Well, another semester is done; another summer is here; another adventure is soon to begin. After only a week of sleep and relaxation after the hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing weekend of finals, I’m sitting in the Atlanta airport, Cleveland-bound. Once again, I’m heading out for a summer of church-planting missions. As with all mission trips, excitement is driving me forward, but the adventure is all wrapped up in a package of home-sickness that never quite leaves me alone. I love my family, and in their arms I really do find home. But I know what God has called me to do, and, as God always does, He gives the strength and endurance and joy to persevere. It’s an odd collision of passions to love all pieces of an adventure: the journey, the destination, and the welcome-home at the end. In that way, I suppose a journey is like life. In Christ, there is joy every step of the way, even if the joy is tinted a little different with each of those steps.
I just finished reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. Walking readers through the life of his church plant, National Community Church, Batterson calls Christians to fervent prayer. Several key phrases stood out to me as I read and learned from his insights, but two in particular challenged me about this venture in Cleveland: “praying through” and “only God.” Batterson differentiates between “praying through” and “praying for,” challenging his readers to continue on their knees until God answers their prayers. It may not be the answer they were looking for or the timing that they wanted, but all things work together for the good of those who believe. “Only God” brings to light God’s will to do things beyond human ability or even imagination; once again, the “only God” moments of life bring God the most glory whenever they are direct answers to prayer. Essentially, The Circle Maker reminds us scripturally and experientially to pray and keep praying.
Will you join me in prayer for Cleveland this summer? I’m going to commit to write at least three times a week. My goal is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, though I cannot absolutely guarantee those days since I haven’t figured out my weekly routine yet. We do have some specific requests, however.
1. We want to find at least 5 potential leaders of Barnabas Church (the house-church that we’ll be working with) from each of our target areas.
2. We would like Barnabas church to fill the garage by the end of the summer.
3. We want to connect intimately with the families in the immediate neighborhood of Barnabas Church, which meets in the house that we’ll be living in.
4. We (that is, me and my brother in Christ Stacy) want to be a faithful presence in Cleveland: faithful to the gospel, faithful to Christ, and faithful to the mission of Acts 1:8.
We pray these things not demanding that God bends to our will; rather, we pray as we feel the Spirit leading us to pray. We cannot accomplish it on our own. Only God will be able to pull off a feat such as this in a place such as Cleveland. Throughout history, God’s people have most been aligned with His will when they were serious about prayer; Jew and Gentile, apostle and laymen. Even Jesus Himself.
Three times a week, I will end a blog post with a specific address that you can pray for. You can Google Earth the place or just pray for it with the vision of your mind’s eye. Each blog post may not have a new address, but I’ll send at least three a week anyway.
I’m excited and ready for this adventure to begin!
Today’s prayer place: 10726 Lee Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106. This is the address of the home that we’ll stay in and the church that we’re working with. God bless, and I would be grateful if some of you could commit to pray for us and for Cleveland daily.
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