The Latest....05.21.07

5/21/07:

Tonight, I want to briefly share from my quiet time this morning and hope that it encourages you and help you to see God’s hand and continued leading in this new movement in our life.

I have been reading through the book of Isaiah this month. As I share how a certain chapter spoke to me this morning, please keep in mind that this is not meant to be an interpretation of this text, but rather how the word (which is living and active, Heb 4:12) spoke to me and applied to our situation TODAY.

Last week as our Church Planting Boot Camp finished, we were challenged to express what God has put into our hearts and what we hope to see happen in the area he called us to. This was difficult for us to do because in so many ways it feels beyond the “norm” and outside our grasp. For this reason alone, we have come to recognize that it truly is from God and with Him, it will be possible as we trust each step of the way. As we have come to this place of faith, we have found the courage to truly express our vision to see “a movement for ALL people that OVERFLOWS boundaries and transforms our region and beyond”. The boundaries prevalent in the Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor area are years of “polarization” economically and racially that has left the cities once known as “twin cities” as distant strangers.

Isaiah 19:23-25 says, “23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

As I read this, I dug a little deeper and realized that the Egyptians and Assyrians were “polarized” and enemies at this time in history. God, in fact, was saying through Isaiah that there would be a “highway” that would come to CONNECT these two nations and that they would serve (or “worship” in another translation) TOGETHER. Not only that, but that God’s people (Israel) would be in the MIDST of the land and would be BLESSED.

If you have been following our story, you know that God has called us to dwell in the MIDST of SJ/BH and to live in an area known as “Fairplain”. As I read these verses this morning, I could not help but feel as if God was confirming our call to this area and His heart to OVERFLOW and connect these two cities once again and to do so through people who are willing to live, worship, and serve together.

Will you pray with us that God will work through this new church plant and the people involved and truly overflow these long standing boundaries, bringing people together in worship and in service to this region? We know this is only possible through Christ and the work of His spirit and look forward to seeing How God works in this region. We value each of you and trust that God in the same way desires to speak into your life and work through you to transform your family, friends, workplace, community, etc. May we all continue to labor in this together? As 1 Thessalonians 3:12 says, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

In Pursuit,
Brian

posted by Brian @ 10:31 PM, ,




Church Planting Boot Camp....day 3

This week we are at church planting boot camp at Trinity University in Chicago, Illinois. It is Wednesday morning and we have been through two days of sprints, long hill runs, push-ups, sit-ups, and obstacle courses.....OK, so not really, but in many ways it has felt that way. We have had an incredible two days and have been saturated with so many great thoughts and ideas. Throughout it all, we have been doing our best to prayerfully listen to God and are asking for His help in preparing us and the SJBH area for this new church plant (MOVEMENT of people). It has been exciting and we thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and continued support. Yesterday, it was especially helpful as we spent the afternoon looking at demographics, people groups, and the difficulty of a cross-cultural ministry. We felt overwhelmed asking God is this what you have for us? God responded through a fellow church planter, the trainers, and scripture, and as a result, were given a crystal clear vision of what God's desire for us and OVERFLOW (the name of our church plant) is.

Here are our vision and mission statements:

Vision: “Overflow is a church community for all peoples that exists to be a movement that crosses boundaries-- transforming lives in our region and beyond.”


Mission: “Overflow exists to reach the un-churched and de-churched in our world, journeying together as we learn how to passionately follow Christ and serve others.”

What was so helpful for us yesterday was the encouragement to allow our burden and what is in our DNA to come out in our vision/mission. As we did this, we realized that a large part of our burden and the DNA for OVERFLOW involves crossing the economic, social, and racial boundaries that are so prevalent in the SJ/BH region that God has called us to. Our hope is to reach those who don't know Christ and MOBILIZE them to join us in following and serving Him in our world and working to see true transformation.

As we have talked about this, we have become even more excited about God's call to this area and look forward to see God work in this region and beyond. Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may OVERFLOW with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". This is our prayer and our request for you to continue to pray that God fills us while we are here at boot camp, protects us from those things that are not from Him, and prepares us to OVERFLOW with Him.

We are truly thankful for each of you and appreciate your prayers,

Brian & Cindy

"Love God. Love People. Join the Movement."

posted by Brian @ 8:23 AM, ,