This morning getting ready I prayed that God would lead me to the person he wants me to speak to today. He did. That was an investment that I was not prepared for, much patience was needed, God granted me to the needed tools and I learned something new.
I spent a long time speaking with a man who really needed someone to talk to, he was a little different but still needing love like all of us. That is the challenge of ministry.
Matthew 25:22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
How could I expect to lead a ministry if I cannot love one awkward person? How could I be a servant of Jesus if I cannot love the least of these? The everyday of following Jesus is being faithful with little things.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
reflections of time well spent...
We are coming up on completing our fist year as Church Planters. We moved to Chico on January 17th 2009 with a plan and a vision. Now a year later the vision remains but the plan has been reworked many, many times. the words of James ring clearly in my ears. James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For t you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
We have remained flexible and now preface all of our plans with if God is willing. As we come into the new year we see things falling into place and we are really excited. So we will be taking the month of January to hold prayer meetings dedicating our work and the work of Fusion Church to God. We are inviting Pastor's and intercessors from other Churches in town to join us for prayer. I want to make sure that we are truly following after God every step of the way as well as working together with other congregations and believers in town.
I would like to invite all of you to prayer with us in the next month as we follow after God in the new year.
We have remained flexible and now preface all of our plans with if God is willing. As we come into the new year we see things falling into place and we are really excited. So we will be taking the month of January to hold prayer meetings dedicating our work and the work of Fusion Church to God. We are inviting Pastor's and intercessors from other Churches in town to join us for prayer. I want to make sure that we are truly following after God every step of the way as well as working together with other congregations and believers in town.
I would like to invite all of you to prayer with us in the next month as we follow after God in the new year.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
in need of prayer
We have made it through all four of our preview gatherings. The next step is some prayer meetings and a launch. Please pray for us as we look at what it will mean for us to meet every Sunday morning.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
November 2009 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
Here we are again. The end of the year is fast approaching and we can’t believe how quickly it has flown by!! As we come close to Thanksgiving we are realizing how much we have to be thankful for. We are also reminded that we should be thankful to our Savior everyday, not just once a year!
First off we are very thankful for all of you. We are thankful for those that have committed to us financially and have faithfully given every month. We are thankful to those that have committed to pray for us and are doing so regularly. We feel those prayers covering us and are very comforted by them.
We are also thankful for the work God has done in Chico. Our last preview service had a great turn out. We had a wonderful intimate time of worship and heard a powerful testimony and message. The relationships we have built here are growing stronger daily. Jeremy continues to serve regularly at the Jesus Center and making a positive impact in the community. Fusion Church is getting known and building a solid reputation in the community.
Jeremy is in talks with the Chico Fire Department about becoming their Chaplin. This is an amazing opportunity for him to give back to a group of men who are constantly giving to the community and keeping us safe. A lot of these men do not know the Lord and it is a great opportunity to minister to them. We should know more about this in the coming weeks and will keep you posted
As you well know we are in the thick of fundraising an additional $1,000 a month. Well God has proven faithful once again and we are already half way there!! We ask that you pray with us as we continue to work towards our goal. If you are already giving to us and find yourself in a place where you can increase your giving you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org. Just indicate the additional amount you are able to give and you are all set! You may also do this if you would like to commit for the first time.
As always we thank you and praise God for you!! We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
Here we are again. The end of the year is fast approaching and we can’t believe how quickly it has flown by!! As we come close to Thanksgiving we are realizing how much we have to be thankful for. We are also reminded that we should be thankful to our Savior everyday, not just once a year!
First off we are very thankful for all of you. We are thankful for those that have committed to us financially and have faithfully given every month. We are thankful to those that have committed to pray for us and are doing so regularly. We feel those prayers covering us and are very comforted by them.
We are also thankful for the work God has done in Chico. Our last preview service had a great turn out. We had a wonderful intimate time of worship and heard a powerful testimony and message. The relationships we have built here are growing stronger daily. Jeremy continues to serve regularly at the Jesus Center and making a positive impact in the community. Fusion Church is getting known and building a solid reputation in the community.
Jeremy is in talks with the Chico Fire Department about becoming their Chaplin. This is an amazing opportunity for him to give back to a group of men who are constantly giving to the community and keeping us safe. A lot of these men do not know the Lord and it is a great opportunity to minister to them. We should know more about this in the coming weeks and will keep you posted
As you well know we are in the thick of fundraising an additional $1,000 a month. Well God has proven faithful once again and we are already half way there!! We ask that you pray with us as we continue to work towards our goal. If you are already giving to us and find yourself in a place where you can increase your giving you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org. Just indicate the additional amount you are able to give and you are all set! You may also do this if you would like to commit for the first time.
As always we thank you and praise God for you!! We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
October 2009 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
This month we held our second preview gathering! This time around the gathering reflected our vision and what we want to do here in Chico. We are very excited for the way that God touched the people who came. We once again saw people find us through different avenues and it was great meeting them for the first time. We are praying that these people with connect with us and come back again.
After the gathering on Sunday night we invited people to come to a Thursday Night Bible Study. We have been encouraged by the people who have came to our Bible Study and more people who seem to be interested. We are going to be going through the book of Romans. Please pray for us as we struggle through the hard concepts in this book.
It has been an adventure coming to the community with a few contacts and seeing God make great connections. We are humbled by the way that God has brought healing to some and friendship to others. We stand amazed by his grace to us through the fulfilling work that he has allowed us to do. We are truly blessed by the support that we have received through prayer and financial gifts.
God is doing great things in Chico and he is using all of you as his vessels to make that happen. Thank you for your continued support financially and prayerfully. We have 3 months to raise $1,000 more a month so if you find yourself in place where you can increase your support we would be very appreciative. We ask that you pray with us that we will reach this goal and also that God would continue to grow his church in Chico.
Also if you are not currently supporting us, but now find yourself in a position to do so, now is the time. You may increase your giving or make a first time commitment at http://www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. If you have not yet sent in your support for October please do so at this time. Thank you again for your support. We are also always praying for each of you and thanking God for you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
This month we held our second preview gathering! This time around the gathering reflected our vision and what we want to do here in Chico. We are very excited for the way that God touched the people who came. We once again saw people find us through different avenues and it was great meeting them for the first time. We are praying that these people with connect with us and come back again.
After the gathering on Sunday night we invited people to come to a Thursday Night Bible Study. We have been encouraged by the people who have came to our Bible Study and more people who seem to be interested. We are going to be going through the book of Romans. Please pray for us as we struggle through the hard concepts in this book.
It has been an adventure coming to the community with a few contacts and seeing God make great connections. We are humbled by the way that God has brought healing to some and friendship to others. We stand amazed by his grace to us through the fulfilling work that he has allowed us to do. We are truly blessed by the support that we have received through prayer and financial gifts.
God is doing great things in Chico and he is using all of you as his vessels to make that happen. Thank you for your continued support financially and prayerfully. We have 3 months to raise $1,000 more a month so if you find yourself in place where you can increase your support we would be very appreciative. We ask that you pray with us that we will reach this goal and also that God would continue to grow his church in Chico.
Also if you are not currently supporting us, but now find yourself in a position to do so, now is the time. You may increase your giving or make a first time commitment at http://www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. If you have not yet sent in your support for October please do so at this time. Thank you again for your support. We are also always praying for each of you and thanking God for you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
virtue of maintenance
So many time the small things of life are overlooked. Installing a toilet is viewed as lower than gaining education. Changing spark plugs is lower than teaching a class. Why have we come to believe these things? Why do we prize paying someone to talk at us more than physical work? Why is it that I prefer a plumber to a student or a mechanic to a professor?
The world has become and interesting dualism. Where the world of the mind is viewed higher than the world of the hands. This is never more apparent than the Church in the world today. When has knowing the greek mattered to a woman who has lost a child? When has eschatology mattered to a family struggling to make ends meet?
My mind has wandered to this point because I sit here typing while my hands hurt from working on my car. Why do they hurt? Because I use my mind to avoid the labor of my hands. My hands can serve a meal, my hands car rake a yard but my mind can only think grand thoughts. Which matters more to you?
I propose that the seminarian spend time as a janitor.
To learn the virtue of maintenance.
I propose that I spend less time thinking and more time doing.
feedback please...
this is an incomplete thought...
The world has become and interesting dualism. Where the world of the mind is viewed higher than the world of the hands. This is never more apparent than the Church in the world today. When has knowing the greek mattered to a woman who has lost a child? When has eschatology mattered to a family struggling to make ends meet?
My mind has wandered to this point because I sit here typing while my hands hurt from working on my car. Why do they hurt? Because I use my mind to avoid the labor of my hands. My hands can serve a meal, my hands car rake a yard but my mind can only think grand thoughts. Which matters more to you?
I propose that the seminarian spend time as a janitor.
To learn the virtue of maintenance.
I propose that I spend less time thinking and more time doing.
feedback please...
this is an incomplete thought...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September 2009 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
This month marked our first preview service for Fusion! It was very exciting planning and anticipating the evening. We were very pleased with the way that it went and are very excited about what God is going to do. We had 20 adults and 5 kids at the first service. We had great worship and message. And we learned of things that we will do different next time to be more inline with our vision. We also invited all in attendance to have fellowship in our home as well as serve with us in the community. We are continuing to serve at the Jesus Center and will also be participating in a Walk for Gold, which is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.
As well as the service went we still have a ways to go. We ask that you pray for us as we continue to nail down the way we decide to have the services. We want Fusion to reach a group of people that are currently not being met in a church and in order to do that we need to do church differently. We are still trying to define what exactly that will look like. We also ask that you pray for the people who were there that they would come back and that we would have people get excited about the vision and grow to have a close personal relationship with Christ, because after all that is the whole purpose of what we are doing here!
God is doing amazing things and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you and your support. We are overwhelmed with the knowledge that so many people are praying for us! Thank you so much for all of your encouragement, prayers, and financial support. We have 4 months to raise $1,000 more a month so if you find yourself in place where you can increase your support we would be very appreciative. Also if you are not currently supporting us, but now find yourself in a position to do so, now is the time. You may increase your giving or make a first time commitment at www.sunergeo.org/donate. If you have not yet sent in your support for September please do so at this time. Thank you again for your support. We are also always praying for each of you and thanking God for you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
This month marked our first preview service for Fusion! It was very exciting planning and anticipating the evening. We were very pleased with the way that it went and are very excited about what God is going to do. We had 20 adults and 5 kids at the first service. We had great worship and message. And we learned of things that we will do different next time to be more inline with our vision. We also invited all in attendance to have fellowship in our home as well as serve with us in the community. We are continuing to serve at the Jesus Center and will also be participating in a Walk for Gold, which is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.
As well as the service went we still have a ways to go. We ask that you pray for us as we continue to nail down the way we decide to have the services. We want Fusion to reach a group of people that are currently not being met in a church and in order to do that we need to do church differently. We are still trying to define what exactly that will look like. We also ask that you pray for the people who were there that they would come back and that we would have people get excited about the vision and grow to have a close personal relationship with Christ, because after all that is the whole purpose of what we are doing here!
God is doing amazing things and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you and your support. We are overwhelmed with the knowledge that so many people are praying for us! Thank you so much for all of your encouragement, prayers, and financial support. We have 4 months to raise $1,000 more a month so if you find yourself in place where you can increase your support we would be very appreciative. Also if you are not currently supporting us, but now find yourself in a position to do so, now is the time. You may increase your giving or make a first time commitment at www.sunergeo.org/donate. If you have not yet sent in your support for September please do so at this time. Thank you again for your support. We are also always praying for each of you and thanking God for you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
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