Partners in Ministry,
As we move into a new season both literally (Spring) and in church planting, we experience new obstacles and opportunities regularly. Learning to rest well and pace ourselves is a constant challenge. As ministry activity increases we are depending on more and more people to execute the vision of Generations. For almost a whole week, Ruth and the kids battled sickness. We are still recovering from being bed-ridden with fevers for almost a full week.
We have been asking for prayers as we plan to become increasingly more public. One step was a planned Community Easter Service. However, over the last six weeks, Kyle approached NINE potential venues and was either told 'NO' you cannot meet here, or it wouldn't work for the church's needs. This led the Generations Team to re-evaluate the plan. Options were put on the table as the Team prayed about what to do next. The result was a 'Party in the Park' on Easter Sunday. Please pray that this event enables many people to connect to Generations.
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Photo: Jared Barker leading GenNight on March 7 in Kyle's absence
March began with Kyle taking a trip to Orlando, FL to participate in Exponential, the largest church planting conference in the US. Kyle traveled with a fellow church planter in Vancouver, Ryan Sidhom. River City Church will launch on Easter Sunday. A strong connection has developed between Generations and River City (who also served at the Generosity Feeds event). It's such a blessing to have other Kingdom-minded church plants in the same city.
Once returning from the trip, Kyle was personally invited to Vancouver Public Schools' Faith-Based Partners Breakfast. There he was able to spend some time with the elementary school's principal and middle school's assistant principal. Both schools have been served by Generations in the past. Both principals noted how this is the first time there had been a faith-based partner at their table for this breakfast.
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Praise God for an incredible turnout for the Generosity Feeds event! Over 200 people came to pack 10,000 meals for kids in our school district.
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Xavier began his T-Ball games--Go Mets! He is the youngest on the team (6 players) and seems to be picking up the skills quickly. It has been incredible to get to know both the kids and parents on the team. Ruth has continued to train for her half marathon. Sickness set her back a week. She is still pushing her training to hit her time goal. Mia is liking dance less and is wanting to do gymnastics now. Avery is now rolling over. He is beginning to figure out how to get places but gets easily frustrated when he can't figure out how to get somewhere.
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The Learning Curve
I (Kyle) frequent several coffee shops during the week to connect with people and establish a predictable presence. The idea is that as I am present at the same locations at the same times I will be able to see and talk with the same people to establish new relationships. Every coffee shop has its regulars and its own rhythm. One Starbucks, in particular, gathers a crowd every morning. A retired gentleman named Lee plays host to a table full of rotating guest throughout the morning. They talk about politics, religion, and current events. Lee is not connected to a church, though his wife is Mormon, and thinks fondly of religion. Lee frequently asks about Generations and why we do what we do when he sees me. I have been able to share the gospel and about the love of Jesus several times with Lee. Each time he brushes it off and goes to the next topic. This past week, Lee went a step further to not only talk with me but introduce me to the others in the coffee shop and how I am a pastor on a new church. I was there to meet someone else, but several of the others invited me to sit with them. This was the first time that I had been invited to sit with them. The group usually has several passing conversations with people, but only extends the invitation to sit to a few. I politely shared that next time I would gladly sit with them. Please pray for me to have wisdom next week when I show up to Starbucks to sit with Lee and the others.
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On April 6, partners from across the country will gather to pray over three new church plants starting in the Portland-metro in 2019. Please join us in praying for:
- People to come to saving faith in Jesus in the Salmon Creek area.
- Generations to make disciples where team members live, work, and play.
- The provision of the best gathering location possible as we prepare for our Fall launch.
- The partnerships that have already been built with the local schools to be a positive witness in the community.
- The Davies Family remain strong, unified, and committed to each other, Jesus, and the calling to start Generations.
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