God is amazing and the joy of the Lord has been our strength! Our family is thriving in this world city and God is establishing the work of our hands in ministry. A little update for you:
Mondays are typically my day off, but this past Monday I had the great privilege of meeting with Dr. Alvin Reid from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to talk about church planting in New York City. We are excited about the possibility of some SEBTS students coming up for a class this fall to study urban church planting with The Gallery Church serving as their learning lab. Though his reputation had proceeded him it was my first time to meet Dr. Reid. He is a new friend and one of God’s choice servants indeed. Around the table was Dr. Reid, his daughter Hannah, Ellis in from Baltimore, Jeff Getz, Steve Allen, Aaron Coe and myself. Our conversations about the strategic nature of planting in global cities and the possible partnerships that could maximize that cause were very encouraging! Before he left Dr. Reid made sure we were tuned into this message.
Tuesday we had a great staff meeting capped off with even better prayer walking on the UWS. Staff meeting was held @ Joe: The Art of Coffee, one of the best coffee shops in the city, which just opened a new store a few blocks down from our apartment. Later that night Maggie (a friend I went to jr. high with) and Matt (her husband) came over for dinner. They have been coming to the Gallery but will be heading back to Los Angeles in July.
Wednesday I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with a gal from Russia @ Joe, followed by some wonderful prayer and journaling @ the resevoir where I had a very encouraging phone call from Bill Graham. Later that evening before Growth Community, we had a wonderful time with Jon Fox over dinner.
Yesterday I took off a little early and took Jack to this playground
View Larger Map @ 92nd and after his nap. The weather was perfect and the park was swarming with school children. There was a water fountain continuously running that Jack couldn’t reach with his mouth but could make it spray himself in the face by plugging it with his finger. It was so much fun!
Later last night we hosted 5 friends that have been living together on the Upper East Side for the past two years. Elizabeth, Rachel, Katie, Micole, and Susan, are each amazing gals and we are so happy to call them friends and honored that they are marrow of the Gallery Church. Rachel captures beauty here, Susan creates it here, while Katie cooks it, Micole designs it, and Elizabeth carries it everywhere she goes. We look forward to continuing to getting to know and grow with these East Side gals.
Today the weather was amazing. We leisurely strolled down to Joe (yes again, it is actually very strategic to go to the same place often to cultivate relationships, not to mention it is located a block away from our Upper West Side Gathering) and then through the park before we met up with a group of friends @ the Rudin Family Playground. Jack loves exploring through the park and playgrounds.
Susan will be starting up a Mom’s group next week from folks that expressed interest from our Easter Egg Hunt. Pray that she will be effective in building lasting relationships with these ladies and impacting them with the gospel.
Next weekend I will be one of the many missionaries sharing @ Hilldale Baptist Church’s “On Mission Conference”. Sunday night I will have the privilege of preaching in the PM services @ First Baptist Church in Clarksville. I hope to see many of you that weekend!
Thank you for your prayers and love!
We had an amazing Easter Sunday here in New York City with over 140 people gathered in our two services combined. We launched our new mini-kid theater Big City Adventures with Gallery Kid in the morning gathering and Lillie and Elliott were dedicated this morning as well. Tonight we had two baptisms…the video for the first is attached but we had technical difficulties on the second. Click on the link above to see a video of the baptism. I sensed God’s favour on the whole day in a special way! Thanks for your continual prayers, we need them and feel them!
(update at bottom)
Please pray for us all…
I’m sick…chocked full of medicine, hoping these cold sweats is my sickness passing.
Susan has been a little sick in TN and on her way home.
Lillie has had a cough and is about over it.
Elliott has had a cough and is about the same.
Jack is just now getting the cough.
We do appreciate your prayers!
Update:
I went to the doctor, took antibiotics, and am feeling a lot better, though I’m still coughing a bit and some sinuse drainage. — Susan is feeling a lot better, still coughing a little. — Lillie is fine, but the trip to Clarksville has thrown her sleep patterns off and she got up last night @ midnightish and 4ish. — Elliott has some congestion and is getting the vick’s vaporizer at night prescribed by the doc…and slept till 6:30 this morning — Jack went to the doc Saturday night and had an early ear infection. He is on anitbiotics and is feeling a good bit better. Thank you all so much for your prayers and love!