Momentum

I'm very excited about our Launch Team. We are now up to 22 adults and 21 kids (mostly young children). Our Launch Team is very committed and it's awesome to have a team of people that have a heart for Living in and Living out God's love. We are humbled to be used by God to lead such an amazing team of people.

A couple of weeks ago, we partnered with the city of Mishawaka and a couple of other local churches in the community (River Valley and Vineyard) to help work on a home that the city of Mishawaka selected for us. It was cool to be tangible expressions of Christ's body and love. It was exciting to see various churches partnering together for the sake of the Kingdom.

Last weekend our Launch team did a prayer walk over a large section of South Mishawaka. It was incredible to be walking throughout the city and to actually see the needs. Over 46% of South Mishawaka is low income/poverty line. It was moving to walk the streets and to see those first hand (at a slower pace of walking vs. driving) as we sought to look with the eyes of God. Our prayer is that God would touch and bless the hearts and lives of those who are so desperately in need. Also, that we would be Christ to our community. It was an incredible day to be praying the needs that God put before us.

The Launch Team will be meeting again this Sunday for our next session where we will be covering vision, training, values and community. Please pray that God will give us incredible insight and unity as we go into this meeting. In conjunction with our meetings, the Launch Team is reading two books this summer (of which I highly recommend for any church) "Simple Church" & "Jim and Casper go to church." Thanks to the inspiration of the "Jim and Casper" book the launch team is planning to break into smaller groups and set up several dates to visit a variety of churches in order to learn and grow from our experiences. Please pray that God will give us His heart and mind as we consider what it's like for a "new person" to come to our future gatherings.

Thanks for your ongoing prayerful support. Below is a short list of prayer requests that you can pray on our behalf.

• Pray that God will bring more of the "right people" to join our launch team. We have a goal to have 42 adults on our launch team prior to our launch this October.
• Pray that God will solidify where we will be meeting. Our goal is to know this by the end of the month.
• Pray for God's protection on our hearts, minds and family.
• Pray for a heart and mind of unity and focus within our Launch Team.
• Pray for God's blessing and protection to be upon our Lead Team churches in addition to all of our partnering churches.
• Pray that God will give Ann and I wisdom to lead.
• Pray that God will continue to raise up more prayer and financial partners.

Blessed to have you partnering with us!

We’re Growing!

We have officially had our first Launch Team Meeting this last Saturday. We had a great time of building relationships and spent some time praying together. It ended up being a wonderful and inspiring time. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to look around the room and to see the diversity of ages, stages of life, gift mix and passion. Nevertheless we were unified in coming together in order that we may make a difference for the sake of God’s Kingdom as we seek to “Live in and Live out God’s love.” Are team is continuing to grow. We are officially up to 18 adults with several others still considering their potential partnership with us. Ann and I were at Hillside Missionary Church this last Sunday and we had a very warm response from the people there. We had several that indicated an interest in partnering with Epic in some form.

We could use your ongoing prayers for us in the following ways:
• God would continue to bring more of the right people to join the Epic Church Plant. We have a goal of a minimum of 42 adults by Oct.
• God would continue to raise up prayerful and financial supporters.
• God would provide us with a location.
• God would have his hand of protection on all of our launch team members – Emotionally, physically, relationally, spiritually
• God would Ann and I incredible wisdom and discernment beyond our experience and own abilities.
• Epic would be used in a mighty way to impact lives as we remain focused on bringing the love of Christ to those who are far from God. Thanks for your prayers!