Hi guys. It has been too long since I posted a blog. Way too long. In the last several months I have often times gotten lost in the details of church planting. Man, it is so easy to slip into the comfort of planning and scheduling for me. That may sound weird to a lot of you, but my background makes these types of things a big cushy chair for me to sit in.
We are on a great path. So much has happened over the last few months it just amazes me. Here is a bullet list of just a few of the highlights in random order:
- We have prayed together. We have prayed for each other. We have prayed for this city. We have prayed for the building. We have just flat out prayed our hearts out to God. That, my friends, is cool.
- We have made several road trips to other churches as a launch team to learn, love and grow. We have been to Genesis Christian Church, Vail Christian Church and PCC-East Tucson Campus several times. We are a traveling bunch of folks.
- We have been blessed to get into a great, permanent site to meet and have 24/7. This is a great tool to love people to Jesus and launch passionate people to make our world different.
- We have contractors, architects, and servants working long hours to get our building ready to use.
- My family has moved into a wonderful home in Sierra Vista. We call it “God’s Estate.” So many folks served us, brought us food, and just blessed our socks off when we moved in.
- Jesse Colburn was hired as our Worship Pastor and Associate Pastor. He and his family have moved to a new home in Sierra Vista. Jesse is a man of God and is already impacting every life he touches! Amazing.
- Julie Colburn (Jesse’s wife) and Morrisa Berkley have been hired as the Co-Children’s Campus Ministry coordinators. These ladies stepped up to God’s prompting and said we will do this. Crazy stuff.
- New people have continued to join our launch team. Leaders have stepped forward in all areas. Outstanding!
- We held a Marriage Seminar in April and served seven couples.
- We have an Ice Cream Truck – and it looks great. And it was given to us!! The ice cream will taste even better! Folks have poured hours into renovating this old Fed Ex truck to make it God’s Ice Cream Truck. No Strings, Just Wheels.
- We have folks in our Launch team that are giving generously of their time, money, effort and energy to pull this together.
- We have a HUGE outreach event planned to introduce ourselves to Sierra Vista on August 2nd. It is the Big Event. I mean it is going to be big!!
- We have held four preview services at Pueblo Del Sol Elementary. Each one “better” than the last.
- We did a “Cars and Handlebars” event on Mother’s Day. Everyone ate and had a great time.
- We have 6 Life Groups meeting with another half dozen ready to start at Launch.
- We participated in Serve Sierra Vista in April and gave away over 1200 bottles or water, 100 pounds of candy, lots of popsicles and a ton of smiles.
- We had a house dedication and a baby dedication Sunday Service. What wonderful experiences these were for me personally.
- We helped put together a great Baby Shower for our church launch.
These are just the “big hitters”. I could go on and on about the conversations, life change and growth that we are all experiencing. I could go on and on at how God has moved in this group and this city. I could go on and on about the hours of prayer, work and serving that has already happened.
In a recent email exchange with Jesse, he pointed out something that just reminded me of where we are. Jesse has a very good habit of doing just that!
“….but it seems to me that in God’s eyes this church is ALREADY launched. it’s happening. church is happening here, and we can’t miss that.”
I admit it. I sometimes miss that. I tend to look at what hasn’t happened yet versus celebrating what already has. Part of this is my training and my job. Part of it is my own insecurity and unwillingness to let God do his part and just get out of the way. I have said this so often, often enough to listen to myself I guess. The greatest joy I have is also the greatest struggle I have – I am not in control. God is in control. Always has been.
I am reminded of one of the first trips down to Sierra Vista I had with my family. Lisa and I were still processing the implications of accepting this path God had put before us. I am having this conversation, well argument really, in my head with God about planting this church. “It is too much; no way, God… too much….bottom line, I can’t do this” The “response” I got was immediate and resonating: “You’re right Hugh, you can’t do this. But I can”.
And He has.
I have learned it can be a humbling thing to watch God work. It is a humbling thing to be a part of a great group of folks working hard to follow Jesus with everything they have.
I thank God every day for allowing me to be a part of His Kingdom in Sierra Vista. Strap in folks, this ride has only just begun.
