Home update & Praise:

Our prayers have been that God would go before us in every aspect and He certainly has!  As it turns out with this unusual weather in December it exposed some serious grade issues as well as some tile issues with our home -hence significant water in the basement.  Long story short, it was good that this happened before we owned the home (as this issue wouldn't normally have happened until Spring time) and the contractor was able to correct it with the warmer weather. Additionally, we discovered that if our personal items would have been in there and that had happened, our personal items would have been our loss unless we were to get into a big legal battle.  

After a great deal of helpful advice from friends and family who knew how to handle this situation far better than us (you know who you are and we thank you so much) we had to have several meetings with our contractor and third party inspections, but it all looks good and seems corrected.   Ann and I are closing on the house this morning...YEA!  We have a little bit of painting to do over the next few days, but we're hoping to start moving our things in this Saturday.  Thanks for your prayers and concerns!  God is so Faithful!!!

Prayer for our home...

Please pray.  Ann and I previously postponed on the closing of our new home a week ago.  We thought the issue had been resolved until we went into the basement again this morning.  Due to the road conditions, the contractor said he couldn't make it out to look at it today and we are supposed to close this Monday morning.  Also, due to contract issues, we really need to close before the end of the year.  This has turned into a very complicated and difficult situation.  Please pray for God's wisdom and intervention as we seek to navigate through this matter.

On the bright side, Ann and I had a wonderful time celebrating Christ being with us and being with our families for Christmas!

Epic Church Video

Check out this video...it will give you yet another glimpse into the heart and purpose behind Epic Church.

Prayer Update...

Praises:

• Ann, Caitlin and I had a chance to catch up with some friends last Saturday.  We were able to hear of what God was doing in each other's lives and Ann and I left very inspired and encouraged!
• Ann and I have seen people offer to support us without our initiation.  Thanks for your prayers, God is building His church!
• Ann and I had the opportunity to share our vision with a Sunday School Class at Wakarusa Missionary Church.  It was a wonderful time and they were very encouraging towards us.
• Ann and I are supposed to be closing on our house Dec. 22nd.
• We've seen several of our relationships with people in South Mishawaka continue to develop... we're grateful for these friendships!    

Requests:

• Please pray for others to continue to give and join in giving towards the church.  Pray that God will continue to bring about others who have a similar burden for reaching out to the people of South Mishawaka.
• Please pray that God will bring about the people He has to help launch this church.  Pray that Ann and I will have faith, discernment and courage in this area.
• Please pray that others will continue to be prompted to pray for this ministry and for Ann, Caitlin and I.
• Ann and I are going out of town for a few days.  Please pray that God will watch over us and Caitlin.  Please pray that this time will be very beneficial to Ann and I as we have this significant amount of time together.
• Please pray that God will have His hand of protection on my family and me:  Pray that He will protect us Spiritually, Physically and Emotionally.

Prayer Update

Requests:

• Raising financial support has been very difficult.  Please pray for God to provide and that we will remain encouraged.
• In January, Ann and I will begin the process of recruiting the Launch team.  Please pray that God will move in the hearts of the right people to be a part of this church plant.  Pray that we will have incredible wisdom and discernment.
• December 22nd we will be closing on our house, please pray that things will go smoothly.
• Please pray that God will continue to allow us to build significant relationships in South Mishawaka.
• Please pray that Epic church will be a beacon of Grace and Hope as we seek to be tangible extensions of His Love.

Praise:

• God continues to meet our needs.  Every time I have a meeting or thought of discouragement, God continues to "surprise" us with means of provision and encouragement.  
• I had an awesome meeting today with a pastor who had a vision and heart for partnering in the planting of a church in South Mishawaka before God had even put it on my heart. I'm excited in the potential of this relationship.
• Ann and I are so thankful for our parents allowing us to live with them since August...last night, Ann and I were able to go out on a date together and we had a wonderful time time together.
• We have so much to be thankful for, we enjoyed getting to spend time with some of our friends and family over Thanksgiving.

Prayer and Praise Update...

Prayer Requests:

• Ann and I are sharing with College Park Missionary Church (one of our lead teams) please pray that God's anointing will be upon us.
• Please pray that we will continue to develop deeper relationships with our friends in South Mishawaka.
• With the economy it's becoming more and more difficult to find financial partners.  Yet during these times of great need, it also makes for great opportunities for the church.  Please pray that God will move in many hearts that they might be willing to take the bold steps of faith to reach out at such an opportune time.  I'm reminded of how great the harvest is.
• Please pray that God will continue to protect Ann, Caitlin and I on three fronts - physically, emotionally, spiritually.
• Please pray that God will help things to go smoothly with the purchase and moving into our home in December. 

Praises:

• It appears that Ann and I will get to move into our home a couple of weeks earlier than anticipated.  We're looking at possibly being able to move in as early as December 15th.
• I had a wonderful meeting with a church that is interested in both prayerfully and financially supporting us.
• Ann and I were able to meet with some friends from WI, who are current supporters and potential supporters.  It was great to share our hearts and vision with them and they were very encouraging of us!
• Ann and I are continuing to build relationships with friends from South Mishawaka!

Prayer and Praise Update...

Requests:

• One of our churches on the lead team had to pull out.  They indicated that they believed in Ann and I and the vision but the leadership didn't feel that the church was at a place to be able to join in the lead team.  We are in need of at least 1 new or ideally 2 more churches to join the lead team.
• Please pray that God would direct us to the right people, businesses and churches to financially partner with us.  I'm having several conversations with people and churches saying, "We'd like to partner with you, but the economy is affecting us."
• Ann and I are still building relationships and trying to reach out to people of South Mishawaka.  Please pray that God will continue to build and bring new relationships to us.
• Please pray that we will remain encouraged and that we will have wisdom and courage.
• Please pray for God's hand of protection on our hearts and family.
• Please pray that God will raise up others who will commit to praying for us and this ministry.

Praises:

• While we may have lost a church from the lead team we just had a new church join the team, Sturgis Missionary Church.  Now if we can get at least one more church on board.
• I've had some wonderful meetings with potential church partners.  All have agreed to be prayer partners and several are considering being financial supporters of us.
• Ann and I recently attended a church planting conference.  We learned a great deal and we had a wonderful time networking and dreaming with other church planters who are taking similar faith steps.
• While going to the conference we were able to be spend some time with friends...they were an encouragement to us.
• Ann and I are so grateful for our friends and family who are very supportive of us.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Prayer & Praise Update

Requests:

• I just received news that one of my former coworkers from Northbrook Church suddenly died of a heart attack last night while he was out hunting.  My heart is heavy for his family and the Northbrook family.  Please pray for all of us who are affected by the news of Rick's passing.
• Ann and I will be attending a church planting conference this week.  Please pray that the time will be fruitful and that Caitlin will be okay while we are away.
• I have several important meetings with potential partnering churches over the next several weeks.  Please pray that God would bring about the support and partners.
• Please pray that I will be Christ to my wife and daughter and that we will continue to grow together.
• Please pray that God will give me wisdom and that He will protect my heart and mind.

Praises:

• I'm using this new tool for my quiet times and absolutely loving it.  God is continuing to show me more and more of His character and faithfulness.
• I've had some really positive meetings over this last week.
• We're getting the opportunity to see some of our good friends before going to the retreat.
• God just continues to provide and meet our needs.  I'm amazed at the "by chance" meetings I have with individuals that God uses. 
• We're continuing to develop some wonderful friendships with people from South Mishawaka.
• I'm grateful for my Abba Father's love...His love that caused Him to send His son...the love that sets us free...the love that gives us life...life eternal.  As I reflect on the life of my friend Rick, I'm grateful for the Love of my Heavenly Father...The one who LOVES to GIVE life!

Prayer & Praise Update

Requests:

• I have a couple of meetings with leaders of potentially partnering churches.  Please pray that God will go before me in these meetings.
• I'm trying to work on a promotional video for the church plant, please pray that this will come together smoothly and that it will be done with excellence.
• Ann and I will be going to a church planting conference in a couple of weeks.  Please pray that our minds will be open and that this will be a very beneficial time for us to continue to dream and learn.
• Please pray that God will continue to guide me to people who have a heart to give towards the ministry of this church plant.
• Caitlin is still really struggling with the transition.  We are spending half of the week with my parents and the other half of the week with Ann's parents.  This has been challenging for all of us, but especially for Caitlin.  
• Please pray that God will protect our marriage and family.
• Ann and I have continued building relationships with new friends in South Mishawaka. Please pray that God will continue to bless and grow these relationships that we are forming.
• Please pray that we will hear clearly from God...that He would guard our hearts and minds.  
• Please pray that God will give Ann and I wisdom beyond our years and experience!!!
• Please continue to pray for the leaders of the Lead Team and their churches.  Please pray for God's protection of them (Jim - College Park, Jeff - Cedar Road, John - St. Mark, Paul -Wakarusa).
• Next month Ann and I will begin sharing with partnering churches.  Please pray that God's anointing will be on us. 

Praises:

• Ann and I continue to meet new people and are forming some wonderful new Friendships in South Mishawaka.  We're absolutely loving it! 
• I had a great meeting in Ohio with my church planting coach.  He is great for provoking my thinking about ministry and leadership.  I also had an opportunity to meet with some church planters who are much further "down the road" than I.  It was a great time connecting with them.
• I'm continuing to read and learn.  A book that I've particularly wrestled with but appreciated is "They Like Jesus, but Not the Church" - Dan Kimble
• Ann and I have continued visiting a number of different churches and have loved worshiping with them as well as observing and learning from them.  Caitlin has done incredibly well meeting new people and going to new classes each week...We are so grateful!
• There are several who have contacted me over the last couple of weeks just wondering how they can be of support to us and the church.  There continues to be interest...yea God!
• I've finally finished the first draft of writing out the Vision, Core Values, Basic Strategy and Core Beliefs for this new church.  I'd be happy to e-mail it to you to get your feedback and if you're interested.  e-mail me at:  levanjt@aol.com
• I just continue to be amazed with God's faithfulness and encouragement to us.
• We're grateful for those of you who are faithfully praying for us...God is using YOU to make a difference in us and through us!  

 

Prayer update: Week 4

Requests:

• Please pray for God's direction as I seek to raise financial support in the midst of these difficult economic times.  I'm trying to raise an average of $12,500 per month.
• Please pray for our family/marriage as this is a very trying time as we're in transition.  Our families have still been incredible hosts, but it's been tough for Ann and I to have significant time alone to share our hearts with one another.  Pray that I will love Ann in the way Christ loves the Church.
• Please pray that we would continue to make and grow in the new and exciting relationships that we've developed within Mishawaka.
• I've been sick this whole week, please pray that I get well soon.
• Please continue praying for those that God intends to partner with this future church.
• Please pray that we will find another member of the lead team.
• Please Pray that God will give me wisdom and that He would protect my heart and mind.
• Please pray that Ann and I would remain encouraged.
• Pray that God will use this church to help meet the needs of those living in Mishawaka.
• Pray that my time alone with God will be life changing...that I will allow those times to be what God desires for me to have.
• Please pray that I wont move ahead of God and then ask Him to bless it, but rather that I would be blessed in joining Him in what He's doing.  May my heart be moved over the same things that moves His heart.

Praises:

• We've continued to build some incredible friendships with people in Mishawaka.  We've continue to have some really cool conversations as we've met some really wonderful people.
• We've had friends that have either taken us to dinner or have shot us e-mails letting us know that God has put us on their heart and that they're praying for us.
• I've had several conversations with people that seem interested in the new church.
• God just continues to meet our needs down to the details...I needed an i-pod to help me with what I'm working on and I had a friend give me an extra one that he had.
• I've had a friend working on a website for the new church (for free), this is a huge help to me.  Some of you know that I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to technology.  :)
• For those that are praying for us.  We can absolutely tell that God is with us...and we need your prayers.  Thank you!

Prayer update: Week 3

Lead Team just before golfing (From left to right): John Gregory - St. Mark, Jeff Truex - Cedar Road, Me, Jim Bear - College Park, Paul Commons - Wakarusa

Requests:

• Please continue to pray for me as I am continuing to work on the "Who we are" page (mission statements, values, statements of faith, etc) of our new church.



• Please pray that God will continue to bring even more prayerful supporters of this ministry.



• Please pray that God will continue to bring about financial donors and commitments towards the ministry.



• Please pray that God will continue to move in the hearts of those who will be a part of the launch team for this new church. May He bring about people that He's put a specific call on their lives to be a part of this new church plant.



• Please pray that I will have the wisdom to know how to properly balance ministry and family time. May I be Christ not only to those that I minister to in South Mishawaka, but also to my family.



• Ann and I are moving into a home in South Mishawaka in December, please pray that all of those details work out smoothly and timely.



• Please pray for our neighbors that we will have an immediate impact.



• Please continue to pray for Ann as she works/ministers at Starbucks.



• Please pray for our protection in traveling home this Wed. from Wisconsin to Michigan.



• Please pray that God would guard our hearts, minds, marriage, family and physical health.



• May Ann and I be incredibly sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and courageous to act upon His leading.



• Please pray for our Lead Team churches (Cedar Road, College Park, St. Mark, & Wakarusa) may God bless & protect their churches and their Ministry Staffs.



• Please pray that we will soon find another church or two to be a part of our lead team of churches.



• Please pray for Tom Blalock, Terry Powell, & Mike Peters (Our District Leadership). May God bless them and their families. Also that they would continue to have incredible Wisdom and courage as they bring leadership and influence to the District and to this ministry.



• Pray that my personal walk with God would continue to grow and that my quiet times with Him would be rich.



• Please pray that God will meet our every need both in ministry and personally.



• Please pray that God will build His church and that I won't get in the way.

Praises:

• I had an awesome time with the guys during our lead team retreat this last week. We had some great time of discussion, prayer and fellowship. I'm grateful for each of them and their churches!



• Ann has already had some great conversations at Starbucks. She's even had opportunities to share about the church plant with people she's working with, and they seem very interested and have said that they want to come.



• We were able to go to a recent church plant last Sunday and it was an inspiring and educational experience. Ann and I gained some good insight from this time. Additionally, this church announced that we were there and that they intended to put information in their bulletin on how their congregation can begin prayerfully supporting us. We were very encouraged!



• Ann and I had a goal of bringing in $10,000 towards the this new ministry before Oct. 1st and God provided and we met that goal as of yesterday, Sept. 22nd. God is so faithful! A special thanks to those of you who helped us reach that goal.



• In addition to picking up the last of our belongings from Wisconsin, we've enjoyed seeing some friends and being encouraged by them.



• Both Ann's parents and my parents (whom we're living with until Dec.) have been incredibly gracious and supportive of us...we're so thankful for our family! It's hard to imagine doing this plant without them and we're grateful we don't have to.



• I've made some really good progress over this last week with the Mission Statement, core values and statements of faith. I'm getting close to being finished with them.



• Ann and I are finding that our change of pace with ministry is both stretching and refreshing.



• I am now drawing an income which is a huge relief to both Ann and I.



• Ann and I are grateful for the partnerships that God has aligned us with.



• We are both very humbled and thankful for the ways we continue to see God provide in every aspect along the way. He just continues to blow us away with His faithfulness.

Again we are so thankful for you and your prayerful support! We are grateful that God is using you to partner with us for the furthering of His Kingdom! To Him be all the Glory!!!

Prayer update: Week 2

Requests:

• Please continue to pray for more prayer supporters for this ministry.
• Please continue to pray for God to raise up more financial supporters.
• I'm going to our first lead team retreat Thursday - Friday.  Please pray that the retreat would be encouraging & inspiring.  Additionally pray that other churches would be moved to join the lead team.  (A lead team is comprised of 5-8 partnering churches who serve as direct encouragement and support of this church plant and then seek to come together to plant more churches together in the future).
• Pray for God to work through the Pastors of our lead team.  Pray that God would give them wisdom and favor as they rally support for this church plant within their churches and neighboring churches with whom they have influence.
• Ann, Caitlin & I are traveling to pick up the remainder of our belongings from Wisconsin.  Please pray for our safe travels.
• I'm continuing to work on the vision statement, core values and statements of faith.  I'm feeling the levity of this process as I consider composing something that will influence our ministry for years to come.  Please pray that God would give me the words that would properly express the passion and vision that He's put on my heart for the people of Mishawaka.
• Please continue to pray for the future core team of the church...that God would move in the hearts of the right people to partner with us.
• Please continue to pray for our future neighbors in South Mishawaka.  Ann and I are looking to move in a neighborhood in December.
• Please pray for God to protect our hearts and minds.  Please also pray that God would continue protect our marriage and our family.
• Please pray for Caitlin as she continues in this time of transition.
• Please pray that Ann and I would have energy and strength.

Praises:

• I've already had several opportunities to meet with "lost" people in South Mishawaka.  There is already an awareness and interest in the church plant.
• God continues to move in the hearts of people that are giving significantly and sacrificially to the future ministry of this church.
• Ann and I visited a church this last weekend that was incredibly inspiring and encouraging.  It was full of good ideas as we were considering our ministry to South Mishawaka.  Ann and I were excited as we sat at lunch together and dreamed of what God could do.
• God just continues to provide our needs and we continue to be humbled by His faithfulness.
• We've had some encouraging meetings with friends and potential supporter of the church plant.
• Our family (from both sides) have just been incredibly encouraging and supportive of us.  We're so grateful that God has given us such a wonderful family.  Caitlin thinks her grandparents can walk on water.  Of course they think she does too.  :)  
• God has really used several of our Wisconsin friends who continue to offer us encouragement and support.  We're humbled and grateful for their Kingdom Mindedness!
• I'm grateful for you...your prayerful support.  This ministry can't happen without a strong foundation of prayer.

Prayer Requests & Praises...

Requests:

• Please pray that God will raise up even more prayer supporters to pray for us and this new church.
• Pray for the people of South Mishawaka that will soon be touched by this ministry.
• Pray for the people that will eventually be our neighbors (once we buy a home) that we will have an incredible connection and ministry to them.
• Pray for God to protect our family (Physically, Emotionally, Spiritually)...we are very tired from the move and attempting to get settled.
• Ann begins her new job today at Starbucks by Notre Dame, pray that she be able to see how God can use her there.
• Pray for Caitlin as she is still missing "home" and trying to adjust.
• Pray that God will align us quickly with those who are impassioned to financially support this new church.
• Pray that we will hear clearly from God and be courageous to follow His leading.
• I'm working on the Mission and value statements of the church. Pray that God will guide my heart.
• Even though we aren't recruiting the core team yet, please pray that God will begin putting the call on the lives of those who are to join us.
• Pray that we will remain encouraged.

Praises:

• I had a really encouraging meeting with a Church Planting Coach last Saturday. I look forward to his continued mentoring relationship.
• Money is coming in from people we didn't expect...God is continuing to show us that He will be the one to build His church.
• I had a conversation with an area Baptist church that was a church plant to Mishawaka 16 years ago. The pastor seems excited to meet with me and to explore potential ways to have his church support us.
• The time of being back with our family has been incredibly rich and enjoyable. Caitlin is really bonding with both sets of her grandparents!
• I've had some very encouraging meetings with potential partners and supporters.