Day one on the ground

This last Thursday, September 4 was the first day on the ground in Sebewaing as we work to create a Disciple making movement. I had several encounters which I am praising God for.
I started my day by visiting a friend of mine, Fred Wilson, a retired Assembly of God Pastor. I shared with Fred the vision that we believe God has placed on our hearts for creating a Disciple Making movement. Fred was excited about it and very supportive.

Next I visited the school. During my 10 years of ministry in the Sebewaing area I did many things in school. Even though I did not know many students I was warmly greeted by the high school staff and given several ideas and possibilities to help serve in the school and some contact information. Since the schools in small towns are really the heart of the community, I was excited about the things that came out of those three meetings.

I had lunch with Casey Turner. Casey has been working through some of the possibilities of what the Organic Church should look like and how God wants him to be involved. I was greatly encouraged with our visit because Casey shared that he has been in conversation with Pastors from several different areas in the Thumb, and there seems to be a spirit of change that God is orchestrating. Casey shared that when he visited with several of these churches 10 years ago when he first came to the Thumb, he got very negative input to some of his ideas of the churches working together. Now there seems to be a more open environment.

In the afternoon I visited with one of the Pastors from the Fair haven Mennonite Church located a few miles north of Sebewaing He had gotten the letter that I mailed out in June and was wondering about how his church might benefit from a Disciple making movement. I invited him to be part of our first group this fall but his schedule won't allow it. Michael is a bi-vocational pastor and his two other jobs are keeping him pretty tied up this fall. He asked if we might be open to people from his congregation attending some of our studies and of course we are.
I also visited with a couple of men I know who work second shift. I am hoping to start a men's group that will meet late morning.

I closed the day meeting with John and Rhonda Elenbaum. They are open to us using their home to meet in. I also asked them if they might be willing to attend some training seminars on disciple making, and they are. Overall many things to praise God for!
As I face this week's visits my prayer concerns are as follows.

I was given contact information for two pastors. Pray they will be as open to meeting as the people I talked to last week seemed to think they would be.

Pray for wisdom as I figure out the best way to be involved in the school system. They seem to be incredibly open, and I would be working with the alternative high school students who really need God.

Pray that this week as I meet with two men about a discipling possibility that they would be open to it.

I am hoping to meet with a man who Casey felt would be critical in starting a disciple making movement in Sebewaing. Pray that I get that meeting and that we will be open to what the Holy Spirit wants.

Continue to pray for Casey. I am impressed on that God intends to use him in this process.

Pray for this new relationship with Pastor Michael from the Fair Haven Mennonite Church. I believe there is something God wants to do there.

Continue to pray for a Spirit of unity -- that any issues from the past would not become major stumbling blocks for people.

Your Servant in Christ,

Brian