Pray for Changed Lives

I'm amazed at all the things God has done and all the prayers He has answered this summer. We have had absolutely amazing ministry opportunities, have loved thousands of people in practical ways, seen our team continue to develop, and are enjoying weekly worship gatherings in our new home at the YMCA. God is good and has been doing significant miracles.

In case you're wondering (and even if you're not)...here's an honest look into Andy's heart. As excited as I am about all God is doing (and much more that we can't even see or understand)...I'm constantly haunted by the question, "When are we going to see multiple people come to Christ and see real fruit in changed lives/disciples made?" Part of me knows that this is a process--relationships take time to develop and a missional church takes time to get off the ground and train missionaries to impact their world. But, another part of me fears that all of our activity might be just that...activity. I don't want to look back on this year and see a lot of great community involvement and not be able to see evidence of numbers of people coming to Jesus.

In that light, I'm amazed at the opportunities God continues to bring to build relationships with people (most of whom I'm confident don't know Jesus):

• the doors are wide open for involvement with community event planners and business leaders...
• soccer season is starting up and I have the privilege of coaching Seth's team again
• Seth starts Kindergarten next week which will open the door for us to connect with countless new people through his school
• our team is growing...each of them have a web of relationships we want to work through
• we're planning a block party in September...

There was a time in my ministry where I had to work to think of people in my network of relationships that were unchurched. I'm ashamed to say there were times when I couldn't think of more than 5 or 6 people. Now I could list hundreds. I'm thankful for the connections God has given us and the significant doors He has opened.

Would you pray with us that God would help us get to the next level with people that don't yet know Jesus?

• Pray for redemptive conversations.
  
• Pray for deepened relationships.
  
• Pray for opportunities to show Jesus' love to people in times of pain or transition.
  
• Pray God would lead us to spiritually searching people.
  
• Pray that ClearView wins people to Christ and takes shape as a church full of changed lives.

ClearView Impacts The Taste Of New Albany

Our team enjoyed the opportunity to help set up, serve as hosts, and clean up at New Albany's annual Taste event this past Sunday (8/17). This was a beautiful evening of great food, people enjoying spending time with each other, and a great jazz concert.

In order to keep building relationships in our community, I served on the Chamber of Commerce's Taste planning team. I wanted to be of service, so I volunteered our team in some areas that needed covered. What I didn't anticipate was that those that were slated to help clean up wouldn't show. I was so proud of our group as they went right to work to clean up over 600 chairs and 60 tables and collecting trash from the event. Our group worked tirelessly...several of us being there from 1p. until almost 10p.

Between the Taste Event and concert, there were several thousand people in New Albany's Market Square area. Our purpose was to serve with love in a practical way. This was a phenomenal opportunity to greet, in some cases talk with, and get drinks for people we want to love to Jesus. Many of us had good opportunities to interact with people about ClearView. We met new people and deepened connections with some existing contacts. Praise God!

Please pray with us that God would connect us to teammates and spiritually searching people we can minister to as we serve with love in our community.

FREE Promo. For ClearView!

God has opened another phenomenal opportunity for us to promote ClearView church...FREE! A few weeks ago, I was contacted "out of the blue" by one of our local AM Christian radio stations (WRFD 880 AM, Columbus) and asked if I would be willing to be featured as one of their "pastors of the week" in August. Easy question! The opportunity for ClearView is this- one of the benefits of this program is that I was interviewed for 5 separate 3.5 minute spots that will air each day this week (respectively) at 3p. Each spot features several mentions of ClearView's website and information about our weekend gatherings at the YMCA. PRAISE GOD!

In their promotional material, WRFD mentions that up to 40% of their audience does not attend a local church. WOULD YOU PRAY WITH US THAT GOD WOULD USE THESE RADIO SPOTS THIS WEEK TO CONNECT US WITH UNCHURCHED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY?!

To listen in, feel free to check out WRFD's "Pastor Of The Week" link. Scroll down until you see my picture and the ClearView logo and then click on each day of the week. Pray as you listen! Thanks!

Current Prayer Items...

We'd appreciate your prayer for...

• An appointment we have set for Sunday evening to follow up with a man that committed to follow Jesus at our Operation Barnabas program on Monday night. Pray that God would overcome language barriers and help us clearly communicate what it means to be a Christ-follower.
  
• This Sunday's gathering. Pray for new people to check us out as a result of our significant outreach efforts in July.
• Saturday night and Tuesday morning, we have the opportunity to meet with two different families that are praying about joining our team. Pray God would move their hearts to join our mission and give us wisdom in communicating clearly the vision God has given us for ClearView.
• Saturday (tomorrow) morning, I am speaking to a group of men at the Grace Brethren Church in Pataskala. Pray that God would work in me and through me as I communicate with these men.
• In the interest of our family and continuing to focus on building a team for ClearView, Trish and I have decided that I will not accept a contract as a school bus driver for the '08-'09 school year. This is good for my schedule... but also means we're asking God to provide through other means for shortfalls in our family budget and fund raising for ClearView. Pray for wisdom in looking for other work that would be less of a time commitment than bus driving (25 hours per week!)...and fruitful fund raising efforts this fall.
  

Thanks!