May Update - It's a BIG one!

Hello Family and Friends,

God is doing so much right now and there is so much to talk about!  I'm going to try and keep it short, but there is just too much to not share it all!

Since it is so much, we are going to use the "bullet list" format to make it clean! : )

www.redeemermckinney.com

Redeemer Church

• We have seen the Holy Spirit moving.  One recent profession of faith in Jesus (!!!!), one who seems so close to placing her faith in Him, and many people growing deeper in their faith and discipleship - including developing a clear discipleship plan (still in the works!).  Keep praying for us!
• Erin is leading a Tuesday night Women's Bible Study that finished Genesis a few weeks ago and is starting Exodus in a couple weeks.  It ended with HUGE momentum and the Lord is working through that time with the women.  We also had a Men's Retreat a couple of weeks ago for some bonding and time together talking about the Lord.
• Yes - we are Redeemer Church.  We went public with our name, website, and Facebook page, and we are hosting Summer Vision Nights all summer long [June 23, July 27, Aug 18].  Go to our website or Facebook page for more info, or send someone else there who might want to come hear about our heart for God and for McKinney. redeemermckinney.com
• We have also joined the McKinney Chamber of Commerce and have already seen fruit and relationships built through drawing awareness to who we are and our desire to impact our city.



Chamber of Commerce Meeting

• Giving to Redeemer - many people have asked about giving to our ministry.  We are very close to being able to accept donations as a 501(c)(3) as we pray through and as God selects our Board of Directors, but we would ask that you be patient for a little while longer.  Maybe consider putting those funds aside now so that when we are ready (soon!) you can help us share the gospel and make disciples in our city!

Christ Fellowship

• Today, May 31st, is technically my last day at Christ Fellowship.
• The past few months I have been helping write, shoot and provide additional resources for videos to go alongside a summer sermon series on Technology and Faith, also helping lay an infrastructure for an internship program as well as connecting Christ Fellowship with Dallas Theological Seminary for some exciting future opportunities to connect church members with DTS curriculum.
• God has used this experience in a great way!  I am a much more aware leader, pastor, and communicator now than when I started.  Some of my strengths and weaknesses in leadership were exposed, and God has grown me in them. I was privileged to see "behind the scenes" in a large church ministry and to build relationships with godly men and women in McKinney.  I am so grateful for the personal growth and relationships God has worked in during my time at Christ Fellowship and for the supporters who made it happen.

Acts 29 Network

Erin and I at Kemah after A29 assessment

• Last week, Erin and I went to Houston for our Acts 29 assessment (step 3 in a 4-step process of becoming an Acts 29 church).
• We have been given great encouragement that we will be accepted into the candidacy phase (although it won't be official until next week).
• This means we will now have a relationship, support, guidance, oversight and wisdom of being connected in a network of churches and church plants who have the same heart, mind, and vision for Jesus.
• This is a huge encouragement for us and we already have been blessed by pastors and churches in Acts 29 that want to help make our church the healthiest and most successful for the gospel it can be.
• Acts 29 Network - www.acts29network.org

Other Ministry Opportunities

• I am grateful to Jesus for the ministry opportunities he has been giving me.
• I have been blessed by the opportunity to share in worship and teaching with the Woodcreek Senior High, as well as the College Unite.
• We are praying through and pursuing a possible opportunity to help lead worship for a church near our house on Sunday mornings.
• We are also talking with a local coffee shop in downtown McKinney about hosting an after-hours "Faith and Culture" time where I would teach on a current topic of culture and how the Bible speaks to it.  We would have a Q&A afterwards.  This would be another opportunity to share the gospel in the public square while also sharing the heart and vision of Redeemer Church.
• Finishing the Timothy Program at Christ Fellowship - this is an opportunity I was given to sit in with the Elders of Christ Fellowship during their meetings for the last six months.  What a blessing and learning/training experience!

Job and Future Support Raising

• With my Residency over, I am still looking for employment. Anywhere from part time to full time.  You can access my resume HERE (please feel free to pass it around and let me know if anything pops up!)
• For those that might still be interested in supporting Erin and me directly, once our Board of Directors and 501(c)(3) status is officially recognized, our Board will have to decide when and if we will be able to pull a part time salary from the Redeemer Church budget.  We will communicate this clearly when the time comes, but for those wanting to support us, we would ask that you consider giving to Redeemer Church itself and allow the Board to seek wisdom when it comes to supporting Erin and me.  Once again, we will communicate this more clearly as the time approaches.

Personal

• Thank you for all of those who are supporting us through praying, giving, and joining us in what God is doing through us.
• The past two years have had their emotional ups and downs, and while we know those will continue, the Lord has allowed Erin and me to be very encouraged and excited about what God is doing now and what He is going to do in the near future.
• Please keep praying that:
• The Spirit would continue to move mightily in us
• God would raise up and bring mature believers to join us in reaching our city
• Erin's Crohn's would not cause her pain and that she would be healed
• God would make us into a people who let go of ourselves and this world and grab tightly onto Him

Thank you so much and to God be the glory for great things He has done!