This Week's Praise List!

As I was spending time with God today, a few thoughts flooded my mind in the form of a list of things to praise God for in the last week or so. To accomplish Psalm 103:2, I thought I'd share some of these thoughts with you.

Things I'm excited about:

• We had a guest at our gathering last Thursday night. I "just happened" to run into a young lady I knew from our church in Macedonia (where we moved to Columbus from) at Panera Bread one day. I knew I recognized her from somewhere and finally went up and confirmed that we knew each other. I told her what we were doing and invited her to join us some Thursday evening. Last week she did! I think she enjoyed our time of fun and Bible discussion around the Christmas story and said she would be back! Praise God!
• This Sunday, while we're in PA for Christmas with my family, I've been invited to share about our ministry in my dad's Adult Bible Fellowship class and briefly in the worship service at New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church (Myerstown, PA). We praise God for NBGBC and their becoming a sponsor of ClearView in 2008!
  
• A few weeks ago a reporter from one of our community newspapers called me for an interview. She found out about ClearView from our church being introduced as a new member of New Albany's Chamber of Commerce (we joined in November for networking and advertising opportunities). We had a great discussion, and hopefully a story will be forthcoming. As MasterCard would say... FREE publicity is PRICELESS. Please pray that many people read this story and that God leads us to teammates or spiritually searching people we can love.
• After much fundraising work, God has already brought in promises for almost one third of our need for 2008 (we've received promises for over $22,000 compared to the $75,000 we need to raise). This is exciting because our appeals to individuals (which should be our most fruitful source) are going out in December. Please pray that God continues to reveal how He has already planned to provide the resources we need to accomplish the calling He has placed on our lives.
• A major focus for next year will be securing ministry teams from other churches that will come and help us make contacts and serve our community on a broader scale. We've received several unsolicited inquiries already from youth pastors and other ministry leaders looking for places to bring groups for ministry experience. It is exciting to think what God could do in our community if we are able to network many different teams together to love people in Jesus' name and get the word out about ClearView in 2008. Please pray that these details will come together and that God will do much in northeastern Franklin County through these teams. Interested? If your youth group or small group or ABF is looking for a Saturday, or weekend, or week-long, or life-long (smile!) ministry experience next year...I'd love to talk with you (614.578.0676).
• God has opened up a door for a meeting with 3 leaders from a key church in our area. In January, I will meet with these leaders to discuss avenues for partnership between our two works. This could be a huge boost to our work if this key church would help us in some needed areas. I'm excited about this possibility and praying that what God is and will do in ClearView could be a blessing to this good church as well.
• I have a meeting scheduled next week with the executive director of a beautiful facility near us. This site could be an ideal location to begin meeting on Sunday mornings. It has meeting rooms that would fit a growing group and an ideal setting for kids. Pray that God leads us to the RIGHT location, at the RIGHT price, and gives us wisdom on when and how to transfer our group gatherings to a weekend worship experience.

That's what is rattling around in my brain today. Praise God for His movement. Please keep praying with us. I am REALLY excited to see what God is going to do in 2008.