Answered Prayers

Just over one month into this adventure and I think we need to take a moment to look back and take note of all the ways God is answering prayers.

1. We have prayed for The Big Scary Dream of what this church can be - a vision that only God can bring to pass and that no one will ever mistakenly attribute to our ability. Status: prayer answered! God has given us a vision to be a church as diverse as our city that builds our life around rhythms of discipleship and mission more than around buildings and services. Truly, if God doesn't build this house, then we labor in vain.
   
2. Literally, as I wrote that last sentence, I was reminded of a second prayer when my alarm went off on my phone... 10:02 am every morning reminding me to pray as Jesus instructs us in Luke 10:2 - The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore cry out to the Lord of the harvest that He might raise up laborers for His harvest field. God is answering this prayer constantly, bringing people into our path, often in unexpected ways. Just today I had a conversation with a wonderful nurse in our hospital room (for those that don't know, John Coleman may III was born on Wednesday... AWESOME!) that might lead to another partner. Please keep praying for more laborers.
   
3. We have been praying that God would bring together people of different races and backgrounds to join us in this adventure. God is also answering this prayer in beautiful ways, as our gatherings include Latinos, Asians, blacks and whites. We definitely need continued prayer for this.
   
4. We almost lost two of our core team to a school requirement and after praying that they would be able to remain with us, God not only made that possible but also provided funding for one of them, Alma Ruiz, to become our first CityWell staff person!

These are just some of the ways God is proving faithful as always. This is an awesome gift to have to rely so heavily upon our Lord and to see His provision and leading. Please continue to pray with and for us, particularly for the following things:

1. For God to guide us in how to order our lives together such that we learn how to live into rhythms of discipleship and mission that make us joyful and powerful Kingdom people.
   
2. For God to form in us habitual missionary postures, that we might come to see ourselves as partners with God in every aspect of our lives.
   
3. That we might have favor and influence with friends and neighbors who are not yet followers of Jesus, and that we might know the joy of seeing them come to celebrate the salvation He won for them! 

Our God is amazing! Thank you for joining us in this great work of prayer.

Grace and peace.