some vision for 08

As mentioned, I am seeking God right now for vision for 08. Here are some things that are beginning to crystallize;

1. To cause our newest sites (Red Lion and Hanover) to grow to at least 120 average weekly attendance)

2. To open at least 2 new sites, or plants

3. To create a plan for 3 new sites to open in 09

4. To grow Freedom Valley York Road to 1800 weekly attendance through salvations, discipled believers, and intentional ministries

5. To develop a Saturday prayer strategy for the weekend


I would love to hear your thoughts about anything else you
can think of that I should pray about as far as my role in vision building at FV!


For a point of reference, here is last year's goals:
2007 Freedom Valley Vision

Get at least 1 more site running
Grow to an average attendance of more than 1500 in all sites
Baptize at least 100 new believers
Graduate at least 100 from SW
Develop a house church strategy

larger thinking

I completely enjoyed Christmas this year. My kids are at such a wonderful, fun age, and we had such a nice time together. Aaron and Jake are such great additions to our family, and we have a lot of fun together. God has been amazingly good to us.

Now I turn my attention to hearing the voice of God for 08, and trying to understand what a man of faith would set himself to do. Many of the things I have been called to are very well set, and not up to reconsideration unless the Holy Spirit makes it clear that it is time to do so.

But I desperately need to grow. If I can wrap my brain around it, so much more is possible. For some reason, I am getting such an inordinant number of missions requests, and they tug at my heart strings morning noon and night. Every one of them have the possibility of being world changing, and eternally relevant, but I am so small and unable to firgure out even why God sends them to a mental midget like me. They simply come in waves.

My only plans are to grow a church, teach people the joy of giving to missions, and pray that I can say yes to more of them. In the meantime, I am asking God to make us careful choosers of the places where He instructs us to go, and where we can make huge, world changing difference for Him.

What a cool job I have. I love it.

Dominican Republic Missions

Frank Thomas and I are currently in the Dominican Republic preparing ourselves for a missions trip here March 1-9. The weather is warm and beautiful, about 85 daytime, 70 at night. Nice.

The young church that we are working with here averages about 300 people weekly, about 225 of them children. They provide schooling for the kids, light food for many who have almost nothing at home, and no hope of education without this school. The education they are receiving here is their best hope of finding a better life for themselves and lifting their economy and personal hopes for their community.

One disappointing development is that our team may end up smaller than I hoped, because the only decent hotel in town has 10 beds. That's it. I had hoped to bring more people. Please pray with me that we find more and better ways to accommodate a few more who wish to come and could help us raise the funds significantly.

We need about $25,000 dollars. Our part of the project will be to pour a cement floor on the top of the current church building, making way for a second floor. We also hope to bring a small medical team of about 3 medical workers and 2 helpers.

Already a plan is developing to bring a few more team members, but we have to figure it all out, and create the logistics for it.

Please pray with me that God would allow us to find $25,000, the right team to travel, and all the other details for this adventure.

And if you want to go, reserve your seat quickly with a donation toward your $1100 for the trip (food, lodging, airfare all included). We already know of about 10 people who plan to go.

the weather

I hate it when we don't have church. I am telling the weather to bring us rain, not snow or ice until after Sunday noon at least.

The Monday morning, early, Frank Thomas and I, along with our interpreter Mike Fleming, head to the Dominican for 5 days of planning for our upcoming missions project there. God help us ppan well and prepare well for that trip in March!

database blues

I need someone who can help me with MySql database, PHP programming, and building websites. Lord I ask you boldly to send them into Freedom Valley, and help more of us find a way to gain expertise at them.

I also need a missions director, an increase in our finances, and salvations! Lord send us lost and hurting people who we can ehlp, and help us tune in to their hearts and be Jesus to them.

I need time to think to get into the upcoming prayer and vision experiences. And I need the Holy Spirit to speak to me and help me get hie heart for 08. And for the building program. And for new leaders.

Thank you God for another friend's Day

There were several salvations again this weekend, which I always want to thank God for. The miracle of new life, not unlike the miracle of physical birth. Neither ever gets old, and is always such a moving event.

And we baptized 5 or 6 people today and took in 3 new partners (members). That feels productive.

I'm still praying for a miracle in Christa Hubbell's heart concerning her husband.

And I'm praying that God will bless my daughter and SOon-in-law's move to Lancaster, and help them find a higher level of focus and purpose in life there. And bring Shawna home safely. And bless Evan's High School basketball career. And Luke's ministry calling.

Freedom House progress

Our Freedom House team made exciting, great progress tonight! With each meeting, I see this thing come together in ways that feel healthy, well thought out, and full of life. I am very thankful for that.

We re-open January 2, hoping to fill the house with men serious and excited about seeking God and putting together a functional life for themselves and their families. Currently, we know of 2 or 3 who have expressed interest in filling out an application, which are available this weekend.

It's good stuff, having potential to help men really change their lives and become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

If the details matter to you, click here to see our meeting notes.

so much to pray about, so little time

Sometimes I feel like prayer is all I do.

I feel like my daughter Shawna, at 2 years old. She had just learned to talk, and like most 2 year olds, chattered on endlessly. One time in the midst of way too much to do and too little time to do it, Julie looked at her intently and said, "Shawna, is there any way you could just STOP talking for a little bit? I really need to think right now.

Shawna looked back at her with big tears welling up with her no-Dad-in-the-world-could-ever- say-no-to those-eyes-look, and said "but Mommy, there just so many words inside that HAVE to come out!"

God puts up with a lot of those days from me, with a steady stream-of-consciousness kind of prayer coming out of my mouth.

Maybe that's why it's so hard for me to update this thing. I either want to update it almost every five minutes, or it's too hard to pick out one or two things to write in this space. I don't have time to update that often, and once a day seems too few.

At least that's my excuse for today.