Not Everything's Big In Texas

Hi ya'll! Sorry, I'm hanging out in Austin for a few days this week getting some church planting training. That picture is the rental car I'm using while I'm here (when they say compact they aren't kidding!).

Anyway, I'm learning some great stuff and can't wait to get back and get to work! I'm trying to spend lots of time in prayer because we need to know exactly what God is calling this church to be and not to be. The strong and clearer vision, the more powerful the church. God... bring it!

Pre-Launch Gathering

Never Saw This Coming

A recent partnership with Davison Missionary Church has taught me some new lessons. I never saw this partnership coming. But Davison, you have blown us away with your generosity and interest in what we're doing. Can't say thank you enough!

Here's a few things I've learned:

1) God can do way more in a day than we could do in a lifetime. Unless God is in something it'll accomplish practically nothing. If God's in something it'll produce more than you could ever imagine.

2) Partnering with God can be tough work. I'm not always very good at finding what God's up and sticking with Him on it. Scripture says the Spirit of God is like the wind... hard to get a handle on. We're trying to put up the sails and let 'er ride!

3) We can't outdream God! Any dream or vision we have that we think is HUGE is never bigger than the dream and vision God has for that same thing. We can never outdream God.

God, help our dreams to at least resemble the size of yours. Davison, thank you for helping us see some God-sized dreams coming true.

Introducing the Joyes!

For a while now, there has been another part to the team... The Joyes. While God was calling Raelyn and me to start a new church he was also calling Tim & Julie Joye. It has been amazing to see how our two paths have joined and the ways that God has been working far in advance to bring all of us together.

God knew exactly what it was going to take to make His name famous and His church thrive in Metro Detroit. What Tim and Julie (and the family!) bring to the table is amazing. Tim is a talented worship leader with a gift for teaching as well. Julie is a strong leader with a gift for relationships and a heart for women. Tim and Julie both grew up in Metro Detroit and have strong connections in the area we are going to plant. I can't imagine trying to start this new church without them!

I'd really love for you to be able to hear Tim & Julie's stories! God has done some great things in them. One of these days I can have Tim guest blog and you can hear it all directly from him. We are so thankful and privileged to even be on the same team with these guys. God is cooking up something special here - we can't wait to see what it is!

(enjoy this little video, this was played at our Open House 10.14.2007)

Are you in?

We can't always sit on the sidelines. There are moments in our lives when we are presented with opportunities and then we choose to step up to the plate... or not. It's your turn to bat!

Last night we held our first Open House event. The purpose of this event was to get everyone together in the same room who has an interest in being a part of the new church. I'm not just saying this, but it was a great event.

First of all, the kids had a blast (see pics below). The food was great (see pics below). Excitement was high. God is shaping things up for an incredible new church. And many of the people who were at this open house are going to be key players. It's going to be great.

I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who came, helped, and prayed. You know who you are. We couldn't have pulled it off without you!

In all we had about 60-people at the Open House (39-adults, 21-children)!