God Continues to Gather

These are exciting times! God is continuing to gather a team together for the church plant here in Austin. After much praying over the past few months, we've got a worship leader to come on board. His name is Brian Simpson (another Lakeland, FL boy). He is an amazing worship leader with a heart that chases after God. God could not have a blessed us with better guy for the job. He will also be doing our website, graphic design, and creative "stuff."

PLEASE keep Brian in your prayers because he is making tremendous sacrifices to move to Austin. He is selling or leasing his house (whichever comes first) in Lakeland, selling his car and furniture, and leaving his family and friends to join us. Pray that the transition goes smoothly for him as he'll be seeking work, finding a place to live, and adjusting to Austin. Also, thank God for such a great person to join us in Austin.

For more info about Brian here is his site (click here), if you need any graphic or website work he is your man, and here is his myspace (click here).

What's in a name?

As we are preparing for the church plant, we have come up with several potential names. Please give me some feedback about what you think about the names. Keep in mind that the area that we are planting in: the largest demographic of people is between 25-34, they are very success and career-orientated, active, educated, artsy, and there is a high single population (37%). The name must connect with and make sense to these individuals.

1. Convergence - A Church Community - we want people to understand the importance of "Merging God and Life"
2. Axiom Church - an axiom in mathimatics is a starting or point of origin. To understand who we are and our current state, we must begin with the proper foundation - God and His redemptive plan.
3. Origins Church - similar to the statement above. We must have the proper foundation or point of origin to begin to understand life and God.


What do you think about these? Any other suggestions?

Adam and Lora need your prayer

Below is an e-mail from my friend Robert Beckman. He informed me and others that Lora Mayfield has been placed in the hospital. If you are not sure who Lora is: her and her husband, Adam, planted Journey Church in Lakeland, FL back in January of 2007. Here's the e-mail:

Hello Friends, Please forward this to anyone God brings to your mind, Adam and Lora Mayfield went in for tests and some results came back very quickly. Lora has preeclampsia. http://pregnancy.emedtv.com/preeclampsia/preeclampsia.html She has now been placed in the hospital. The baby is fine, originally due in February. Lora is not fine until the baby comes out to see us. Risks to Lora include stroke, seizures, organ failure. Lora is on strict bed rest at the hospital. The baby might be given steroids to help the lungs develop and get ready for an early delivery (possibly within a few days). It might be used sooner than expected and each day between now and delivery will need to be very restful.

Here's how you can help now:
-Pray that God gives insight to the doctors
-Pray for an early delivery for Lora's sake and a developed baby ready to breath on her own.
-Pray for Adam and Lora to hear God's quiet whispers of assurance.

What sex is it?

Well if you haven't heard yet...Heather and I are having (drum roll): a BOY! This is such an exciting time for us and our family and friends. Pray for the baby and for his future parents, who will need a lot of wisdom in raising him.

First Core Team Meeting

Hey, I just wanted to update everyone on our first meeting with those who are praying about joining the church plant. Last night, we met at a home with nine other people. It was great! We ate, talked, played a game (which the girls' team won), and then spent some time talking about reaching the Arboretum-area with the Gospel. God moved and seemed to begin the process of joining our hearts together. In fact, we had several people committ to the team.

Please pray that God would give clarity to these nine individuals. They are currently seeking God about their involvement in the church plant. Some are praying to see if God wants them to join the team, while others are praying about the leadership role they are going to play in the plant. Every single person that came to the meeting is extremely talented and would have a tremendous impact on the Arboretum. Thanks for the prayers!

Binoculars and Soccer??????

Here is a pretty funny video!

Swimming..

Since our move to Austin, we have seen God go before us in many ways. One of the areas we have seen Him work the most is through a non-profit organization called Apartment Life. Apartment Life basically hires couples to move into apartment complexes and coordinate social events that build community. Yet, this isn't what makes them such an incredible organization. What makes Apartment Life so amazing is their passion for Jesus. The people they hired are expected to build relationships with the lost, unchurched, and dechurched for the sake of sharing the Gospel with them. Since it is estimated that only 5% of apartment dwellers actively participate in a church, there is a huge need for missionally-minded people to swim among them.

Heather and I knew that this would be an excellent job for us. Not only is it important for to partner with organizations like this, but it is our DUTY and CALLING to swim among the lost. We are in the final stages of the hiring process and will be interviewing next with at least one apartment complex. Please, pray that God would place us in an Apartment complex in which His name will become famous.