Tammy and I want to invite you to my ordination into the Reformed Church in America next Sunday (May 17) - details are below.
We also want to update you on all that has transpired since I sent out our last update. Read on!
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Yes, that's right, I'm being ordained yet again. The other times did count :-) but church polity is requiring I go through ordination again as I re-enter the Reformed Church in America (RCA). I was first ordained into the RCA in July 1983. I was ordained into the Vineyard in July 1990. And now, as the Lord has guided, I'll be ordained again into the RCA on May 17, 2009. I should be very "Reverend" by now! The service will be held at Harlem Reformed Church (see details and directions on right).
My good friend John Nyitray, Senior Pastor at Harlem, will be preaching. And a long time Lakeshore Vineyard member and dear friend Dwight Beal will lead worship.
You don't need to RSVP or send regrets, just come if you can, we'll be thrilled to see you.
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Update on Great Oaks Church
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These past two weekends I briefly presented the vision of Great Oaks to several thousand people at two of Kensington's Campuses - one in Troy and one in Rochester Hills. We were well received and felt good about the presentations. We gained about a dozen new prospects. While we had hoped for more, we do see a strong core team developing and are very encouraged.
We have a core of about 30 adults who are seriously considering joining Great Oaks, a number of whom have already indicated commitment. We have quite a few others who have expressed interest and who I am in dialog with. These next weeks will be a very important time in the lives of these families and individuals as they seek to discern God's direction.
Tammy and I continue to meet with interested people. We're meeting with two couples tonight, a couple Monday night, and holding our final in a series of three interest meetings on Tuesday night.
We have two "Villages" which continue to meet each week, and the Lord is truly blessing our times together.
Two important meetings are coming up. Next Thursday, May 14, my Oversight Team from the RCA and Kensington will meet to decide if Great Oaks has adequate momentum for the RCA to release funding to us for the next two years. They will then make a recommendation to the Lake Erie Church Multiplication Team, of which I am a part, who are meeting on May 28. While we expect the outcome of both decisions to be positive (I know everyone on both teams well and they absolutely want us to succeed) we still ask for your prayers for wisdom and guidance as these teams meet.
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We had a wonderful visit with Aleyse and her boyfriend Abimael. Just for fun, here's a picture I took at a mall in Sterling Heights:
Laura will be home with us for a week, and we're very excited about that. She just finished finals, and is very relieved. She'll then return to Manhattan to begin her summer internship at Cole Haan, a well known designer, in their marketing department. A fun place for a young woman!
David is working this summer in Holland and living with Tammy's mom. He hopes to come visit us every couple of weeks. Stephen continues plowing through his home school curriculum. And Tammy and Paul are ready to settle down and find a home!
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| Paul & Tammy Bradford
13712 Castle Avenue
Warren, Michigan 48088
616-886-5500
Great Oaks Church
P.O. Box 70313
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
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Paul's Ordination Details
When: 3-4 pm, Sunday, May 17
(Reception Following)
Where: Harlem Reformed Church
6854 144th Ave
Holland, MI 49424
(616) 399-1767
Click here for MapQuest directions
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MAILING LIST CHANGES
Click on the link at the bottom of this email entitled Update Profile/Email Address to make changes.
We
send our Family Updates every 3 months, and Prayer Updates about every
2 weeks. We also send out a "Great Oaks Update" about 2x per month.
You can also forward our Updates to friends you think might be interested using the link at the bottom of this email.
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Here is how you can pray for us:
- Thank
the Lord for the growing number of people that are attending our Village Gatherings, and who are considering joining Great Oaks Church.
- Pray for the Lord to clearly guide those who are considering Great Oaks, drawing to us all those whom he is calling.
- Pray for the continued touch of the Holy Spirit in our Village gatherings and meetings with potential team members.
- Pray for God's wisdom and guidance as we discuss the future of Great Oaks at my Oversight Team meeting on May 14, and then at the Lake Erie Church Multiplication Team Meeting on May 28.
- Continue to pray for our 5th Wheel to sell and for the Lord to open a door for the right home for our family. One day soon we'll report this request as answered! Until then, keep praying!
- Continue to pray for spiritual protection around our family, those on our team, and those considering our team.
Thank you!
Love always,
Paul & Tammy
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