December 2011

After we had been approved through ARC, we began the long season of waiting. Because we agreed to stay at Crosswind until August of 2012, Pastor Dave had asked us to keep quiet about all that we were doing until he and the council determined the right time to bring the church into the loop. I felt very discouraged that I wasn’t doing anything to prep for the launch of our church. There was such a fear in our Facebook world that it would get out if I told the wrong person… that we weren’t really doing or saying anything.

I was tracking other planters’ progress, and feeling like we were allowing precious time to slip by — in the fundraising process, as well as in relationship building. One Wednesday in December, I was sharing my frustration with Jacqueline… she said, “Why don’t you drive to Tennessee tomorrow?” Me: “Are you out of your mind?” JZ: “No, I’m serious… call a few people and see if they’re available for meetings. If they are, you’ll know that it’s God’s idea, not just mine!” Me: “Whatever!” As the day progressed, Jacqueline called, texted and e-mailed me, asking me just to put the feelers out. I finally relented (are you sensing a pattern here?) and called the first person, who happened to also be the busiest… Pastor Mitch Maloney, the senior pastor of North Cleveland Church of God.

I figured there was no way he’d be available for a meeting on such short notice. But I was wrong. In fact, everyone I called was available and willing to meet with me. So I decided that I would drive down the next day and see as many people as humanly possible in 48 hours! It was a very profitable trip. I was able to reconnect with a few people who I had not talked to in a while, and had several commitments to help us financially with the church plant. I even wound up being able to stay at a dear friend’s home, rather than having to pay for a hotel. That trip was a great reminder that when God is for us, nothing can be against us!

Brian