Busy Weekend--'Amicable Break-up'

It's Friday night and we're prepping for a busy weekend -- playoff football games, birthday parties, Homecoming date and dance and bonfire -- and that's just our kids!

Sunday is just as busy -- 2 Celebration services, a Beginnings membership class, prayer ministry training and then a VBI class on the Kingdom of God.

Some days I wonder how this continues -- but I love the continuous action and seeing God move as He builds His church here. My simple prayer is that we be doing what God wants us to do and not trying to stir up or create anything on our own. We want to be led by His Holy Spirit.

I had a great conversation today with a couple from our church who have been wanting to plant a church. They went through the assessment for church planting that the Vineyard requires all church planters to participate in. The assessment came back in and they had a few questions and wanted to make sure things were communicated clearly.

After we discussed those things -- they felt like God had been preparing them and now finally releasing them to be doing more in the area o street ministry in downtown Minneapolis which would eventually become a church. We discussed how church planting and street ministry come from two different angles and that it was probably best to release them to minister under the umbrella of a proven street ministry organization.

We decided to separate ways knowing that God would continue to extend His kingdom through His church and through this street level ministry. I love their desire to reach the hookers, the drunks, and the junkies with the hope and love found in Jesus Christ. I think we'll see and hear incredible things from this ministry in the days to come!

It's not an easy thing to 'break-up' this way. These are people who have strong relationships within the church body -- they've been here longer than us! People will miss them and wonder what's happened to them. But I also think they will be happier and grow more as they step out in faith to do what Jesus has called them to do! I pray that God will show Himself daily to them and grant them favor as they minister. Give them boldness as the minister in the name of Jesus!