First of Many Trips

A group from our church went to Colorado Springs last week to serve alongside a family who recently moved there to plant a church. We believe God is leading us to commit to a longterm relationship that will involve supporting financially the family and the church when it is started, praying for the family and the community where they live, and going regularly to serve with them as they need us to.

This was our first trip. Our goal was to prayer-walk the area where David and Carrie hope to plant the church, encourage them and their daughter Ruthie, and help form or strengthen relationships with people in the neighborhood. We were able to do all of this.

David had us prayer-walk (and prayer-drive) through a neighborhood they feel God is leading them to live in and start the church. Our team broke into three small groups and walked the streets. We all had opportunities to greet and talk with people who live there. The streets where my group went had a small park. We talked with three families that were there. The other groups found people to talk with, too. As we drove through the larger community we prayed for schools, public safety, churches, homes, businesses, and anything else the sights and the Lord brought to mind.

We spent a lot of time with David, Carrie, and Ruthie. Hopefully, having friends from Arkansas in town was encouraging. They moved out to Colorado a couple of months ago. New town, new home, new school, new friends... We wanted to provide a little familiarity in the midst of all this newness. I remember a time when our family moved to a new city when I was in sixth grade. After four or five months, we moved back to the town we left and into the same apartment. New can be exciting but also challenging.

Our third emphasis was to help, if we could, form or strengthen relationships they already have. My wife, son, and I visited with Carrie at the school where she teaches and where Ruthie attends. We talked with administration, teachers, and coaches. Some in our group prayer-walked through the apartment complex where our friends live. They had the opportunity to talk with a few people who also live there and hopefully they will connect with the church planters.

Do you know that our church and their apartment are 954 miles apart? That's a lot of driving, bathroom stops, eating breaks, etc. But it was worth it. A lot of people make that trip just for the natural beauty and recreation it affords. That in itself would be a great trip and we did see and experience some great sights. But we went with spiritual goals also in mind and I'm glad we accomplished them.

I have challenged our church to not see the praying, giving, and going that we have already done as enough. I hope our people will catch the vision of a longterm partnership with the Fox Family and the North American Mission Board that will result in people hearing the gospel, following Jesus, and a church planted and thriving in Colorado Springs.