Church Planting Mercies

*Before we moved away from Happy Valley, a lady from our church wanted to know if I would blog about church planting, especially to keep people informed about the church plant.  Thanks to that dear lady, here is my first post about church planting!*

These first 7 months of the Terre Haute Church Plant have been a sweet whirlwind! Our family has traveled all over to see family & attend conferences. Various family & friends have visited our new locale. And… the church plant has begun!

First of all, words cannot begin to describe how grateful we are to the Lord for having the precious opportunity to church plant again. Church planting is rigorous & challenging, yet full of unexpected graces & gifts.

Secondly, our dear denomination has poured prayer, love, & training into our lives. Again, thankfulness seems like such a small word for the great kindness they have bestowed on us. Our cups are overflowing with all we are learning and all the Lord is teaching us about Himself, His people, and this world. Personally, I attended a Parakaleo (ministry to church planting spouses) women’s event in Nashville. The goal was to equip each woman with gospel tools to encourage herself and others. Wow! My heart was full with the reminders of how the gospel of Jesus Christ heals & restores us.

So far, what have I been learning and reminded of on this journey?

God has created us for relationships - with Him & others. Be a student of those around me. Ask questions; listen attentively. Care more about hearing than being heard.
Everyone has a story. Be careful of pre-judging others actions & words. I never know what they might have walked through. Live in compassion & kindness.
My home needs to be a haven of hospitality for the community - local & those further away. The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield has been instrumental in this perspective. Is my home full of grace & truth for the world? Living a grace-filled missional life is imperative as believers in Christ, but always with wise & life-giving boundaries. I have found that this might look like people walking into a MESSY home or to me brushing my teeth :) Either way, hospitality must be part of the rhythm of my life.
Live life on mission. Boy oh boy, this has been tested these past 7 months. With all the changes with the move, a son being diagnosed with food allergies, a car accident, sick parents, traveling, and numerous visits from friends and family have caused me to feel “done.” When I have felt stretched super thin, I wonder how can I live on mission. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Walking through all of the above is part of my mission. The journey is just as important as the destination. My overall mission is to glorify God in ALL I say & do. And, as a side note, it is just as important to live missional in my personal life as it is my non-personal life. This is a calling that only a gracious God can enable me to live out.
Community is key. If I didn’t realize it before now, I do now! I look forward to our monthly worship services, and Lord willing, weekly services soon (hmm… part of that may be that I have a huge crush on the preacher 😍) Truly, there is nothing like being connected with others who are walking on mission alongside of you!
God is full of grace upon grace. I have been in absolute awe of how God has graciously provided care for our family through various means. Why do I doubt God’s goodness? Why do I question His care? I am hopeful that these rocks of remembrance are seared into my heart & mind - that I don’t ever forget His concern & tenderness towards me.
Finally, for now, our family is right where the Lord wants us. Time and time again, the Lord has affirmed His calling to be in the Midwest. I would be fibbing if I said the transition from east-coast to the Midwest has been easy. God has never called His people to what is always easy, but to obey & trust His good heart. May I be able to say that through His strength, His grace is enough for me.

Friends, thank you for your prayers for our family as we have joined the dear people of Terre Haute to share the living hope of Jesus with the city. Please continue to pray for protection, grace to spew from our lives, & the hope of the gospel to transform lives.

Living Hope Church’s mission statement is as follows:

“By God’s grace, we are living life as mission for His glory and the good of our city through proclaiming His word, building up one another, and engaging all people with the unshakeable hope of the gospel.”