Greetings,
For most of my life, I was in the construction business where I specialized in making messes while creating something and then cleaning it up so that it looked pretty. In our ministries, we are about bearing each other's burdens, which can become very messy very quickly. We are also about living in such a way that glorifies Christ at every turn. Being okay with a mess as a church allows us to open our arms to those whose lives are a mess. A neat and tidy church only encourages members to hide the messes in their lives. The Way of Life way is to live authentically while proclaiming Christ in word and deed to all around us.
Ministry in foreign places can be really messy as well. We are excited to be doing as much work as we can in Rosarito, Mexico, at the orphanage we have been supporting for the past four years. Even though we are not exactly at the point we thought we would be when we started out, it has been exciting to watch the amazing things the Lord has done through this project.
I wish that I knew exactly how this is all going to look. I like the idea of a clean and neat organization that will run just as we would have imagined. I would love to have a clear and concise picture of what planting 5 churches looks like in the next ten years. I can wish all I want, but the only way to see this happen is by our commitment as a body of Christ to start walking in a direction that we feel confident the Lord is leading us. We have many wonderful places in the world that need the gospel to be clearly proclaimed. We have the tools to train and equip people for the good work set out in front of them. I am excited to see this vision of 5 new churches planted on foreign soil. May our Lord God receive all the credit and glory for such an ambitious goal!
Our goal for our foreign missions special offering this week is $10,000. This money will help us to begin work on the church planting vision as well as continue to see what God has for us to do for Him in Rosarito. Please pray with me for this goal and about what God wants each of us to give. May He get all the glory!
Love ya,
Chris
In addition to the work in Rosarito, this year our elders (Matt Jones, Sergio Aguirre, Craig Smith, Steve Hoskins and Tim Edleblute) have set out a vision for planting churches as an expansion of our foreign missions outreach. Our goal is to locate 5 places where a gospel centered church is greatly needed and begin the unique and significant task of developing a church and providing a qualified pastor. This is a great adventure and the Lord has already begun bringing people into our path that have a similar heart.
I wish that I knew exactly how this is all going to look. I like the idea of a clean and neat organization that will run just as we would have imagined. I would love to have a clear and concise picture of what planting 5 churches looks like in the next ten years. I can wish all I want, but the only way to see this happen is by our commitment as a body of Christ to start walking in a direction that we feel confident the Lord is leading us. We have many wonderful places in the world that need the gospel to be clearly proclaimed. We have the tools to train and equip people for the good work set out in front of them. I am excited to see this vision of 5 new churches planted on foreign soil. May our Lord God receive all the credit and glory for such an ambitious goal!
Our goal for our foreign missions special offering this week is $10,000. This money will help us to begin work on the church planting vision as well as continue to see what God has for us to do for Him in Rosarito. Please pray with me for this goal and about what God wants each of us to give. May He get all the glory!
Love ya,
Chris
