Neighboring

Eric and I were blessed to be gifted two spots to attend the Multiply conference in Colorado Springs last weekend. We were privileged to sit under some great men of God, servants in His Kingdom in many different capacities, teaching us scriptural truths about how to make disciples and how to lead them in a way that they grow and make disciples and His Kingdom multiplies! This is our calling in Lowry, to make disciples who make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey what He has commanded.

The people in the Lowry neighborhood will need to see our love for Christ shine brightly in our love for them. As part of the Multiply conference, we attended small break-out sessions. The one where I learned the most and was challenged most was called, “The Art of Neighboring,” which is a book by Dave Runyon, who led this session. Jesus commands us to “love (our) neighbor as ourself” and that, of faith, hope and love, “the greatest of these is love”. You’ve likely heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”! This is so true! We are called to love others. Perhaps Jesus meant our literal neighbors, perhaps not. We believe He has specifically called us to love a whole “neighborhood”, all 10,000+ people in Lowry! Another session I attended taught, “If we love our neighbors well, best case scenario is that a church is born out of that love!” I think I’m gonna put that challenge to our family in our home in Lowry! It’s so true! We are called “church planters” by NAMB and it is a quick, easy, truthful title for a short chat with others. However, we want to be “neighbor lovers” most of all, and if He births His church out of that great love, best case scenario!
Speaking of Lowry and neighbors, we have applied to rent a townhome there. We will find out this week if we are approved. If so, we will move and live and love in Lowry very soon! We are a perfect mix of excited and nervous! Please pray for us through this transition. Pray for that home to be ours, and to be prepared by God as a place where neighbors feel loved and welcome and hear of the great, life-changing Gospel love every time they enter! Pray also for additional partners as we prepare to leave our residency and planting gets real. We need additional individuals and churches who will pray for us and for Lowry, who will help support us financially (even $5-10/month helps so much), and/or will come be a part of life on mission with us throughout the year in Lowry! We are relying on God and we cannot do this alone. Thank you for your prayers for our neighbors. We hope you will join us in loving and serving them, and will practice the art of neighboring where you live, too!

We are in this as a family, in the shadow of the one who saved us and calls us His own!