Just FYI...here is a copy of our August newsletter. It's been really cool to see God provide through His people.
Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you can attest, Central Florida + Summer = huge, afternoon thunderstorms. So the other day I found myself attempting to get out to run some errands when one of these storms rolled in. There I was in the car, stuck in traffic, as things had come to a screeching halt. Honestly, I was quite annoyed. Frustrated that the only thing doing any driving was the rain. Then, for whatever reason, my perspective shifted. God brought to mind that rain was not something to be annoyed at, but was a sign of His sustenance and blessing. In fact, the Scriptures are full of this reality. In a culture that relied heavily on rain in order to survive, people would make a point of stopping to give thanks for the rain. And so, as we start this apprenticeship, we want to thank you whole-heartedly for BEING RAIN FOR US! In that moment, stuck in traffic, it was as if God said “this is what I am doing for you through your friends and family.”
Thank you for partnering with us in both prayer and financial support. It is our intention to keep you all informed at least monthly through these newsletters. Many of you have asked what exactly I will be doing, so let me take a moment to explain...
August 1st brought the official start of the church planting apprenticeship. I have spent much of the past couple weeks connecting with other leaders and beginning the work of developing our church planting plan. The next year is broken into trimesters, with monthly goals. This first month will be focused on the following areas:
- Develop Vision
- Define Values
- Define Doctrinal Statement
- Timeline and plan for gathering a Core Group
Though this initial work is highly conceptual, it is critical for the success of the plant. These things will define and shape the church for years to come. Please pray that the vision and values would be rooted in Scripture. Please pray that God would grant wisdom as we try to plan for a church that is both faithful and relevant to our context. Ultimately pray that we would plan and plant the church Jesus wants and not what we want. We truly feel blessed and are excited about the journey God has us on...thanks for joining us in the journey ahead!
May the Peace of Christ Be With You,
Jamie & Heather
Download august_newsletter.pdf
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