Saturday, July 19, 2008

District Conference

Our family along with the Pratts attended our first official district conference of the NC East District on Thursday in Thomasville NC.  This was my first district conference not being a youth pastor.  What a different feeling that was now that i am the lead pastor of Crosswinds Church.  It was good to be back in NC and get to see a lot of good friends that I had not seen in a few years. The highlight for me was the Evangelism and Church Growth portion of conference. They highlighted the 4 church plants in the district and shared what God had been doing through the other church plants over the last 4 years. What excited me the most was the fact that a large portion of the salvation's had come from church plants. May God help us as we do life with unchurched people and grant us favor with them. I really look forward to what God has for the future of our family and the future of Crosswinds Church. Thanks for your prayers!!

Here is the NEW Blog for Crosswinds Church. We will be posting periodical updates on how things are going.

www.crosswindschurch.blogspot.com

Friday, July 11, 2008

Families doing the Journey with us




Trying out this "blog thing"!

Hi Friends.....I (Ash) decided to give this blogging a try...I love to journal and do that often on paper so I am sure I will come to love this journaling on the blog... :)  
We are finally out of boxes here in the apartment and are able to sit and enjoy our new home.  I actually think I am going to like living in this smaller space on ONE level.... simple living...that's what I am all about these days.  The kids are adjusting well so far.  The only difficulty has been not being able to go outside and play when they want to.  We have to go out with them and that has been a challenge in the midst of  unpacking.  We really miss our neighborhood and the friends we made there.  
I got a call yesterday for a job interview on Monday at 4.  It is for a Public Health Nurse and it would be an 8-5 job M-F.  We are praying for God to go before me in this and that if this job is the one for our family, then He will allow it.  If not,  then He will make it very clear His will for us.  I am learning daily to surrender my fears and concerns to Him and I do know that He has gone before us on this journey and He will provide for our every need.  It is a daily and sometimes  minute by minute surrender for me.  I am one that likes to have everything planned out and God is teaching me that this living by faith is not always going to work out in MY timeline.  I have learned from the past that God's timing is perfect and He will work out ALL things for our good.  This journey for us is exciting.  
We had the core team over to our home the other night for dinner and we were all able to share our stories of how God has called us here.  It was so humbling to sit and hear how God is moving in all of our lives. We were able to see how He has already answered prayer and to also share requests for people we already know the Lord has placed in our path to reach for Him.  Thank you all for your love and prayers.  We will keep you updated!  
(Today is Chris' birthday, the big 36!!! :)  The kids are excited to celebrate!)

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Arrived, the beginning of a NEW JOURNEY

I cannot believe it. We have actually arrived in Wilmington. We left on Sunday, our last Sunday at Victory. What an emotional day, finally having to say SEE YA LATER to everyone. It seems so surreal. Like a dream. I cannot believe we are actually living in Wilmington. I sat in the parking lot last night at food lion while Ashley ran in to get some food for the apartment and I sat there for about 10 - 15 min.  trying to convince myself that i was finally living in Wilmington.  So here I am and the Journey into church planting really begins.  Ready or not here we go. 

Until next time!!  

BIG God using little us.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20