What Do You Think?

We're close to finishing our new ClearView Church website. Check it out. Tell us what you think leave a comment below or e-mail me. My only request is that you do your best to think like an unchurched person. Is the wording clear? Is the site neatly organized (not too much stuff). Does it communicate life and movement? Is our mission clear? If you wanted to, can you discern how to get involved?

Keep checking back. I'll post a note when the site is completed. We're hoping to add some personal video components soon that explain who we are, what we're about, and several different types of Gospel presentations. Please pray with us that God will use this resource to help us find launch team members and love people to a clear view of Jesus... Thanks!

Blogging Does Have Its Benefits!

Well...you're some of the first to know. God has more things planned for 2008 than we anticipated! There is more than one way to form a launch team and find people for a new church!

We learned a few months ago that #3 is on his or her way. This little church-planter is due sometime in early April and will make for an exciting year- birthing a baby and a church in the same year, Lord willing.

We are thankful for this little blessing. Please praise God and pray with us. Some of you noted my reference in last month's prayer letter to some "health concerns" of Trish's. Please keep praying with us. We've been a bit anxious in these initial stages due to some thyroid abnormalities that doctors (Thankfully) discovered in Trish around the time of confirming pregnancy. By God's grace, she got on the right medicine just about the time we realized pregnancy, so hopefully God will allow the baby to develop normally. Trish has also had a severe cough that has made her very uncomfortable and added to the weariness of the early stages of pregnancy (not to mention the energy that two big brothers extract daily!). Now one of the medicines she is on seems to be the cause of some pain and skin irritation she is dealing with. Pray for healing and strength.

God has a plan for next year! It looks to be exciting! Please pray for wisdom, perseverance, and joy over what God is doing. Thanks for praying with us!

How Many People Is 3,000?

Sounds like a stupid question. But, have you ever noticed how MANY people 3,000 is?

One of the key values of our new church will be to find as many ways as possible as often as possible to be in the community serving and loving people where they are already gathered. To this end, my friend Mark and I volunteered at the annual New Albany Walking Classic this past Sunday. Here, Mark is pictured in front of his house. Just kidding! But, this is the typical home in New Albany! We served as course guides and cheered on 3,000 people as they walked by us! I was impacted deeply as I looked in the eyes of thousands of people just walking by. I wondered, "Does she know Jesus..." "What is troubling him?" "Does she have a church home anywhere?" "How can we reach him?".

It's amazing how much easier it is to understand Jesus' words in Matthew 9:35-38 when you're out among thousands of people. We saw three thousand people on Sunday...but there are HUNDREDS of thousands of unchurched people within just a few miles of us...and probably of you. Would you please pray with us for our community? Would you pray for yours? Pray for workers. Answer your own prayer by being one. For, "When (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion for them...and he said...'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore PRAY EARNESTLY to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest'."

Yes...Your Eyes Are Correct

If you noticed and did a double take as you scan the blog today...yes...there are three different pictures where I am wearing the exact same shirt. Looking at the blog today reminded me I need to expand my wardrobe! :)

A Busy...But Great Day!

I found myself saying this many times yesterday and thanking the Lord for good things. I drove 500 miles out to Winona Lake, IN and back, taught a class for three hours at CE National's new Russell Center (beautiful!), and then returned home via Lexington, OH (Mansfield area) for a quick interview with Pastor Dean Risser to help mobilize prayer in the North Central OH district of Grace Brethren Churches for our ministry. Obviously, it was also a busy day for Trish going solo at home with two active pre-schoolers. By God's grace, the day went pretty well for Trish at home. I praise God for safety, great students to interact with at CE, great content to teach (always good reminders for me to go over again), and opportunities to raise prayer awareness of what God is doing here in northeastern Franklin County. As I reviewed the content of the class and talked with the students about principles of healthy and balanced ministry, I was so thankful for the opportunity God has given us to build one from the ground up. What a great privilege! Thanks for praying with us!

Prayer Cards Available!

If you'd like one to remind you to pray for the Wirts and a new church in the New Albany, OH area, please let me know. If you'd like a hard-copy sent via USPS, be sure to include your address in the e-mail.

Prayer Items for Tuesday (9/17)

I'd appreciate you praying about two things tonight or tomorrow:

1. I'm making a quick trip to Winona Lake, IN to teach an afternoon course for CE National/Grace College and The National Institute For The Development Of Ministries To Youth. I've had the privilege of teaching this segment of The Institute's "Foundations Course" for the last 7 years and enjoy the GREAT opportunity of being a small part of the development of tomorrow's church leaders. I'll be teaching on Jesus' paradigm of ministry and discipleship and how to build a youth program (or church) around these key, Biblical principles. Please pray for safe travels (I go out and return the same day- about 8 hours of driving and 3 hours of teaching- to limit time away from home), connection with students, skill in teaching, and long-term Kingdom results. Please also pray that Trish and the boys would have a good day while I am gone.
   
2. Our family has been looking forward to a visit from my mom. She was due to fly in tomorrow and return to PA on Saturday. She called today saying that she wouldn't be coming out because her husband is hospitalized and most likely having his gall bladder removed on Tuesday (9/17). Please pray for Bill- he's in much pain- and that surgery would be successful and recovery quick.
   

Thanks!

Pray, Pray, Pray for "5 To Come Alive"

God is moving in our church planting ministry on many fronts. We're meeting lots of people, having good interactions with people we already know (neighbors, soccer families, etc.), ministry finances are strong, we're learning a lot about the process of beginning a church, and see God working in our lives. Yet, one of the points of (seemingly to us) slow movement is growing our spiritual formation group. There are a group of 7-9 adults that regularly attend our meetings. We have a great time together and we praise God that each of our teammates are seeking to reach those around them with Jesus' love. We thank God for these pioneers!

As you know, it has been our goal for several months now to see 5 families, in addition to our own, committed to the vision of meeting together regularly with the goal of forming a church. To realize this goal, we really need 2 more families.

In an effort to grow our group, we've changed our meeting time to better accommodate people's schedules that we are reaching out to. We're praying actively for God to move. We're inviting new people all the time. In fact, I committed to our group that I would personally contact at least 20 families. I'm about 3/4 through my list and changing/adding to it all the time. The others in our group are also looking for opportunities to invest and invite. Please pray that people would respond to our invitations and check out one of our gatherings. We're trying to do what is within our control to grow our group.

For whatever reason, God is moving slowly in this area. That's His prerogative. He's the One with the perfect plan and timing. I like to think I know what needs to happen and when...but church planting seems to be a tool in God's hands that gently hammers (like that image!) my pride. Or, maybe God just wants us to keep trusting Him and keep working. This is what walking by faith and NOT BY sight is all about.

Please pray with us that God would move by revealing people/families (seekers or saved) willing to journey with us towards beginning a new church in northeastern Franklin County.

A Week Of Firsts!

This is a big week in our family. Seth played in his first soccer game on Saturday (picture left), began his first day of pre-school today (picture below), and jumps in the pool at the YMCA for the start of swimming lessons tonight. It is amazing to think how our family is progressing. God is good.

In addition to fun family times, there are at least 2 additional benefits I've praised God for in this week of firsts:

1. I've been learning some lessons and been able to process some things God is teaching me as I watch Seth move forward in his development as a boy and young man. Two things have touched my heart:
   
   
   
   • In the cases of soccer and school, we've seen signs of fear in Seth as he encounters new situations and people. We're learning about his personality and how he handles change and adversity. On the way to our soccer game Saturday and school today, I found a recurring theme coming up in my conversations with Seth. Before both events (first game and first day of school), Seth and I were talking about the fact that it is OK to be afraid. I was trying to explain to Seth that Daddy is also often afraid as I encounter new situations or have to push myself to do something that is uncomfortable. That is understandable and OK. It was fun to also explain to Seth that God promises to be with us and asks us to not be afraid as we ask Him for help. We also talked about what courage is...that courage is moving forward into something, with God's help...even when we are afraid. What a joy to watch Seth take these lessons to heart and run into his game/walk into his classroom and try something new.
     
   • I've seen myself and our church planting experience as I watch Seth try soccer and attend a new class. As a Dad, I watch Seth captively and try to be sensitive to his fears and feelings as we work through these new stages. I see his care and concern to get things right as he learns to pass or dribble a soccer ball and I am touched deeply in my heart as I sense the fear he experiences around new children on his team or in his class.
     
     A thought has entered my mind on more than one occasion this week: could God be watching me like I watch Seth? As a family, there have been so many firsts in the last 7 months. So many scary situations, so many times where we've tried something new. So many people we've initiated conversations with. There has been fear, tears, hesitance, anxiety, times where we've forgotten to ask God for help... I was comforted as I thought of God watching us as I watch Seth: loving, caring, helping, prodding, teaching, instructing, allowing us to go through difficult times because that is what is best... The more I experience as a Dad...the more I understand my heavenly Dad...and the more determined I am to please Him, even when it means moving forward through my fear. Be encouraged- you're heavenly Father is with you as you face whatever giants loom large in your service to Him.
     
   
   
2. As we've participated in these adventures with Seth, we've been meeting tons of new people AND seeing previous contacts in the community. It is so fun when something like soccer or school or swimming lessons gives us natural opportunities to connect with other parents, etc. For instance, at pre-school today, I was able to talk with a lady from our neighborhood (that came to our block party), meet a new family, talk with the dad of another child that was in Seth's class last year, and connect with the mom of a soccer player I coached last season. We're starting to see some of our contacts multiple times in various places around the community which helps further our relationships. What a difference 7 months makes- when Trish and I walked into Seth's school in mid February- we knew NO ONE! We get more and more opportunities to tell others what we are doing here.
   
   Please pray for more and more opportunities to meet new people, communicate our mission, and invite people to join us. Pray that God would use us to love people and reveal spiritually sensitive people that would partner with us. Thanks!
   

Sorry For Lack Of Communication

I know we have loyal blog readers who keep up to date with what God is doing and pray! Thanks! I apologize for being negligent in updating our site over the last few weeks. I'll try to post a bunch this week to catch you up and keep posting at least weekly! Hope this finds you well. Thanks for praying with us as you read! Blessings!