The wonderful world of relationships...

I finally met with the Sr. Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Union…and he was very supportive of what we are doing and even offered his church as a space to meet if we needed to do so…apparently they have a history of doing these things for the Catholic church and a few other churches….even ones that have tried to do ministry there in Union and failed (still looking to try to find those that attempted that plant and failed so I can find out the previous mistakes they made). So that meeting was a good one….and I also found out that they are trying to have a contemporary Worship service on Wednesday nights once a month and hopes to make it twice a month soon and eventually a weekly worship service…and their new younger Associate Pastor is heading up that worship service aimed primarily at young couples. Both ministers will be wonderful relationships to have!

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I also made first contact with the owner of Double Decker Sandwich Shop in the hopes to develop a relationship with them for the block parties….and I need to do the same with a Chinese restaurant in Union that I hear has Christian owners. The owner seemed excited about the proposal and wanted to talk more when the parties came closer. I still don’t think that the owner understands what I am talking about yet…(his thought is we just order a to-go platter….but I want to offer him the chance to develop relationships with his customers…and us! The more we talk to them more I have a feeling he will understand.

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I also finally got the maps from the Boone County Planning commission office and I cut the maps down so that they can now be laminated and then put on the wall for us to be pin-pointing the current FUMC families who live in Union and I can start a few 1-2 weekly meetings with homes in the area to share the vision, develop deeper relationships, and find out the level of support they would be willing to offer towards the ministry.

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I am also starting the Relational Evangelism training called “Living Out Loud” Sunday 25th after Church to offer a look into how to share Christ by developing relationships with others first and then over time sharing Christ. We will open it up for all the church to be a part of and then go from there….we already have a lot of people excited about this opportunity.

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I also helped pack and prepare the supplies that we took to the Conference office for hurricane Katrina relief. And I have a feeling that this new ministry will really need to focus on missional opportunities like this one and promote a culture of creative relationships with each other, God, and those that need them!
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I also just got back from visiting the Master Gardener @ The Garden "a Blossom of St. Luke's UMC ". Gary and I went there today to ask Linda questions about their tribe extension of 10 years this Saturday. Meeting with Linda was extremely informative and very helpful. It is nice to talk to someone who has done what we feel God is desiring to do through us...and we are discussing a coaching relationship between us. Gary and I feel very strongly about not reinventing the wheel, but being creative with God in what we do to provide new and exciting relationships with the people of Union....so Linda and others like her are going to be a key element in dreaming with God and the creative passionate movement of this specific tribe extension that we are accomplishing through Christ's help!!

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So, with all that said.....KUTPs!!!! God bless each one of you and rest this week in God's green thumb and hands.

RELATIONSHIPS!!!! <-----can you see the theme here?)