West Valley Connection 7/30

At the last WWBC annual conference (in which West Valley Community Church is a member) delegates voted to support a church planting initiative in the town of Sedro Woolley. Members of Fountain Community Church, one of our sister churches located in Bellingham (who we beat soundly at the last softball game) are the primary workers in this fledgling ministry. Pastor Rick Qualls sent weekly reports to all the other churches in the conference telling about the progress being made. However, we weren't on the list! So I asked Rick to fill us in on the work. Below are his weekly reports for the past month. Clearly the LORD is blessing this great work.

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Greetings,
We are spending a lot of time on site now, which is a great connect with the community. A day doesn't go by without someone coming in and wanting to talk...which is awesome. The church's location lends itself for the "walk-bys".
So far we have logged in about 200 volunteer hours on site, about the same in professional hours (architect and engineer). It is a blessing to have folks from Fountain, and folks from SW involved. For the Fountain folks, it is like expecting a new baby!
This weekend is a big celebration for SW, the fourth of July is major for the town. We will be on site with coffee, donuts and ready for conversation. The town parade goes right by the front of the church! The chainsaw carving (another huge deal) is being held in a parking lot right behind the church!
One of the walk-bys wanted information about the youth ministry as her daughter has been involved in that kind of ministry before and would be interested in the connection. Interestingly, the daughter works for the high school in SW!
Prayer requests:
-This weekend, lots of meaningful conversations and connections
-Relationship with the Chamber of Commerce ( they have asked SWCF to help host their community film night during July)
-Continued favor in the community
-We would like to see a group of high school students come together in some way to begin a conversation concerning the priorities for the youth center component
-Future leadership for SWCF
Blessings,
Rick

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Greetings,

Trust you had a great 4th of July celebration.

One very important prayer request. Tuesday we will be interviewing a potential pastoral candidate for SWCF. We are asking the Lord for a clear word of counsel for us and him.

SWCF has been asked to help with some community events that are happening in July, which is pretty exciting and we are looking forward to that.

Also, we would like to have the opportunity to hear from high school students in the SW area concerning their thoughts for the youth center; we have had some contacts, but would like to see a group come together at this stage to help with the planning and work.

That's all for now, blessings.....

Rick

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Greetings,
The Lord continues to amaze me!
During this past week we have had some great answers to prayer...
....Conference call with a potential pastor for SWCF, which went very well
....Having a great work day on Saturday getting ready for a new concrete block wall
....Meeting with a contractor who is willing to help us "get it done, so people can start getting saved here!"
....talking with a electrical contractor who will rewire all the lighting in the building with higher efficiency lights...for nothing
....getting a call tonight from a concrete block layer, who has been praying that the Lord would allow him to work on a ministry project in Sedro-Woolley and donate his labor
....going in to pay for equipment that we rented over the weekend and having the owner of the business give us 50% off
...working with the Chamber of Commerce on some community events
Prayer requests...
...God keep us aware of the journey and the opportunities for sharing as we go along
...continued favor with the City and the local businesses
...wisdom in regard to the potential leadership for SWCF
...strength and safety for those involved int he project at this stage.
...for my daughter, Lisa, and her girls who were in a car accident this past week; they are dealing with a lot of pain and discomfort. It could have been much worse, but they are facing some weeks to recover.
Thanks so much for praying!
Rick

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Greetings,
This has definitely been an Ephesians 3:4-21 week!
...I met with a new believer this week who had been asking the Lord for an opportunity to use his skills for ministry (he is a brick layer) when he was in church on Sunday someone mentioned that we had a need here for a brick layer! When he called me he wanted to be sure I understood that his labor was an answer to his prayer and ours!
....Tuesday while we were finishing up the days work, putting forms together for a new concrete footing, someone walked in and asked when we were going to be open. He proceeded to share that he and his wife (and their friends) had been praying that the Lord would allow them to open a ministry to the youth of SW, He kept closing the door for them to do it, but they continued to pray that the Lord would make a way. When they saw the information about SWCF and the youth center, they knew that the Lord had answered their prayer; they even had prayed that this building would be the place God would use! As he was leaving he shared that he and his wife were worship leaders and perhaps this would be part of what they could invest into SWCF!
...Tonight my son and I will be laying the forms for the new foundation. Our neighbor mentioned that the church will be the strongest building on the block! Hummmm, somehow that sounds like a good message to preach...not about this building but the church that Jesus is building!
Prayer needs....
...one of Fountain's elders (George Teshera) just had heart surgery and did well with that...only to be back in the hospital after experiencing a stroke.
...continued opportunities in SW
...being sure we are aware of the value of the journey
...leadership for SWCF
...the harvest in each of our places..from our Jerusalem to the uttermost part of the earth.
Many blessings,
Rick