I know I haven't posted in a spell, but it has been a very busy season here of late. Recently in my life I have had to make some very difficult decisions. I had been at a church that I loved very much. Great relationships with the people there, the Senior Pastor had somewhat taken me under his wing, I was ordained there, and it was a place where you could tell God was working. I learned so much through the church. I saw what a church is supposed to look like, and how the people are supposed to stand in the gap for each other when they are hurting. It was through this church that I was introduced to another group of churches out of state, and gained a new mentor through those churches. I went through some training on how to pastor a church in practical application. I am extremely grateful for that oppurtunity, because I assure you, I am a much better follower of Christ now than I was before going through this "Idiot Training."
So everything was going along very well, and then the unthinkable happened. I was told that the church I was ordained staff at may not be able to continue, as we were having a hard time making ends meet. Seriously? How can this be? Why is this happening? We have such an amazing group of people. What is going on? Of course there are many variables and many possible answers for these questions. The answers aren't important. What was important was that my church, a multi-site location, was closing the doors and we were to return back to home base, like soldiers returning from a tour of duty.
At the same time, in the group of churches where I had been training, a Campus Pastor position had become available, and I was being seriously considered for the position. I was told all about the location and the people. Really a good situation to get into. A great situation actually. Maybe this was where God was leading me.
All the while, my Pastor, my dear friend, mentor, Brother, and fellow soldier of Christ, wanted me to come back home and regroup. Wanted to take a little time for me to look at the future. See what God had in store. He had been telling me for a long time that he believed God has some great things in store. Just let me go through a season of R&R to prepare to get back at it. There are so many potential ministry oppurtunities in this particular church, and I had no doubt I could plug in and do God's work there, advancing His kingdom. It really is an amazing church with amazing people and great leadership.
But here is the thing, when we announced at the church we were at that we would not be able to continue in that town, my heart broke for all the broken hearts I saw. So much devastation. So much hurt. Confusion and anger, sadness and despair. So many emotions. I hurt for those that were hurting. I felt like Jesus when he looked on the crowds and He had compassion on them.
I have known for many years that one day I would start a church. God revealed it to me a long time ago. But I didn't think it would be any time soon. But when I found out we were closing, I started praying and asking God, "Is now the time?". When I saw those hurting people, I knew that yes, now is the time. Proverbs 3:27 says "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." I knew what I had to do. But I had a problem, even though I felt God was speaking to me very clearly, my pastor did not think this was the right time. I felt more confused than ever. Did I mishear God? Did I need to put the other church, out of state back on the table? Because if I misheard, I felt I needed to start back at square one.
But then the most incredible thing happened.... I had just sat down at lunch with some guys, and my phone rang. It was my pastor. I answered. He told me that in his prayer time, God had revealed to him that he needed to bless what I was going to do. So he called me to let me know that I had his full blessing. He asked only that I do one thing. I will never forget. "Love the people. Can you do that? Will you love them?" I said, "Absolutely! That is why I am doing this!" So with my pastor's full blessing, I knew that I had heard right. I knew what I was to do. I am like one of those soldiers that goes to war and doesn't want to come home because he believes in what he is fighting for. Those soldiers don't want to leave the battlefield until the war is won, or they take their last breath. I knew I would not be resting, but taking the fight to the enemy.
And with that, a church that had already been conceived, already named, was born into this world. God had already given me the name, Sold Out Church. Because we want to be SOLD OUT to Jesus. And because Acts 20:28 says to be "sheperds of the church of God for it was bought with His own blood." If something was bought, it has to have been sold. And the church was bought at the highest price.
We sent out some invitations to some people to come to our house for a directional meeting. And the RSVP's started pouring in. My house was full on that Wednesday night. I cast a vision to the people and told them what God was leading me to do. I told them that Sold Out Church was going to be started and they were all welcome. I asked them when they might be interested in having Sunday services, and they overwhelmingly decided that very Sunday.
So we had our first Sunday service and 41 adults were there. We had a house full of kids!! I preached a message from Joshua chapter 10 about the sun standing still. Told everyone it would take that type of faith and those types of prayers to see this grow. I let them know that even though God will show up and do His part, we will have to march all night and we will still have to fight the fight. And I knew that we had a sun stand still task ahead of us because it was our first service and we had already outgrown our location!
By God's provision, we were offered a place that we can use to conduct services. This past Sunday we had our first service in the new building, and our numbers were up, giving was up, and glory be to God and God alone, we saw our first salvation!!! AMEN!!!
So I guess all of this is to let you know why I haven't been blogging. And maybe to let you know, that the devil better look out because we are going to relentlessly take the fight to him to advance the Kingdom of God. We have a vision to make Jesus known to a hurting world and to develop SOLD OUT followers of Him. We will fight for our vision until the war is won when Jesus comes back, or until we take our dying breath. Please pray that God will lead us in all, because we can't fulfill our mission without Him leading! Be blessed!
So everything was going along very well, and then the unthinkable happened. I was told that the church I was ordained staff at may not be able to continue, as we were having a hard time making ends meet. Seriously? How can this be? Why is this happening? We have such an amazing group of people. What is going on? Of course there are many variables and many possible answers for these questions. The answers aren't important. What was important was that my church, a multi-site location, was closing the doors and we were to return back to home base, like soldiers returning from a tour of duty.
At the same time, in the group of churches where I had been training, a Campus Pastor position had become available, and I was being seriously considered for the position. I was told all about the location and the people. Really a good situation to get into. A great situation actually. Maybe this was where God was leading me.
All the while, my Pastor, my dear friend, mentor, Brother, and fellow soldier of Christ, wanted me to come back home and regroup. Wanted to take a little time for me to look at the future. See what God had in store. He had been telling me for a long time that he believed God has some great things in store. Just let me go through a season of R&R to prepare to get back at it. There are so many potential ministry oppurtunities in this particular church, and I had no doubt I could plug in and do God's work there, advancing His kingdom. It really is an amazing church with amazing people and great leadership.
But here is the thing, when we announced at the church we were at that we would not be able to continue in that town, my heart broke for all the broken hearts I saw. So much devastation. So much hurt. Confusion and anger, sadness and despair. So many emotions. I hurt for those that were hurting. I felt like Jesus when he looked on the crowds and He had compassion on them.
I have known for many years that one day I would start a church. God revealed it to me a long time ago. But I didn't think it would be any time soon. But when I found out we were closing, I started praying and asking God, "Is now the time?". When I saw those hurting people, I knew that yes, now is the time. Proverbs 3:27 says "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." I knew what I had to do. But I had a problem, even though I felt God was speaking to me very clearly, my pastor did not think this was the right time. I felt more confused than ever. Did I mishear God? Did I need to put the other church, out of state back on the table? Because if I misheard, I felt I needed to start back at square one.
But then the most incredible thing happened.... I had just sat down at lunch with some guys, and my phone rang. It was my pastor. I answered. He told me that in his prayer time, God had revealed to him that he needed to bless what I was going to do. So he called me to let me know that I had his full blessing. He asked only that I do one thing. I will never forget. "Love the people. Can you do that? Will you love them?" I said, "Absolutely! That is why I am doing this!" So with my pastor's full blessing, I knew that I had heard right. I knew what I was to do. I am like one of those soldiers that goes to war and doesn't want to come home because he believes in what he is fighting for. Those soldiers don't want to leave the battlefield until the war is won, or they take their last breath. I knew I would not be resting, but taking the fight to the enemy.
And with that, a church that had already been conceived, already named, was born into this world. God had already given me the name, Sold Out Church. Because we want to be SOLD OUT to Jesus. And because Acts 20:28 says to be "sheperds of the church of God for it was bought with His own blood." If something was bought, it has to have been sold. And the church was bought at the highest price.
We sent out some invitations to some people to come to our house for a directional meeting. And the RSVP's started pouring in. My house was full on that Wednesday night. I cast a vision to the people and told them what God was leading me to do. I told them that Sold Out Church was going to be started and they were all welcome. I asked them when they might be interested in having Sunday services, and they overwhelmingly decided that very Sunday.
So we had our first Sunday service and 41 adults were there. We had a house full of kids!! I preached a message from Joshua chapter 10 about the sun standing still. Told everyone it would take that type of faith and those types of prayers to see this grow. I let them know that even though God will show up and do His part, we will have to march all night and we will still have to fight the fight. And I knew that we had a sun stand still task ahead of us because it was our first service and we had already outgrown our location!
By God's provision, we were offered a place that we can use to conduct services. This past Sunday we had our first service in the new building, and our numbers were up, giving was up, and glory be to God and God alone, we saw our first salvation!!! AMEN!!!
So I guess all of this is to let you know why I haven't been blogging. And maybe to let you know, that the devil better look out because we are going to relentlessly take the fight to him to advance the Kingdom of God. We have a vision to make Jesus known to a hurting world and to develop SOLD OUT followers of Him. We will fight for our vision until the war is won when Jesus comes back, or until we take our dying breath. Please pray that God will lead us in all, because we can't fulfill our mission without Him leading! Be blessed!
