Birthing A Vision

It seems that are Friday night dinners are getting better ever week.  This week had a lot of diversity added to the group with our new friends Sunny and Crispin.  Sunny lives in the neighborhood and is originally from Nigeria.  Crispin is from Haiti and is an engineering student at UK.  God is adding an international flavor without us planning for it.  I also have been working with a few of the refugees who like close to me on Richmond RD at the Heritage apartments.  They have trouble coming to church on Sunday mornings and to dinner on Friday nights so I have been trying to be intentional in meeting with them.  Next Friday night I have invited a few of the young Hispanic men from our church that I have built relationships with.  Anyway our time Friday night went well.  At the close of the evening Ryan (Versailles) and Dillard joined Ryan Ellis and me for our Psalm/Prayer time.  We were overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit as we were reading scripture and praying together.  Tears pretty much swelled up in all four of us.  I can't explain what God is doing in our midst.

It was during this prayer time that I felt the Lord was giving me clarity of what the new church is going to look like.  It is a place for hurting people who need to feel accepted.  I wasn't surprised when he put that on my heart because that's who I am.  I had lived my life in denial for many years because all I wanted to do was to feel loved and accepted for whom God made me. It wasn't until recently where I absolutely sensed how much God loved me as he said that I am his beloved Son in whom He is well pleased.  It didn't matter if this new church failed because the work that God is doing in me is not failing.

Also, about 7 months ago I felt the Lord was telling me to pray to be freed up from the school debt that I accumulated at seminary.  I feel as if God is going to take me around the world to serve Him.  Because I am noticing this international flare of what God is doing I know not to limit my church planting efforts in KY or the U.S. alone but maybe around the world.  I know that God wants to use my ethnicity for his glory.  I speak Italian/Sicilian for a reason.  I have a heart for immigrants because the fact my family immigrated to this country.  Aaron and I were talking about how we received a prophecy that 2008 is the year where big things are going to happen.  We are not stopping at just planting one church but we are already thinking ahead to plant a church out of our church plant in three years and more plants from The Rock.  We want to build into our existing church and new church that we are a congregation that will reproduce other congregations.  Praise God for what He is doing!

Divine Appointments Continued

Today I took some lunch to my roommate Ryan who is always busting his butt at U-Haul.  Afterwards I figured that I would go to Barnes and Noble since it was close by to pick up a few things.  I decided to bring my laptop because I felt the Lord was telling me I needed to hang out there and work on my sermon.  As I was talking with a guy who worked there by the name of Mike I asked him what his tattoo was on his right arm (mike's hand was amputated).  He told me it was scissors and we both agreed how addictive tattoos can be.  I asked him where he got it.  He said he got it for free from Exalt because his good friend Megan worked there and her boyfriend works at Barnes and Noble with him.  Megan was the same girl who gave me a tattoo!  I knew that God had ordained this divine appointment so I told mike I was a pastor starting a church in the woodland park/Chevy Chase area.  He thought that was cool.  I got his phone number and invited over the house for Friday night dinner.

I can't explain what is taking place.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit.  I can't take credit for it the only thing I'm doing is being obedient to the Spirit.  Please continue to pray for the people that my team and I have met over the past few weeks.  Also, pray that the divine appointments would continue.

Divine Appointments

I got my first tattoo eight years ago in Savannah, Georgia that day I graduated Marine boot camp. The year after I got another one in North Carolina when I was with the Marines. I thought I was done getting tattoos and thought that foolish stuff was behind me. Unfortunately it’s not; yes I defiled my body once again and got the thorns of Christ around my right bicep. This is something I have wanted for a few years and didn’t get around to it until now. I think Ryan Ellis may be corrupting me. Ryan and I went to a tattoo parlor on Winchester Road by the name of Exalt. I waited a few minutes to pick out exactly what I wanted and for the artist to get her equipment ready. Ryan took off to eat dinner back at the house. The whole thing lasted and hour and a half. And yes I got it around my whole bicep! Anyway the whole time I was getting my tat I was talking to the artist whose name is Megan. After a few minutes Megan asked me what I do for a living. When I get to that part in any conversation people are usually surprised at what I tell them. I told her I was starting a church. She thought that was cool because her grandfather was a pastor in Morehead, KY. Megan said her faith was stronger when she was younger but has been burned by the church and has not really returned to her faith. Since moving to Lexington she has tried going to some mega church that shall remain nameless. Megan felt as if she didn’t belong, she felt out of place. Let me call a spade a spade and say she would not fit in because she has numerous tattoos and a few piercing. The churches were too big for her and she felt like an outsider. She said that many Christians look down on her profession. I told her that I thought it was cool and would refer her to my friends. The weird part about the whole thing is that she lives in the Americana apartments with her boyfriend. It is the same complex that’s around the corner from my house where Jason and Tawndee also live. I invited her to the Friday night community dinner and told her I would drop by to say hi sometime to her and her boyfriend. As we were an hour into my tattoo a woman by the name of Becky came in. She is friends with Megan. Megan was asking Becky about her grandfather. Becky’s grandfather is in the VA hospital dying from lung cancer. He has about a month to live. I introduced myself to Becky and asked her if I could see her grandfather if that was ok. Becky was thrilled when I asked her that. She wrote down his information immediately. Becky told me that he became a Christian and was baptized last week. When I was done with the tattoo I met Becky’s husband and invited them both to my house for dinner.
I think an important part of the great commission that we overlook is “as we go to make disciples.” No matter where we go about our day I try not to compartmentalize it but rather share my witness everywhere I go. Wild things have been happening and I cannot take credit for it. Praise be to God!

Prayer Power

I was meeting with David Calhoun the other day that is my coach for this church planting experience. I was sharing with him all the wonderful things that God has been doing in our midst. David was very excited and thinks that we can launch at the earliest this fall. While talking with him my phone rang and I got excited like “Jo-Jo, the idiot circus boy” (this is from Tommy Boy). It was that Shawn guy I met at Woodland Park the other day. I was very excited to say the least. I tried to answer my phone but was frustrated because I forgot that my speaker was out. After meeting with Calhoun I rushed into my car to get my Bluetooth. Shawn sounded like he was in a panic. When I called him back he explained his dilemma. Shawn asked me if I knew anybody or any organization that could assist him with something. I told him to drop by my crib that night. Shawn dropped by and was surprised that I wanted to help him. He said with a puzzled look on his face, “man, you don’t even know me and your are willing to help?” I said the primary thing I care about is his soul first and foremost. I asked him if he would be willing for me to come to his home and study the bible together with his family. Shawn said yes to this! Shawn did not believe it was a coincidence that the day after he met me he faced a dilemma that I was to help him out with. Pray for Shawn and his family that they would receive Christ as savior. Also, thank you for those who prayed for me when I text-messaged them before I met with him.

Prayer Walking

One of the things I look forward to when the weather's beautiful is a prayer walk.  Since today was a nice day I decided to take time to pray while I was walking Rocky or when he was walking me:-)  I bet during Jesus' ministry he did a lot of prayer walking, especially on his long journeys. I prayed specifically that God would grant me divine appointments when I approached Woodland Park.  When I arrived at the park I was focusing on keeping Rocky from all the little kids and adults.  Rocky thinks that everybody loves him and wants to play.  When joggers run by he wants to go after them and ends up pulling me with him down the street.  Anyway as I was trying to get Rocky straightened out I heard somebody attempting to get my attention.  I looked over and to my surprise it was a gentleman I met at our churches family fun night last summer.  Ralph was at the park with his kids and mom.  I told him I was starting a church and he was interested in hanging out sometime.  As soon as I got his number Rocky jumped in his lap.  Even though Rocky is 7 months old and weighing in at 50 pounds he doesn't know that he's not suppose to be a lap dog.  After my encounter with Ralph I kept walking and 5 seconds later I saw another guy I recognized by the name of Shawn.  A few months back when the weather was warm the Gallahers and I went to play basketball at Woodland Park.  While we were playing I met Shawn.  Shawn surprisingly remembered who I was and asked me how the new church was coming along.  I told him that he needed to come sometime to the Friday night dinners and got his phone number.  

The more I continue in this work the more I am amazed at God's hand.  His mark is all over this thing and it is starting to bear fruit. Unfortunately it has not been always like this.  For the first six months I wanted to quit maybe 10 times a day!  I think the difference is that my faith has increased and my focus has been more centered than it has in my whole life.  I have been through a rough year and have faced many obstacles but through it all God has been faithful.  Anybody in there right mind would have quit, moved out of the Rock UMC, and probably out of the state of KY.  I can't say that it was not a temptation.  I was also faced with many discouraging voices telling me that this may not be the time to plant a church.  God's plan and call has not changed.  I praise God for friends, mentors, and a church family who has stood next to me.  To God be the Glory!

Leonardo

Today I met a Hispanic man by the name of Leonardo.  Leonardo is from Mexico.  He was hired by my landlord to do some work, I guess he is her maintenance man for the properties.  When I saw him I introduced myself and I could tell he was surprised that I did so.  I told him that I am starting an iglesia and that he should join us.  I invited him to the Friday night dinners and said that he would come.  Sometimes God wants us to reach the people who are right in front of us.  Before this encounter I went to the Euclid St. Kroger to talk with a girl who works there.  I was disappointed when she was not there and then I come home to meet Leonardo practically on my front porch!  God is Good!

Reading the Psalms

Since Ryan Ellis moved in he has been getting up in the mornings with me to train.  Ryan is a good training partner because he pushes me in the weight room.  Usually I am the motivator pushing my training partner then having to motivate myself but having Ryan there adds extra energy.  We have not only been training the body together but also the Spirit which is the most important.  Every night we have been praying and reading the Psalms together every night.  Ryan has never read the Bible before and is really digging the Psalms because he enjoys poetry.  Also, Ryan has never prayed out loud before and says it is getting easier because we are doing it so often.  This week Ryan came to the understanding that praying is "like talking normal."  When we practice the presence of God in our lives our hunger for Him grows deeper.  One night last week Ryan from Versailles dropped by.  Ryan V.  has been coming to our dinners and I would consider somebody we converted through Christ power.  When Ryan V. came in at like 12:30 am we asked him to join us in reading the Psalms and prayer.  He was grateful to spend that time with us.  God is definitely up to something!  Aaron and I are not only looking forward to launch this church but the one that will come after it in the coming years.  Who knows, maybe Ryan Ellis could be our next church planter...