I announced yesterday our new ministry plans…here is basically what was said…..thanks for your prayers
To the Body of Belleville First Assembly,
I would first like to say, I have a great love and gratitude for the many friends that we have developed here at Belleville First Assembly. As we have grown together with all of you, our family has become part of yours and all of yours part of ours. So before I say anything else, I want to make it very clear that my family and I are not leaving this family … we are just beginning a transition we believe we are supposed to be making in order to continue what God has for us.
For the past year or so, I believe God has been trying to get my attention to launch into a very different area of ministry … something I have never been involved in before. There have been many sleepless nights as God would wake me up and cause me to pray and seek His direction. During that time, I know He has been preparing me for the future.
When I first began to explore these thoughts and desires, I began with the traditional route that most ministers who feel a stirring take … I thought I needed to plant a church. The Assemblies of God has made that a big push for young ministers right now and I began to explore that direction. I talked with Pastor David and the two of us even went to the Illinois District to get some of their thoughts. They were very supportive of the idea of a church plant and I even began to pursue that direction.
As my Idea Tank began to churn away, I began to think very differently about what it means for me to be involved in something that could potentially connect the community to the church, become a resource to those who do have the call to plant churches and to be involved with the Gospel going forth at home and abroad through missions. I began bouncing the idea off other people in the Assemblies of God and outside the Assemblies who have similar gifts and passions. It became more and more clear.
I believe I am supposed to take my entrepreneurial gifts and start a thrift store that would be able to fund a variety of ministries … and while the storefront itself would serve as a connection point to the community … it would also become a place of ministry. The possibilities are endless for the ministry that could happen.
Providing low cost clothing and goods for households would be done through the Thrift Store. It will give opportunity to those in difficult circumstances of life to have an inexpensive alternative for some of their daily needs.
It could also give opportunity to those in difficult circumstances of life to receive goods for their daily life. Preaching the Gospel through outreach evangelism to children, youth and adults … Preparing new converts for transition to Body life in a local church could all be part of a Ministry Center that would be designed to give opportunity to those in difficult circumstances of life the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope for the future.
I recently attended a conference put on by the Assemblies of God where I met many people who share a similar vision and passion for this type of ministry. I have also spoken with several churches around the country who do different facets of this type of ministry and they are seeing God doing great things through these efforts.
So I know it is not only feasible but is also a viable opportunity to further the Gospel by going into the marketplace.
So all that being said, as of January 18th, I will conclude my service to this Body as a staff member and become a member of this Body who will be taking a new direction for ministry.
I will begin immediately after that date to pursue opportunities with churches inside and outside our local area to cast the vision for this ministry and to also gain support. There is much to be done as we have set a launch date for May 1st. The first year of this endeavor will be filled with travel and much of that will be on the weekends, so you will probably not be seeing much of my face.
However, our prayer is that just as we have walked together with you faithfully for the last 8 years, we will continue to walk together in this new adventure … and that as we do, we will continue to build the Kingdom of God … together.
Thank you for hearing my heart … and I will appreciate your prayers for the days ahead.
