I hope all is well with you! Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. Below is our Prayer Team Update.
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For me (Paul) my life these past few weeks has been increasingly interesting. During our first few months I was rather isolated. I was planning and laboring, but not ministering. I've now become a regular teacher at the "Dig" Men's Bible Study. The rapport has been very positive, the men and I have felt God's blessing on our times together. Teaching is what I feel called to, and it sure feels great to get back in the action. I am also active in the leadership of two large Financial Peace University classes.
Last week I followed up on a suggestion to meet with a man by the name of Ed. We had lunch and I shared our vision for Great Oaks. A few days later he emailed to tell me he and his wife have been dreaming of a church like Great Oaks for years. They have invited us over for dinner tomorrow (Friday) to share more. Ed and Kim are wonderful, mature believers. Our time together will be important.
Other good things have been happening. One of the men on staff at Kensington who attends the Men's Bible Study has been involved in a prison ministry and is occasionally preaching at the prison chapel services. He asked me to mentor him in preaching. I'm going to walk with him through the Vineyard Leadership Institute Preaching Module. Also, Bobby (a new friend I've mentioned before) and I have continued to meet and he's begun to go to Kensington's New Community service with us on Wednesday nights.
Finally, my Reordination examination with the Classis of Muskegon went well. I was grilled with tough but important and gracious questions for two hours. Frankly, I had a blast. I enjoyed the Q & A and met some old friends. Perhaps most importantly, I passed! I'll be reordained in the Reformed Church sometime this spring.
So, things are perculating, but we still need a core team to sprout. The next two months are vitally important.
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While my days are filled with activity, the future is still uncertain, and days for Tammy and Stephen at times seem lonely and increasingly long. We so desire to settle down and be done with nearly two years of transition. Stephen is involved in youth group at Kensington, but that's only a couple of nights per week. We're hanging in there, but we do need prayer for grace to endure and for a series of miracles.
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Next week we are going to send a mailing to thousands of people on Kensington's mailing list. The mailing will include a letter of endorsement from Steve Andrews, the Senior Pastor of Kensington (who is a wonderful man), and some information on Great Oaks Church.
This mailing will cost over $5,000 and will use up our publicity money from the RCA. But the potential of gaining several team members is great. However, for this mailing to be effective, people need to open and read the letter, and their hearts need to be stirred by the Holy Spirit. With prayer and God's work, this mailing could be a major step forward. But apart from the work of the Spirit, we can expect no lasting fruit. We need your prayers!
The many Kensington staff people I've interacted with have been wonderfully helpful and supportive in all I've been doing. May the Lord continue to bless and prosper them!
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13712 Castle Avenue
Warren, Michigan 48088
616-886-5500
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Here are some ways you can pray for us:
- Thank the Lord for his blessing on our family and kids - God is so faithful.
- Thank the Lord for successful reordination exams, and for the undeserved favor I've received both from Kensington staff and the RCA.
- Thank the Lord for the opportunities for me to teach and lead, and for the dinner invitation from Ed & Kim. Pray for the Lord to guide us in sharing and them in discerning if the Lord is leading them to join our adventure.
- Pray for initial plant team members who are called to this new church and ready to dive in and walk side by side with us in vision and unity.
- Pray for God to stir in advance in hearts, and that his blessing will be upon our mailing. Pray that God will use this to gather people to the wonderful vision of Great Oaks so that we might impact this area for Christ.
- Continue to pray that God will gather a team of 25 by mid April.
- We just listed our 5th Wheel on eBay. Pray for it to sell. This is down payment money for a home.
Again, thank you so much for your love and prayers! Know that you are eternally and lavishly loved by our heavenly Father who has only good plans for you!
Love always,
Paul & Tammy
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