Mission Alive

Our hearts have been touched by the devastation, disaster, and destruction of hurricane Katrina.  But in the midst of the despair we have witnessed hope.  Families have been reunited, housing discovered, jobs secured, schooling continued . . .  In the midst of despair, hope!

Our hearts have also been touched by Robbie James’ presentation “From Despair to Hope” at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Church Planting Workshop on August 27.  Robbie interwove his story with the biblical story to show that in the midst of despair there is hope!  He said, “At times along our journey we can be pummeled to the brink of hopelessness, only to discover that the darkness of despair is but a fleeing shadow chased away by the light of hope.”

Today the storms of postmodernity have slammed into our modern shores and the levees of modern Certainties have been breeched.  As a result, our churches have been flooded, and many left dead and homeless.  Many churches are stagnating, some dying, because of nominalism, disequilibrium, loss of message, anger and sin, lack of spirituality.  But renewal is occurring.  Like a city being reclaimed for the living, or like young seedlings in the midst of a dying forest, new churches are springing up    reflecting . . .  

• a spiritual passion for God
• vibrant equipping of new believers
• unconditional acceptance of human brokenness
• God’s healing touch

God’s mission is continuing through His people.  Hear the stories . . . of Mission Alive church planters.  

·      In January 2005, God used Chris and Heidi Chappotin to call together a launch team of 8-10 people, who started meeting weekly for prayer, vision casting, theological reflection, and strategy formation.  They began like jars of clay, without adequate finances and a very small core team.  On April 17, 2005, this launch team birthed the first Christ Journey small group. Throughout the late spring and summer, the Lord moved mightily within this small group as new participants were added, baptisms were celebrated, babies were born, and Christian community was experienced. The greatest joy has been seeing unbelievers, searchers, and skeptics come to Christ.  The initial small group is not so small anymore.  They have now become a networking of three house churches with 40+ members.   Their public launch is set for Sept. 25 in Deer Creek Elementary school in southwest Fort Worth.  Read the stories of their growth at www.christjourney.net.  

·      Bryan and Robyn Barrett are two months into their church planting and are still in the process of forming their core team of about 20 adults.  They are planting in an emerging area in east Lexington (KY) along the Richmond Road corridor where no other church currently exists.  No social infrastructure currently exists except for the Hayes Middle School, where Bryan will substitute teach a couple of times a month to get to know people of the community.  Pray that God will continue to bring them the financial resources for this church planting in unexpected ways and for the development of their core team.  They will begin evangelistic small groups this year and publicly launch in April 2006.

·      Chris and Rachel Smith have moved into downtown Austin to begin a church plant among young urbanites who are 98% unchurched. They have begun forming connections with those who may join their core team and are beginning their fundraising process. Chris has taken a job at a local independent bookstore called BookPeople (a community bound together by books) where he is known as Kester.  Both Chris and Rachel have grown close to the BookPeople community in a very short time, going to birthday bashes and housewarmings. Chris writes, "The opportunities to share the love of Jesus are endless, and the desire for community is ever present."  Rachel met a young mother at BookPeople who requested a Bible study.  The result is a developing Bible study for a growing number of young mothers.  Once again, Chris and Rachel are demonstrating that most vibrant churches grow out of vibrant evangelism among unreached people.  The gospel is proclaimed in the heart language of unbelievers. 

·      David and JoLynn Clevenger are greatly blessed as they transition from ministry with the Argyle Church of Christ into church planting ministry.  God has blessed them with adequate finances, a good apartment, connections with co-workers in their target area of North Dallas, and developing relationships with possible supporting churches.  Pray that God might bring in adequate support and other co-workers to their developing team. 

·      Robbie and Cynthia James, George and Jennie Cummings, Tasha Gustafson, and Darren Boyer will transition to Denver to plant a church in 2006.  Currently Robbie and Cynthia are working with the Shawnee Trail Church of Christ in Frisco (North Dallas), Tasha Gustafson continues to minister at Boles Home, Darren Boyer has led the way by moving to Denver, and George is working as a counselor in Dallas during this year of transition.  Robbie is astonished by the receptivity of people in the apartment complex where they have recently moved.

These church planters are God’s people, representing his mission, helping searchers move from the despair of self-centered living to the kingdom of God:  “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ]” (Acts 26:28).   They are God’s instruments to bring hope to people in despair.

Missional church planters acknowledge that they minister in weakness rather than strength.  They are clay lamps through whom the light of the gospel shines, demonstrating that the “all-surpassing power is from God and not from [themselves].”  They confessionally recognize that their lives also move from despair to hope as God works in and through them.  Knowing that they are instrument of God’s mission, many courageously take steps of faith into God’s missions despite inadequate support or a small core team.  They know that strong churches are not developed merely through transfer growth or the hiring of powerful co-workers (although effective co-workers are significantly important) but through intentional ministry among searchers and skeptics and the nurturing of new Christian to maturity.  Missional church planters have, however, an incredible passion for God, follow God as he opens new, unexpected doors, evangelistically grow the initial community of faith through intentional spiritual friendships, and nurture the developing Christian community to grow up into Christ.

The Chappotins and Barretts entered Mission Alive through the Discovery Lab in Oct. 2005 and Smiths, Clevengers, Jameses, and Cummings in June 2006.  All of these families have also learned through the Theology for Church Planting Lab and the Church Planting Strategy Lab and are working with coaches and mentors in various stages of church planting.  Praise God with us about the church plantings that he is raising up during this first year and a half of Mission Alive.

Also praise God for . . .

• a new group of church planters entering into Mission Alive through the Discovery Lab concluded last week.
• the folks at the Riverside church in Coppell, our home church, who so generously provide the food for our church planting labs. 
• Kevin Parker who generously gives of his time to develop our web site.
• The contributors who generously give to God’s mission through us in Mission Alive.  Mission Alive is a faith ministry:  We walk by faith, not by sight.  We take steps by faith, and God works through his people to provide the resources.