Monday, April 4, 2011

April 2011 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update

Dear Family and Friends,

It is sunny, everything is in bloom, and there is still a cold chill in the air… Spring is wonderful in Chico!

We truly have been blessed through the trying times. God has confirmed over and over again that we are doing the right thing. We have been seeing God working in the lives of unchurched people that we are spending time with. I have a friend who is seeking right now, please pray that I have more opportunities to share Christ with him. A young woman who refuses to attend any church returned for the second week in a row. After the gathering she shared with me that she hates church but loved our gatherings, she told me that she even blogged about our gathering the previous week.

I have recently partnered with a friend of mine who is former Muslim from Kuwait.  We are working together to reach a growing Muslim population in Chico. He recently shared his testimony with us and that can be found on the website http://www.fusionchico.com/sermons/message3-13-11.mp3 if you click on the link or enter it in your Internet browser the audio will automatically begin playing.

Gabriella is coming to the end of her first year in school. It is amazing to see her learning so many new things and reading on her own. Josiah has had a hard time adjusting to Elizabeth needing to spend so much time with his little brother. Josiah keeps asking when Titus will be old enough to play with him. Gabriella and Josiah both love their little brother and always ask to hold him. Titus is growing fast he is 3 months old and wearing 6 month clothes. He is smiling and laughing, every Sunday when the message starts and he hears his Dad’s voice he gets really still. It makes me think about when we hear the voice of our Heavenly Father how we get really still and feel safe.

If you could pray for one thing for the ministry, pray that the Churches in Chico will wake up. The believers here are asleep. There are so many hurting people in need of Jesus and there are only a handful of believers reaching out. Fusion is a community that gathers to equip believers and scatters them back out to do the ministry. I recently asked the mid-week Bible study what I value most. They answered, discipleship, outreach, and service. I cannot wait until they value those things well.

Please remember us in your prayers because we are still in a very hard place financially. Many of you have been able to give above and beyond your normal giving and I thank you. Please remember to send in your support each month and share your prayer requests with us we do pray for those as we receive them.


Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes

Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com                                 
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com