therstblog

OK!, you’ve asked, wondered & some have even questioned, so here it is…

The “plan” for us to make peculiarplace church a reality & more importantly the church that God is building to come along side & partner with the communities of Old Fourth Ward & Inman Park for transformation like never before!!

What we need from you, yes you: pray, review, see what, if any, role you can play, pray, spread the word, GIVE, volunteer, help us brainstorm & stay true to the vision of “making Jesus famous through the way we LIVE, LOVE, & GIVE, then PRAY that God’s perfect Will will be done in these two communities through His church!

LET’S GO!!

March-April
Enlist 9 additional core team members (25 Total)
• Possible core team friends
• Spending more time in neighborhood gathering places
• Initiating intentional conversations with neighbors
• Continue to meet on Sunday evenings
• Launch 20forone.com as a portal for people to partner w ppc in prayer & finances.
• Open ppc bank account

May
Prepare for summer activities
• Community leader development
• Promotion of events
• Finalize event venues
• Secure event material and equipment

June-July
Enlist 25 additional core team members (50 Total)
• Intentionally converse with summer event participants
• Redesign and redefine communication portals
• Introduce ministry and communication portals to participants
• Request feedback from participants
• Follow up on feedback
Facilitate Summer Events
• Manage and strategically use power plant and splash teams
• Lead teams to conduct surveys
• Lead teams to prayer walk
• Lead teams to perform clean-ups
• Lead teams to minister to nursing home residents
• Lead splash team to create a dog celebration
• Offer summer movies for community

June-August
Prepare for launch service
• Finalize use of facility for church services
• Secure all decorations for nursery
• Purchase tunnel prop for children service
• Construct a divider for the children area
• Request 75 chairs from churches
• Enlist musicians
• Secure $1000 for first month’s rent and launch service expenses
• Design materials for launch service
• Advertize launch service
• Worship rehearsals
• Conduct a preview service on August 29th

LAUNCH SUNDAY: SEPTEMBER 12

Personal Goals
• Locate less expensive place to live
• Complete assessment
• Complete basic training
• Prepare to preach weekly
• Meet financial commitments
• Stop worrying and don’t give into fear

WOW! That quietly sums up the amazing time Esther and I had this past weekend as we traveled to Fort Mill, SC for the Global Impact Celebration of First Baptist Church Fort Mill. I am still processing and unpacking all that we have seen, experienced and learned.

We made some incredible new friendships that i pray last a lifetime. Our host family, The Collins, were the most gracious host. We laughed, we ate, we cried, we shared, we received and we gave. They have two teenage boys, David and Kevin who are on FIRE for God. Two dogs who had me wrapped around their paws. They have set the bar really high for us the next time we have to serve or have anyone spending any time with us.

We also had the priviledge of sharing lunch with a pastor and soul-winner whose ministry and church is single handedly responsible for transforming Downtown, inner city-the hood, Memphis, Tenn. Over the last 23+ years they have seen over 45,000 people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. He, Pastor Ronnie, is responsible for several Gangsta Disciple leaders giving their life to Christ. We sat at the dining table of the Collins family as he shared his heart, passion and wisdom about inner city ministry and how it is our responsibility to share Christ with those who are far from God.I am truly greatful for his desire to spend time with us, and to want to impart and share with us. For that I am truly greatful!

Again, i am still unpacking all that I got from this trip. I am seeking God for direction and for our next step. But what I know and don’t have to pray about is that the Gospel transforms lives, communities and cities if shared properly!!!

The family at FBCFM were the MOST gracious and loving people we may have ever spent time with. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed with open arms. We were loved on and made to feel loved all weekend.

We were one of two church planter families there. There were also missionaries there from Brazil, Nicaragua, Africa, Asia, Indonesia and so many other places.

We made some new friends, which we pray become partners!

I just want to thank everyone involved in getting us involved in this adventure, and our new friends and family at FBCFM!! We look forward to big things in the very near future!!!

We are still in need of 6000.00 within the next week. If you have the ability to give anything toward this need, we would greatly appreciate it!

We are still in need of your prayers. Yesterday we found out that my wife’s grandfather passed in Haiti. We are praying for her & her families peace & comfort.

We are still praying that a possible location for our launch in Sept will be made available to us.

We are still praying for Esther to get a great job & for me to find a better job so that Esther & I are able to be both sustainable & be the givers to the Kingdom business that God has called us to!

Love you!

Good morning!! I’m writing to you this morning to ask all of you to come in agreement with us as we pray for God to do some major things in our life…

Jobs: Esther & I are desperately searching for jobs. Why? Well, we have decided that we must be self sufficient is this church planting climate. We want to be able to do, instead of just getting by. Will you pray with us?

Projects: a huge meeting takes place today concerning our Easter project. We also have a project on the table for O4W’s children that can be life changing to some degree. We also need you to join with us in praying that as we serve O4W we multiply.

Resources: with only a few days left in the week. We REALLY need your help with financial support. Do you know someone who could write a check today for 500.00, 1000.00 or more? We need at least 6000.00 by the end of the week!!! For what? A portion is for our support, for our projects & for the business of peculiarplace. Will you give? Will you pray?

My family: we have been hit in our health consistently the last few weeks & could really use your prayers as we believe God for healing & divine health as we venture to do what God has called us to do.

Peculiarplace: as we are less than 8 months away from launching a new thing in Old Fourth Ward we could use your prayers! We need everything anyone starting a new church needs, finances, PEOPLE, ideas, creatives, location & your PRAYERS. we are believing God to show us exactly how to make Jesus famous through the way we LIVE, LOVE, & GIVE!!

According to Matt 18:19-20 AGREEMENT is crucial and an important element in a successful prayer life, we are asking you to be in agreement with us concerning these these things. And if you can give, give.

Thank you!!

I’ve asked myself this question a million times! I’ve probably been asked this question even more!

Am I ready? With the economy the way that it is, is planting a church wise? Why the city? Why not work at a church, then plant? I could go on but I believe you get the point.

All valid questions, in which I’ve searched for answers & keep coming back to a still small voice trapped in my mind. The echoes of God’s voice are clear precise & intimidating!

GO!!

I wasn’t there, but I can only imagine the things that went through Abraham’s mind as he heard & heeded “The Call”. I don’t profess to be Abraham, just to clear the air, but I do share his passion to be obedient, no matter the cost!!

So, why here… Because He said so. Why now, because He said so.

It’s up to me, to be obedient, stay in constant communication, to trust, to lead & to BE who He called me to be.

Today is a new beginning! And, honestly it’s not the first new beginning, it’s up to me though to see it through to the end, no waivering & no turning back!!

Because HE is…!!!!