God is continuing to work in Tacoma and there are countless stories to tell. I don't ever meant to sugar-coat things and make it sound like all is rosy but we are just blessed right now to be seeing open door after open door and continual spiritual growth in our new church. We know the difficulties and trials will be coming... because that is what Satan does... but we are not going to live in fear! We are going to be thankful for the blessings and confident in the victory we have in Jesus.
Just a few exciting things God is doing. Burke Mullins attends our church in Snoqualmie and owns sever franchises of Remedy Staffing agency-- the main one happens to office and serve the people of Tacoma, WA! We sat down for lunch on Monday and I was blown away by his ideas and heart to BOLDLY use his businesses to reach people for the kingdom. Through that lunch we have decided to print up material about The Pathway and another church that is closer to their offices in Olympia and he is going to have me come down and share with his entire staff who we are and what we are about... amazing! After that time of sharing he is going to have one of his staff personally hand to everyone of the over 3000 people who come through their doors yearly information on The Pathway... not just information on a table of brochures... a personal introduction to what God has for them... AWESOME.
Tommy and me also just sat down with the "chaplain" of one of the most unreached and closed campuses in Tacoma, The University of Puget Sound. Founded by the Methodist Church and on the principles of the gospel, UPS has strayed far from it's Christian heritage and is "loosely" associated with the church now. UPS prides itself on being religiously diverse and according to the chaplain the students are incredibly open to all faiths except Christianity. He is an ordained Methodist minister himself, married to a Unitarian, and seemingly lacks an understanding that those who don't place their faith in Jesus for salvation will not be saved! Our conversation with him went much better than expected and he is putting us in touch with some of the known Christians on campus to see how we can support them. Pray for open doors!
Finally-- The Pathway is having our first service opportunity as a church Friday at noon. We will be helping one of the Tacoma Rescue Mission locations set-up for their Harvest Carnival before we head back to our location for our regular gathering. Pray that people show up, the gospel is shared, and God is glorified.
Can't wait to see what doors open this week!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
God continues grow us!!!
We had another awesome night in Tacoma and the count down continues till we actually live in out new city. We are actually going to be in our new house (renting) tomorrow and then we will officially be gone from Snoqualmie November 1st. I can't believe how quickly the last 2 years have flown by.
As always I could write a full book on the things that God did and all that amazed me from one of our Friday nights but I will try and keep it short. This week I really did get to sit back in awe and watch how God has orchestrated all the events and people that have led to The Pathway in Tacoma. Tommy Abbott is a sophomore at the University of Washington and our newest team member. I had been out of town all week so I asked him to teach this week. As I listened to him bring the word I was so thankful that God is continuing to bring growing Christian leaders to help us disciple the lost and unchurched that he continues to place in our new church.
Thanks to those who prayed for Crystal and Antwon. They were both back this past week and Crystal brought her 3 little ones. She will be gone the next 2 weeks so please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in her life. All in all I believe we had 11 adults and 6 high school students as well as 4 children!!! Absolutely amazing. Please pray that as we transition to Tacoma we will be able to minister more completely to our people and that we will begin to see radical life change.
Praise Jesus!!!
As always I could write a full book on the things that God did and all that amazed me from one of our Friday nights but I will try and keep it short. This week I really did get to sit back in awe and watch how God has orchestrated all the events and people that have led to The Pathway in Tacoma. Tommy Abbott is a sophomore at the University of Washington and our newest team member. I had been out of town all week so I asked him to teach this week. As I listened to him bring the word I was so thankful that God is continuing to bring growing Christian leaders to help us disciple the lost and unchurched that he continues to place in our new church.
Thanks to those who prayed for Crystal and Antwon. They were both back this past week and Crystal brought her 3 little ones. She will be gone the next 2 weeks so please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in her life. All in all I believe we had 11 adults and 6 high school students as well as 4 children!!! Absolutely amazing. Please pray that as we transition to Tacoma we will be able to minister more completely to our people and that we will begin to see radical life change.
Praise Jesus!!!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Our first week indoors...
Our first week to meet indoors was incredible! We had 5 adults, 1 student and 3 children plus our team. God is truly and genuinely working and I'm blown away almost daily!
Let me tell you about Crystal. A little over a week ago we had small team here from the Frio River Baptist Association in south Texas. They just wanted to come and see what God was doing and how their individual churches and association as a whole would be able to partner with us. Well, on their last day here we all went out to IHOP for breakfast near the airport. Our waitress, Crystal, after taking our orders asked what we were all together for (I guess we didn't look like we fit together). I told her that one half of the table was a part of a new church being started in Tacoma and the other half was a part of a couple other churches in Texas that are helping us. She said okay and walked a way.
A couple of minutes later she came back and asked if our church offers anything on a day other than Sundays (because she works)? I said, "actually, our only Bible study right now is on Friday nights." She walked away again and then a few minutes later came back in tears saying that her sister had been killed in a car accident in July and she had taken custody of her 3 year old daughter (along with 2 children of her own). Crystal told us that the 3 year old had been asking questions about why her mommy hadn't come back and she just didn't know how to answer. She shared with us that being fairly young (mid-twenties) she hadn't thought too much about death and what comes next and definitely didn't know how to explain it to a 3 year old.
Well-- this story could go forever but she ended up coming to our Bible study this past Friday and brought her 3 kids. The team that was with us at IHOP had brought with them a bunch of children's ministry supplies gathered by their church which allowed Crystal's kids to have a blast in another room while we walked through the word with her.
I don't believe Crystal is a believer... yet. But I am certain that she sees God in all this and that she is running to us because she sees the hope that we have! Please pray for Crystal as she digs into her faith and pray specifically that she would give her life to Jesus! We're praying that she comes back this week and that God continues to spark change in the lives of people!
Let me tell you about Crystal. A little over a week ago we had small team here from the Frio River Baptist Association in south Texas. They just wanted to come and see what God was doing and how their individual churches and association as a whole would be able to partner with us. Well, on their last day here we all went out to IHOP for breakfast near the airport. Our waitress, Crystal, after taking our orders asked what we were all together for (I guess we didn't look like we fit together). I told her that one half of the table was a part of a new church being started in Tacoma and the other half was a part of a couple other churches in Texas that are helping us. She said okay and walked a way.
A couple of minutes later she came back and asked if our church offers anything on a day other than Sundays (because she works)? I said, "actually, our only Bible study right now is on Friday nights." She walked away again and then a few minutes later came back in tears saying that her sister had been killed in a car accident in July and she had taken custody of her 3 year old daughter (along with 2 children of her own). Crystal told us that the 3 year old had been asking questions about why her mommy hadn't come back and she just didn't know how to answer. She shared with us that being fairly young (mid-twenties) she hadn't thought too much about death and what comes next and definitely didn't know how to explain it to a 3 year old.
Well-- this story could go forever but she ended up coming to our Bible study this past Friday and brought her 3 kids. The team that was with us at IHOP had brought with them a bunch of children's ministry supplies gathered by their church which allowed Crystal's kids to have a blast in another room while we walked through the word with her.
I don't believe Crystal is a believer... yet. But I am certain that she sees God in all this and that she is running to us because she sees the hope that we have! Please pray for Crystal as she digs into her faith and pray specifically that she would give her life to Jesus! We're praying that she comes back this week and that God continues to spark change in the lives of people!
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