Growing Roots

We had our first church service on Sunday July 29th. It was about half the team that is planting the church in Tri Cities. We spent the time singing, praying, and sharing about what God has done in our lives up to and during this time. It was very encouraging and unifying.

Colossians 1:3-6
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world — just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

I love this scripture because it fits so well with the journey we are on. Faith was challenged and increased in the beginning. An outpouring of Love came next as we arrived and got settled. Now I am convinced that our continued Hope springing from our Lord Jesus combined with that faith and love will surely create something grand.

It has taken over a week to sit down and finish this post. We've moved two more couples in that are part of the team. The third floor apartment move-in was especially ache inducing. As encouraging as the influx of more disciples has been, it has also created a "church-gap" (I just made that up). There are still loose ends and responsibilities for some members outside of our start-up process. I am wrestling a bit with how to transition into full-speed as a team. I think part of it is just having patience. Yet, I think there will be a learning process for us all; which I believe will entail some difficult life changes we may not be totally prepared for.

I am looking over the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah and finding much to ponder. I look forward to celebrating together the laying of our "temple's" foundation (Ezra 1-4). I am attempting to anticipate the difficulties of finishing the building of the "walls" of God's church here (Nehemiah). I am eagerly praying about the wonders God will accomplish in his own name in this wild process.

Things seem slightly chaotic right now with all the transition of our members. I am turning daily to prayer just to rid myself of doubt. The Devil is attacking subtly, as well as directly. Please pray for the saints!