Prodigal Sons (and Daughters)

Sometimes God's sovereignty is too much for me.  I can't understand it all.  It's too wonderful.

Here is the most recent case...

Erin and I moved up to McKinney in July 2011 and it wasn't until September that I finally landed a job in the community at a local coffee shop.  It has now been over a year there and the Lord has blessed us with some great friends from both behind and in front of the counter.

The biggest point of getting a job in the community was to connect, build friendships with, love on and share the gospel with the unchurched, unbelieving in the city.  Not only has that happened, but God has orchestrated something pretty cool coming up this weekend.


In His providence, the church we are serving with, Christ Fellowship, has asked me to fill in and preach this weekend as the Senior Pastor is out of the country on a mission trip.  The text that was scheduled for that day, the Parable of the Prodigal Sons.

I've invited many of my unchurched friends to come live or watch online and the amazing thing is that many of them are planning on coming!  How cool is it that not only have I been given an opportunity to preach at one of the largest churches in the community, it's over the story of the Prodigal Sons, and hopefully a couple car-fulls of unchurched friends are coming to hear the gospel of Jesus being shared!?!?

Praise God for how He is moving in this city and in our lives!

Be praying for my friends, that their hearts and spirits will be open to the need for Jesus and the life He offers.  Also pray for me, that the Holy Spirit would move through my proclamation of the gospel!

Thanks so much for your support and feel free to join us on Oct. 15th at 7:30 at Woodcreek Church for a Vision/Support Raising Dessert!  We would love to see you there!

I'll end with some verses that remind us that it is His story, and for His purposes that He does these things.  How cool that we get to be a part of it!

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:4-6

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  Ephesians 1:7-10

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.  2 Timothy 1:8-9

Christ Fellowship

For those of you who are curious, the church that Jesus has graciously pointed us to and who believes in our vision to plant another light for the gospel in McKinney is Christ Fellowship.  They are an independent, fellowship Bible church that has a heart to plant churches all over the US and the world.  We are humbled and grateful to be a part of what the Lord is doing through them.  Whether or not we end up planting as a Christ Fellowship Church, our church will forever be indebted to the people of Christ Fellowship for how they have reached out and invested in us and in the gospel.

Some responsibilities I will have at Christ Fellowship will include many of the roles that their full-time pastors share: pastor on call (hospital visits and other acts of caring), preaching, helping give input to church ministry directions, as well as leading some community impact initiatives.

We are so thankful to work with the godly men and women of Christ Fellowship and look forward to seeing how this relationship will bloom in the future.

I will be preaching on September 30th at the Eldorado campus during their 9:30 and 11:15 services on the Parable of the Prodigal Sons.

You could come in person or check it out live on-line at www.christfellowshiphome.com

Here We Go!

It's official!  We have started the church planting process.  I guess it was official when Erin and I moved here to McKinney to follow the Lord's prompting - but now it's officially official!

So, what does 'official' mean?

Well, I guess the most official thing is that I have just entered into a position at Christ Fellowship here in McKinney as the Church Planting Resident.  What that means is that Christ Fellowship wants to help lead, train, equip and develop the ministry that Erin and I have here in the city and bring it to a point of launching another lighthouse for God in McKinney.

This position is a full-time, support-raised position that will allow me, Mike, to develop some personal and pastoral leadership skills, as well as focus on growing and maturing the home church the Lord has built over the last 8 months.

So this blog will be for anyone interested in hearing bi-weekly-ish updates on what God is doing here in the city of McKinney and in His ministry with the church plant.

We are so glad you've decided to stay connected with us.  Please keep us in your prayers, and if you have any specific questions or things you'd like to talk about concerning our church planting vision - please feel free to contact Mike at michaeltmc@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more updates!