1. The Farrington Mission we are trying to launch is like a ship in dry dock being assembled with unrealistic deadlines. Ministry Team Leaders and their teams are scrambling to train, plan, and prepare for a June launch. Starting a mission from scratch is no small thing. None of the ministries are to the point of knowing when they will be "open for business" each week. Yes, other churches will be welcome to get involved--once our teams have their plans in place. Yes, anyone and everyone you know is welcome at the June 5, 9am-2pm, work day. No, June 5 is not the time or place to get details on all of our Farrington Mission ministries. We had a great meeting with The Source for Women of Houston this week--there is tons of work needed to get the place ready for a crisis pregnancy center, but we will do what it takes--sanctity of life is first. By the way, the official closing of the Farrington property transfer with the title company took place Tuesday night of this week--very exciting!
2. Tuesday of this week our new staff reorganization took place. As many are aware, we have gone to an Executive Pastor model who will oversee all the programming of the church--staff, budgeting, ministries, programs Farrington Mission, our church planting, etc, and that person is Pastor Sonny. To be sure, there will be a learning curve for him as he takes on this new, expanded role, but he will thrive in this position. I'm confident God has called Sonny to this role. This frees me up to focus on preaching, vision casting, and loving our people--in other words, I get to be NEHBC's pastor again. Everyone on staff and all of our ministries/programs now report directly or indirectly to Pastor Sonny and he reports to me. It will take time for our church family to adjust to this new model, but our church will be better for it. This is just another step in positioning NEHBC for our future. More on this later. We are already searching for the new person who will oversee our adult ministries. I would love to have the person in place by July.
3. There is lots of demolition taking place on the 1st floor of our building. If you weren't at midweek worship last night, you are going to be shocked come Sunday morning!
4. As I mentioned during midweek worship this week, tomorrow evening, I and three other NEHBCers leave for Zimbabwe. We are looking into an opportunity for NEHBC to plant churches among an unreached people group called the Tonga. They live in the far northwest corner of Zimbabwe. We will be gone for eight days. Please pray for the Lord to show us His will for NEHBC's involvement with this people group. We have meetings set up with two Tonga pastors and I'm praying that one way God will show us if He wants us to work with the Tonga is by the Tonga pastors being as passionated about church planting as we are. God has given NEHBC a vision for church planting and we want to find the places God is leading us to plant churches--from our city to the ends of the earth. I wont have phone or computer access during our time in Zimbabwe so communication with me will be limited. This week for me is one of Love our City, Love the World. Tuesday morning and night I was at Farrington Mission and during the afternoon at meetings for the crisis pregnancy center. Tomorrow I leave for Zimbabwe. Lord, teach me to Love our City, Love the World.
5. Finally, I just want to say what a great group of men we have serving as trustees at NEHBC. God has raised up these men who love the Lord, the local church, and their families. They are men of conviction who are willing to stand for what is right and for whom the bible is the final authority on all matters. They are honest with me and a tremendous help to me as the pastor of NEHBC. They are a tremendous source of wisdom and accountability. I love these men and I love serving alongside them. Pray for Wade Smith, Jim Hamilton, and Terry Driver.
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