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

Possibly because it is often a one way street. Right? When someone needs something from you, no matter how NOBLE the cause, you just want them to STOP, DROP & ROLL AWAY before they ever even think about asking you.

The economy being as UGLY as it is doesn’t help, but that is often an excuse or better translated as I don’t WANT to give to your cause. I say that because Walmart is still packed, sporting events and concerts are still sold out, and well BIG LCD TVs are still being sold everywhere.

But seriously, this is not about spending habits or priorities, this is simply about me needing you and you, whether you know it or not, needing me. This is about your prayer time, you pleas before God, your effectual fervent praying that bring forth much fruit! This is about you praying for me, my family and peculiarplace church.

I have created a new page on my blog specifically for you. A page outlining our desire for YOU to partner with us & be a part of our prayer team.

THIS IS SERIOUS!! I CANNOT STRESS HOW SERIOUS THIS IS!

the spiritual warfare that we, and anyone seeking to take territory BACK for the Kingdom, face is REAL. And simply put, we cannot remain a Christ like family, plant this church, offer the gospel to all for the transformation of the kingdom without YOUR prayers.

Go here NOW and sign up. I’m pleading with you, if you fit the criteria, then sign up. There is nothing to think about, pray about or talk about. Just do it!

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!!!

Seriously, what are you waiting for? How many signs, how much “confirmation” do you need, how will you prove Him & His Word if you never ever get in the boat.

A carpenter tells a professional fishermen how, when & where to fish. The professional has just come from the lake & caught NOTHING! I mean he could catch a cold in the waters that this “carpenter” tell him to go back into & “cast His net”! The PRO, decides to listen, he is OBEDIENT, he DOES & GOES just where he is told to go.
And low and behold his nets cannot handle the weight of the “catch”!!! He is overwhelmed with the ABUNDANCE of his “catch”….

Great story right!

Now take a moment & think about “where” this same Carpenter, Jesus, has told you to cast your net. Did you? Or did you say that it’s too hard? I don’t have the right equipment, I’m not ready, I’m a PROFESSIONAL & there are NO “fish” in that lake. I’ve fished here a thousand times & have not even gotten a nibble! This lake(city) is not like the lake(suburbs) you fish in, your bait won’t work here.

Whether the Carpenter has commanded you to “fish” at your job, on your block, at your church or to start a new church get in the freakin boat and fish!!!!

He said I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of MEN! PERIOD! It’s His responsibility to MAKE you & I fishers, but it’s OUR responsibility to OBEY! No excuse is worthy of even being breathed in the context of HIS COMMAND!

So, now what are you waiting for? Oh wait let me guess, you don’t have a boat? Right! If that EXCUSE works for you, then cool. But for me & my house… We will obey!!!

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!

The reality is that I have fallen & am fortunate to say that I was able to get up.

I fell victim to not trusting God, I fell victim to the idea that my dreams & vision was contingent on “where” I was planting His church, I allowed the fear & excuses of others to become my own & lastly I believed that “the city” was larger than my God.

Today is a new day! I have decided that God can… It’s as simple as that & God will!! As large as my faith, He will deliver, as much trust as I put in Him He will provide!

Peculiarplace church WILL NOT be bound by the perceptions, fear or history of church planting in “the city”, nor will I make another excuse for me not trusting Him to be bigger than any city, community, any circumstance, situation or problem!

God IS! He is alive and well! He is the king of kings & the lord of lords! Period!!!

He called us to be fishers of men, not make excuses about why men weren’t accepting of the bait or why the lake was not producing a “catch”. We cannot drop our nets if we won’t even get in the boat!!!!!

September 12th of 2010 is the date set aside & asigned to the launch of peculiarplace church!! PERIOD!!

Love ya!!

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!!

we, as the body, the leaders, pastors, church planters & anyone else who fits in this category MUST discontinue immediately this contest of “whose is bigger”!!! even more important, those like myself who are in the process of building something must not get caught up in measuring ourselves against others wondering why we aren’t as big!!

I know the metaphor may be a little crass, but it’s really time out for the foolishness… and here is why!

“I am the vine, you are the branches…” remember this scripture? ok, follow me please. there is another scripture that says, “…you shall know my sons & daughters by thier fruit…” (paraphrasing). you still with me?

people, when someone confess Christ as thier Lord, they are not fruit! they are another branch added to the vine! a branch like you, who now becomes responsible for producing it’s OWN fruit!!

so what are we really measuring? what are the fruit then?

I believe, the fruit we MUST produce occur at your job when you get a pink slip, when the gossip crowd gathers around your desk, when “that” lady wears “that” outfit or skirt, when “that” man flirts with you, when you can’t pay a bill, when you feel your life is worthless, when your relationship is hanging by a thread… HOW YOU RESPOND IN THE FACE OF THESE AND OTHER SITUATIONS ARE FRUIT!

the only fruit, no I don’t think so! how you treat your wife, kids, family that’s fruit. how you give if you give, that’s fruit.

all I’m saying, there’s so much more I want to say, is that this not a pissing contest, nor is it a “stand around the boys lockeroom with a ruler” contest either!

we’ve got to get it together, & that definitely includes me!!!

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…!!!!

Why?

Because of the 14 plus thousand residents that call Historic Old Fourth Ward, O4W, home 80% do NOT attend church regularly, if at all!!

Because 80% comes to over 11,000 people, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, teachers, CEO’s, friends, neighbors, nurses that would spend an ETERNITY in Hell! If that don’t move you then I’m not sure what will.

Because we are not simply starting a church, but our DESIRE & PRAYER is to build, transform a community with Christ as the HEAD. to be an example for other communities that call Atlanta home.

Because O4W is an extremely diverse community which gives a great chance to create a church/ community that resembles Heaven!

As missionaries it is our responsibility to BE a part of this community, to BE good neighbors, to BE the LIGHT, to BE the church & to BE THE ONLY JESUS THAT OUR NEIGHBORS MAY EVER KNOW! and in order to do that WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Pray about it. Then GO!

Imagine what two less Starbucks fixes a week, one less lunch out a week or drink or two less at the bar or club could do for us, the future of peculiarplace, this community and the Kingdom of God!!

Click the donate button below and become a weekly, monthly partner or simply give a one time donation that would assist us in doing the work of the ministry God is birthing in us!

I thank you and my family thanks you!