on a pond, the surface is calm but underneath those feet are churning a mile a minute or in this case my mind is moving with frenzy. To be honest I am a bit consumed, not with the process but with watching God work in people lives. I look forward to living the call that God has placed on my life... I look forward to God acting in the city of Chico CA... I look forward to what is next!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
program problems
If you cannot view the graphic at the top of our blog it is because it will not show up on Internet Explorer. I know that this alienates a majority of PC Users but I am posting from an apple computer, sorry.
So here is what is contained within the graphic box...
encoun†er church
A community filled with faith, hope and love through encountering Jesus Christ. We see families coming to faith, being baptized and becoming disciples. We also envision God’s people reaching out in love and serving the city—living out their faith everyday, not just on Sunday morning.
Scripture _ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Scripture is our starting point of discipleship
Equip believers
Worship _ Romans 12:1-2
Worship is a lifestyle of discipleship
Life transformation
Community _ John 17:20-23
Community unites us in discipleship
Complete Unity
Mission _ Matthew 28:18-20
Mission is the process of discipleship
Serving the City
Relevant and Creative
So here is what is contained within the graphic box...
encoun†er church
A community filled with faith, hope and love through encountering Jesus Christ. We see families coming to faith, being baptized and becoming disciples. We also envision God’s people reaching out in love and serving the city—living out their faith everyday, not just on Sunday morning.
Scripture _ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Scripture is our starting point of discipleship
Equip believers
Worship _ Romans 12:1-2
Worship is a lifestyle of discipleship
Life transformation
Community _ John 17:20-23
Community unites us in discipleship
Complete Unity
Mission _ Matthew 28:18-20
Mission is the process of discipleship
Serving the City
Relevant and Creative
Friday, October 17, 2008
October 2008 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
Here we are in month 4 of fundraising and it has been the most challenging and faith building 4 months of our lives. We have grown so much in our faith these last few months and can say with confidence that we are very full of joy! We have seen people come out of the woodwork to support us and we are overwhelmed to say the least. We are steadily moving closer to our goal and closer to the day we can plant our roots in Chico.
We have finally adjusted to life with the mom and work at the Dad at home. The first few weeks were hard, but now Gabriella happily says goodbye to mommy in the morning knowing that she will have her all afternoon to play. Jeremy is bonding very closely with both Gabriella and Josiah and learning so much from the experience. It is amazing that in this “holding” pattern we are in, God is still teaching us things daily and preparing us for the work he has ahead.
We recently attended a Pastors Conference at Hume Lake Christian Camps. It was very uplifting and rejuvenating. We were able to meet a lot of other Pastors in Converge PacWest, which will be our district when we plant. Jeremy shared with them a little about what we are doing and asked them to walk in faith with us and support us.
Many prayers have been answered for us this month. First of all we have pushed past our half waypoint and have under $1,000 left to raise!! In one week we raised $400 more a month!! Another praise is that Gabriella is starting to come out of that “terrible 2 (and 3)” stage. She is learning to listen and obey. She has always been a sweet girl, but she is really starting to take a great turn. All of this just in time for Josiah to enter into it! We also praise God for his financial provision during this time of transition. Our savings has lasted us far longer than we ever thought it would, but that is just how God works!
Our prayer requests are that we raise the additional funds needed. We pray that the churches we met at the conference will commit support to us and that more individuals will as well. We also pray for the people of Chico. We ask that you pray over underground occult activities going on there. We ask that God would continue to prepare us for the journey ahead. And lastly we ask that we use all of this time in Fremont to it’s fullest. We don’t want to waist any of it.
Thank you all. We appreciate you so much. If you have committed support to us please send in your monthly support for October. Remember you can set up automatic bill pay online at www.sunergeo.com/donate and you can also make first time
commitments there. If you have felt God tug at your heart to support us we pray you would take the leap us faith with us and join our team.
Blessings,
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Total amount to Raise: $2300 /month
Amount Left to Raise: $975/ month
Here we are in month 4 of fundraising and it has been the most challenging and faith building 4 months of our lives. We have grown so much in our faith these last few months and can say with confidence that we are very full of joy! We have seen people come out of the woodwork to support us and we are overwhelmed to say the least. We are steadily moving closer to our goal and closer to the day we can plant our roots in Chico.
We have finally adjusted to life with the mom and work at the Dad at home. The first few weeks were hard, but now Gabriella happily says goodbye to mommy in the morning knowing that she will have her all afternoon to play. Jeremy is bonding very closely with both Gabriella and Josiah and learning so much from the experience. It is amazing that in this “holding” pattern we are in, God is still teaching us things daily and preparing us for the work he has ahead.
We recently attended a Pastors Conference at Hume Lake Christian Camps. It was very uplifting and rejuvenating. We were able to meet a lot of other Pastors in Converge PacWest, which will be our district when we plant. Jeremy shared with them a little about what we are doing and asked them to walk in faith with us and support us.
Many prayers have been answered for us this month. First of all we have pushed past our half waypoint and have under $1,000 left to raise!! In one week we raised $400 more a month!! Another praise is that Gabriella is starting to come out of that “terrible 2 (and 3)” stage. She is learning to listen and obey. She has always been a sweet girl, but she is really starting to take a great turn. All of this just in time for Josiah to enter into it! We also praise God for his financial provision during this time of transition. Our savings has lasted us far longer than we ever thought it would, but that is just how God works!
Our prayer requests are that we raise the additional funds needed. We pray that the churches we met at the conference will commit support to us and that more individuals will as well. We also pray for the people of Chico. We ask that you pray over underground occult activities going on there. We ask that God would continue to prepare us for the journey ahead. And lastly we ask that we use all of this time in Fremont to it’s fullest. We don’t want to waist any of it.
Thank you all. We appreciate you so much. If you have committed support to us please send in your monthly support for October. Remember you can set up automatic bill pay online at www.sunergeo.com/donate and you can also make first time
commitments there. If you have felt God tug at your heart to support us we pray you would take the leap us faith with us and join our team.
Blessings,
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Total amount to Raise: $2300 /month
Amount Left to Raise: $975/ month
Friday, September 26, 2008
support
We are still in the process of raising support. We are just about half way to the amount at which we can move on the field. I ask that you pray for us as we continue...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Redding and beyond
It has been quite some time since my last post and I do plan on leaving more information concerning vision and values soon.
We spent last Sunday September 7th in Redding @ Bridge Community Church. We were given a few moments to share our vision and then there was a cookout afterward to celebrate their second anniversary as a church. We are thankful to Joel and Leslie Smith for having us up to talk about our vision and passion to plant a church in Chico CA.
We spent last Sunday September 7th in Redding @ Bridge Community Church. We were given a few moments to share our vision and then there was a cookout afterward to celebrate their second anniversary as a church. We are thankful to Joel and Leslie Smith for having us up to talk about our vision and passion to plant a church in Chico CA.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Windborn
I will be speaking at Windborn Church on Sunday in Rio Vista CA in both services. After The second service I will be doing a vision presentation for our church plant. I hope to see you there, continue to pray for us as we raise support.
Blessings
Blessings
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
InRoads
This past Sunday I was at InRoads Christian Church in Fremont CA. My family and I went to do some fund raising where it all began.
InRoads was the first full-time job I had after college I was the Assistant Pastor for about a year and a half. It was during my time at InRoads that God put a passion for church planting in my heart. It seemed natural that the first Church I would speak at would be in essence my home church. InRoads is so near and dear to my heart because I was an attender before I came on staff. I accualy was a volunteer in a couple of ministries. So I still really think of them with fond memories.
We had some time set aside to talk about the adventure that we have been on and to invite people to come to a reception to hear our vision. Also commitment cards and a flyer were availible at the church as well. Just a handful of people came to the reception but a large number of people just took cards with them. After the service a few people wanted to donate without hearing the vision at all. Paul, my sending agent at Sunergeo, told us that there are a few different types of supporters. People who will support the vision , people who will jump in after the church is up and running to partner once thay see some results and people who will just support you because they believe in you. We met all of those people this weekened and we are blessed by their generosity. Some give prayer, some give equipment and some give monetarily but they all give in service of God and that is the most important thing.
So thank you again to everyone who has committed support but more is needed so continue to lift us up in prayer.
Blessings!
InRoads was the first full-time job I had after college I was the Assistant Pastor for about a year and a half. It was during my time at InRoads that God put a passion for church planting in my heart. It seemed natural that the first Church I would speak at would be in essence my home church. InRoads is so near and dear to my heart because I was an attender before I came on staff. I accualy was a volunteer in a couple of ministries. So I still really think of them with fond memories.
We had some time set aside to talk about the adventure that we have been on and to invite people to come to a reception to hear our vision. Also commitment cards and a flyer were availible at the church as well. Just a handful of people came to the reception but a large number of people just took cards with them. After the service a few people wanted to donate without hearing the vision at all. Paul, my sending agent at Sunergeo, told us that there are a few different types of supporters. People who will support the vision , people who will jump in after the church is up and running to partner once thay see some results and people who will just support you because they believe in you. We met all of those people this weekened and we are blessed by their generosity. Some give prayer, some give equipment and some give monetarily but they all give in service of God and that is the most important thing.
So thank you again to everyone who has committed support but more is needed so continue to lift us up in prayer.
Blessings!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
blessed
I am blessed. I know how annoying. Another person blaming dumb luck on God's blessing, no really I am.
You see this time it doesn't make any sense outside of my mental break from reality.
On Sunday August 3rd I preached at a Church in Richmond CA. It was an urban rebirth project within the organization I am apart of Sunergeo. I came in to this church with my family, Josiah was in rare form trying to tear the place down and Gabriella floated in like the princess she is and will always be. I did not think that this morning would change me but it did.
I spoke on love but the message did not move me, the people did. There was not a lot of people, I have spoken to bigger crowds, it was just different.
There are things that cannot be explained. This was one of those times. I left feeling like God had blessed me. It was a feeling, not a moment or an experience, just a feeling that has been with me ever since. I am blessed, enjoying life, smiling as I write this entry. I do not worry about what comes next because God will supply my needs I just walk the road. If I mess up and fail, I start again. No shame, no anger because I am no longer my own. I have finally lost my mind. I am not cool, I am not collected but I have never had greater focus... focus is a powerful thing.
Some people at the church asked me what I am currently doing. Shared that I was a church planter. Most people when they find out they just say wow that is interesting (which means "you are crazy") or how does that work (which means "you are crazy"). The people here said that is quite an adventure (which means "you are crazy") but it is a better way of saying it.
You see this time it doesn't make any sense outside of my mental break from reality.
On Sunday August 3rd I preached at a Church in Richmond CA. It was an urban rebirth project within the organization I am apart of Sunergeo. I came in to this church with my family, Josiah was in rare form trying to tear the place down and Gabriella floated in like the princess she is and will always be. I did not think that this morning would change me but it did.
I spoke on love but the message did not move me, the people did. There was not a lot of people, I have spoken to bigger crowds, it was just different.
There are things that cannot be explained. This was one of those times. I left feeling like God had blessed me. It was a feeling, not a moment or an experience, just a feeling that has been with me ever since. I am blessed, enjoying life, smiling as I write this entry. I do not worry about what comes next because God will supply my needs I just walk the road. If I mess up and fail, I start again. No shame, no anger because I am no longer my own. I have finally lost my mind. I am not cool, I am not collected but I have never had greater focus... focus is a powerful thing.
Some people at the church asked me what I am currently doing. Shared that I was a church planter. Most people when they find out they just say wow that is interesting (which means "you are crazy") or how does that work (which means "you are crazy"). The people here said that is quite an adventure (which means "you are crazy") but it is a better way of saying it.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
loose ends
Well among our many prayer requests in the current journey one was the need to rent our property in Lodi CA. This was one of the areas that we have said alright God you called us, we need renters.
Once again as always God has provided, we have renters as of September 1st. So on that date we become homeless. Depending on where we are at in our fund raising we will either be moving for a short time to Fremont CA with my wives parents or to Chico CA.
Continue to pray for our fund raising.
Philippians 4:9 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Blessings
Once again as always God has provided, we have renters as of September 1st. So on that date we become homeless. Depending on where we are at in our fund raising we will either be moving for a short time to Fremont CA with my wives parents or to Chico CA.
Continue to pray for our fund raising.
Philippians 4:9 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Blessings
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
just added
We were just added the current planting projects page on the Sunergeo website.
Check it out http://www.sunergeo.org/projects.html
You can also make donations online by clicking the Donate button in the left hand toolbar.
Check it out http://www.sunergeo.org/projects.html
You can also make donations online by clicking the Donate button in the left hand toolbar.
August 10th
We are continuing on in the fund raising process we still need a lot of support.
On August 10th we will be at InRoads Church in Fremont CA
http://www.inroadschurch.com/
I will be speaking briefly in both of the morning services 9:00am and 10:30am followed by a luncheon were we will be sharing our vision.
During the luncheon people will be able to commit support.
Please come if you are able to attend.
Continue to lift us up in prayer as we are following God's call on our lives.
On August 10th we will be at InRoads Church in Fremont CA
http://www.inroadschurch.com/
I will be speaking briefly in both of the morning services 9:00am and 10:30am followed by a luncheon were we will be sharing our vision.
During the luncheon people will be able to commit support.
Please come if you are able to attend.
Continue to lift us up in prayer as we are following God's call on our lives.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
moving along
Well we have had some success in our fund raising but we have more work ahead of us.
We still need a great deal more support to be able to move to Chico CA.
Please pray for us.
We still need a great deal more support to be able to move to Chico CA.
Please pray for us.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
First Presentation
This past weekend we had a family reunion in Fremont for Elizabeth's family. On Sunday Night after the party I had a chance to sit the immediate family down and do a vision presentation, allow people to support us and receive some critique.
This was a big step for me because I have always been one who struggles with criticism. I tend to disconnect to the job at had if I feel that improvement is needed. God has really changed my heart on this issue because I finished my presentation and opened for questions and feedback. It was one of the most positive experiences that I have ever had. In the past I had a supervisor that handed down negative criticism that was derogatory toward me personally. He equated my performance with me as a person and it was a hurtful experience. In the moments after the presentation I received harsh criticism but in the context of love and it was awesome. The feedback was accurate and helpful and since I have reworked the presentation based on the suggestions and now I think that it is a great deal better. I was very happy that I allowed myself to be vulnerable and share my passion. The critique do not come in the form of how I should change my values but in how I can communicate them better. Oh and yes people were able to commit some support.
The biggest thing that I learned that night was the simple fact that if I am not passionate about my vision they will not support it. I learned that as much as I am communicating a vision I need to connect with the listeners.
After the night had closed and everyone had gone to their beds my mother-in-law came to me and said that one of the people in the room was very impressed with our willingness to take the huge risk and move some where and start from scratch. I had never really thought of the risk involved. Now more than ever I am convinced that this is God's calling on my life.
This was a big step for me because I have always been one who struggles with criticism. I tend to disconnect to the job at had if I feel that improvement is needed. God has really changed my heart on this issue because I finished my presentation and opened for questions and feedback. It was one of the most positive experiences that I have ever had. In the past I had a supervisor that handed down negative criticism that was derogatory toward me personally. He equated my performance with me as a person and it was a hurtful experience. In the moments after the presentation I received harsh criticism but in the context of love and it was awesome. The feedback was accurate and helpful and since I have reworked the presentation based on the suggestions and now I think that it is a great deal better. I was very happy that I allowed myself to be vulnerable and share my passion. The critique do not come in the form of how I should change my values but in how I can communicate them better. Oh and yes people were able to commit some support.
The biggest thing that I learned that night was the simple fact that if I am not passionate about my vision they will not support it. I learned that as much as I am communicating a vision I need to connect with the listeners.
After the night had closed and everyone had gone to their beds my mother-in-law came to me and said that one of the people in the room was very impressed with our willingness to take the huge risk and move some where and start from scratch. I had never really thought of the risk involved. Now more than ever I am convinced that this is God's calling on my life.
Church Planting begins
Well it is true! I was approved by the BGC to plant a church as of June 12th. It was a great moment of accomplishment followed by a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning.
The next day we began a training seminar for church planting called First Steps. That lasted for an evening, a day and the following morning. It was a ton of information in a short amount of time. After this long week we returned to CA from WI with a sigh of relief having survived the Midwest.
But first thing Monday morning was a meeting for final approval with our local team. That happened quickly and since then I have been filling out forms and doing a vision presentation. Upon receiving my fund raising cards, I can finally start sending out letters and setting up appointments. This has been a long process that has only begun. Please faithful virtual friends pray for us as we fundraise so that we can get on the field.
The next day we began a training seminar for church planting called First Steps. That lasted for an evening, a day and the following morning. It was a ton of information in a short amount of time. After this long week we returned to CA from WI with a sigh of relief having survived the Midwest.
But first thing Monday morning was a meeting for final approval with our local team. That happened quickly and since then I have been filling out forms and doing a vision presentation. Upon receiving my fund raising cards, I can finally start sending out letters and setting up appointments. This has been a long process that has only begun. Please faithful virtual friends pray for us as we fundraise so that we can get on the field.
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