A Thankful Update
Often during Thanksgiving we are prompted to reflect on God’s goodness in the past, this year we had several reasons to be thankful in real time!
Not the actual baby… this is a stock photo.
Flexibility and Provision
Saturday
On Saturday night I sat anxiously by my phone awaiting a text message I knew in my bones would come. I’m not psychic, but I had a feeling. In anticipation I was plugging away at a sermon I may or may not need to preach the following morning.
My phone buzzed at 8:48 pm , “Looks like it might be tonight.”
My heart swelled! My pastor at our sending church (Riviera Baptist Church) was on his way with his wife to the hospital to deliver their fourth baby. Rachel and I prayed for them and I renewed my clicking and clacking with fervor. I completed the sermon for the morning and was too excited to sleep for several more hours.
Sunday
The following morning I taught a class on evangelism, met some new folks visiting our church, and preached on the duties of the church to restore one another (see here). After service concluded, I raced off to a meeting with elders and staff pastors at a local church to discuss the Coram Deo church plant. They had invited me several weeks prior without any previous initiation on my part, which strikes me as God doing His thing.
I knew everyone in the room and they all knew me, but I was on the other side of the proverbial table this time. It was clear they were serious about hearing what we are up to and consider if they could support us in any way. Anyone who voluntarily invites me to talk nearly uninterrupted for over an hour about ecclesiology and mission must be, or they could just be gluttons for punishment. I received a great deal of encouragement from my time with them.
After our visit they stayed and deliberated, and I got to catch up with an old friend in the lobby before I sauntered home.
Provision
This morning I received a text message informing me that they would like to contribute financial support for the church plant for a year, as well as through prayer and service as needed. Praise God!
With this contribution we are currently almost halfway funded for our first year of the new church plant launching in August of 2026! It’s amazing how God works, and we’re trusting Him to continue to provide! If you’ve ever heard me talk about the church plant, you know that if Christ is building His church through our work we are praying that it’s done in a way that brings Him all the glory. It’s going to happen because He showed up, not because I was particularly clever (I am not particularly clever, so don’t worry). We are trusting Christ for everything: funding, location, evangelism, conversion, discipleship, church health, all of it. Starting over a year ago (much longer in reality), He has continuously opened the door and paved the way for our church plant to take root and flourish.
Looking Ahead
This week I have lunch with a lovely couple to discuss the church plant and some of our particular doctrines which I am eagerly anticipating. Rachel and I also will be meeting with a small group in the near future to discuss the church plant. Additionally, next Sunday we meet with a church to discuss the possibility of them joining our church plant and securing the location we are targeting for the plant. Needless to say, exciting things are on the horizon!
Prayer Requests
Pray that I have wisdom and humility as I continue to meet with folks and discuss the church, especially in answering difficult questions.
Pray for Matt and Leslie as they are adjusting to a brand new baby while also still parenting three other very excited siblings. Also pray for me, I have yet to meet and hold the baby which is cruel and may cause me to explode.
Pray that God puts it in the hearts of those who would make up our planting team. We want who He has for us.
Don’t miss out on our last interest meeting.
