Family Group - Suwanee

So in June about 6 of my friends and I started meeting at a house in Suwanee for what we would eventually call "Family Night."  This began as a time where we gathered each Monday night for worship, teaching, communion, and a shared meal.  Our first few weeks were great because we already were good friends and definitely enjoyed being around one another.  A few more joined the group and we were regularly having 8-10 people each week.  We did a couple of social events, i.e. a cookout/swim and a dinner at Mellow Mushroom where a few more were added to the mix.  The last few weeks we've had 14 people with a few "regulars" absent.  What started as maybe a summer thing has grown consistently and the group is beginning to feel a sense of mission.

Next week our friend Amanda Brown will be with us to share about her trip to Uganda in 2013.  Our "Family Group" will bless Amanda with an initial gift and then support her monthly next year.  She will become our first missionary:)  I am excited about the group and where God is leading it.  My only goal is to follow the promptings of God and step through open doors.  I'm having a blast right now.

I did a wedding in Madison, GA last weekend and met a couple who lives in Lawrenceville right down the street from where we meet.  They're also looking for a church.  I got the guy's number and will connect with him this week.  Crazy who God will put in your life to come alongside you in the process.  Along those lines, our group is needing a new location as we are pushing capacity at the current house.  My sister connected with the owner of a popcorn store of all places.  He has a really nice setup though and offered for us to meet there for free. So we'll see how that goes.  I'm learning that there is great value in partnering with people who agree with the mission.

So, why do I share this?  To ask you to pray.  Pray that our group would be bold in mission for God.  Pray that God would connect us to people who need Jesus.  Pray that we would not grow content.  Pray that God would continue to open doors.

And if you know someone in the area who might come alongside us, send me an email here.

life update

For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16

I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago about my ministry direction, dream, goals, etc when suddenly she "politely" rebuked me.  It was the refreshing kind of rebuke from someone I know loves God.  She said something to the effect that I needed to let people in on what I was doing so they could pray for me.  Thanks Emily!  So here it is...

About a month ago I left a reviatilzing ministry experience with Lakepoint Community Church near Lake Oconee.  I spent 9 months there working with students and building a team of volunteers.  Perhaps more benefitting to me personally, I spent many hours talking life and ministry with Rob Raynor.  It was like an accelerated version of ministry wisdom, insight, and advice.  I am extremely grateful for Rob's voice in my life.  Lakepoint was a place where I renewed my calling.  I love them and will continue a friendship with the church.  

Over the last few years God has restored, renewed, and reconfirmed what He's called me to do with my life.  I never really doubted what He wired me for, but I had to experience what it was like to take ministry for granted before He would give me anything else.  I wrote about some of that journey here. 

About four months ago I came back from a leadership conference really unsettled in what I was doing.  Sure, I loved serving and loved the people.  But I really began to ask myself, "Am I stewarding the gifts God has given me in the best way possible."  The answer was no.  God has gifted me to preach and teach.  I am most effective for Christ when I'm doing those things.  I was serving in student ministry, and knew in my heart that I was not ultimately fit for that particular focus.  Not to mention, I had another "polite" rebuke from my friend Phil who told me I was not a youth pastor.  I couldn't agree more!

So, what's a guy to do?  

Several times over the last year or so people have asked me, "have you ever thought of starting a church?"  Me, start a church?  I would almost laugh.  Sometimes I actually did laugh.  I had heard story after story of church plants that failed, of guys who went rogue thinking they could be the next Steven Furtick or Perry Noble.  I didn't want to be that guy.  I was smarter than that, and not nearly as arrogant.  I was not going to be the guy that foolishly went out and fell flat on his face.  Without realizing though, I was being the guy that ignored the quiet voice of God...

So, I'm embarking on a church planting journey.  There are hundreds of unanswered questions.  The future is as uncertain as its ever been.  But that is creating some excitement at the same time.  As I've told several people in recent weeks, I don't want to be sitting here a few years from now wondering "what if?"  Here is what I know: I leave Sunday for a church planter assessment in Las Vegas.  Yes, I think that's funny too.  It leaves me wondering if they're going to leave a bag of cash in my room and monitor what i do with it.  Feed the homeless or play the slots?  The assessment will function as a "laboratory" where I will be evaluated in 12 critical areas.  I am really looking forward to the feedback.  When I return from the assessment, I will begin a 6 month training program, ideally facilitated by a church that is planting churches.  Things will begin to become more clear as I begin my training.  The where, when, who, etc. questions will hopefully begin to be answered.  I have no idea how God is going to do this, but it's not my job to know how.

The words of Paul in the verse above capture my feelings.  I honestly believe I would be a miserable man if I did not fulfill God's calling on my life to preach.  I think the same is true for all of us.  We are most fulfilled when we're doing what God has wired us to do.  It's that simple.

I am grateful for you taking the time to read this.  I am also inviting you to join me on this journey by subscribing to these email updates by entering your email in the upper right column of this blog.  I will be stronger with you as a partner.

Faithfully,

Mitchell