The First Two Weeks
It is official. Doxa Church, as of April 19th, has initiated its first community gathering. After several weeks of practice with just our core community (that is the Russell’s and the Heffner’s), and a few weeks of strategic planning, budgeting, and remodeling of one dining room, we have completed our first two gatherings with friends we have made in the area. They have gone fantastically, with those in attendance truly appreciating what we are doing, and verbalizing their excitement to continue their involvement.
Although excitement and direction have been positive, our attendance has ben less than expected, due to some emergencies and people backing out out the last minute. These things are to be expected, as a lot of people are fearful or skeptical of the gospel, and those who aren’t will certainly find some obstacle to overcome in joining our community. Please pray for our one family who has missed both fo our first two weeks due to emergency medical needs. Also pray for Rebecca’s “bus buddy” who may come in the next week or two if she can find a friend to come along. Finally pray for my friend and teaching mentor, Jamie. She has expressed interest in coming before, but is flaking out at the last minute because of some serious internal resistance to religion.
Some other prayer requests as we continue to build our community:
(1) Pray that we wil find ways to make it mroe of a community instead of a once a week meeting. Thom Ranier;s new book identifies community as one of the key aspects of churches that attract and keep younger generations. One of our key identities is being family, which informs us that we wnat to be far more than a church group. We wnat to share life on an intimate level. Pray that we might know how to begin creating this atmoshpere outside of Sunday nights.
(2) Pray for our budgetary needs. We have established a workable budget that is going to require some outside giving to help us get started. Right now we have two giving families – the aforementioned Russells and Heffners. We need about $150/month additional to meet ouf monetary needs for the year.
(3) Praye for the TWO missions trips that we have coming this summer, that we will have projects for them, that we will be able to cast our vision with them when they come, that the work will be fruitful, and no one will go crazy.
(4) Pray for me (Andrew) to find a teaching job that starts this fall and is not too far from home!
Grace to you,
Andrew