Tomorrow morning Ryan Harding (associate church planter) and I will drive to Lakeland, FL to meet with a council of pastors from our denomination. This council will ask us questions about a theological paper we each submitted to the council for licensing purposes, and then our licensing process will be complete. The council will also require us to walk over some hot coals, play something on the piano from the Baroque period, and demonstrate a working knowledge of British literary history. Decide for yourself how much of what I just wrote is true.
Ryan and I are preparing to meet with people who are interested in joining the launch team. This is a critical stage of the church planting process, so please cover this process with prayer. Pray for the Lord to guide a committed, passionate group of people to the launch team. Most people who will join our launch team will make commitments in the next couple of months.
Two of our launch team people from Chicago are still looking for jobs. Pray that the Lord would provide jobs for them soon! They showed incredible faith by moving to Gainesville before securing jobs.
Kristen and I recently returned from a six-day trip to California where we raised additional support for the church plant and I preached at the Evangelical Free Church of Huntington Beach. For those of you wondering about our connection to California - I lived in Huntington Beach from about eight years. The trip was a wonderful success on so many levels, and your prayers were surely a part of that. Be encouraged that families and individuals from California are praying for and financially supporting a church plant in Gainesville, Florida!
Please pray:
- That the Lord would strengthen and guide Ryan and me as we go before the licensing council tomorrow morning.
- That the Lord would guide passionate, committed followers of Jesus to join our launch team in the next few months.
- That the Lord would provide jobs for all of the launch team members from Chicago.
