July 2024 update

FRIENDS,

WHAT A GIFT IT IS TO BE CONNECTED WITH YOU AND LABOR WITH YOU IN THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I CAN TELL YOU WITH CONFIDENCE THAT I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE EXCITED ABOUT EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, DECLARING THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL, AND WORKING OUT THE BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH THAN I AM RIGHT NOW! I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU FOR THREE REASONS: I WANT TO SHARE SOME PRAISES, OFFER SOME PRAYER POINTS, AND LASTLY ASK FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN SPECIFIC NEEDS.

NEW CITY IS DOING WELL DESPITE THE ADVERSITIES WE HAVE FACED. WHEN WE LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY, WE RENTED A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING FROM ANOTHER CHURCH. HOWEVER, AFTER THREE MONTHS THERE, THE HOST CHURCH CLOSED ABRUPTLY, LEAVING US WITHOUT A BUILDING. AFTER RECEIVING MANY "NO’S" FROM OTHER CHURCHES AND PROPERTIES, WE FOUND A TEMPORARY LOCATION FAR NORTH OF OUR DESIRED AREA, ALLOWING US TO MEET ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. GIVEN THE DISTANCE, TWO SERVICE TIME CHANGES, AND OTHER REALITIES, WE KNEW THIS PLACE WAS TEMPORARY.

DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, WE ARE EXCITED TO BEGIN A NEW SERIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. WE WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE THREE NEW COVENANT MEMBERS TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY THIS WEEK AND BAPTIZE FIVE PEOPLE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WE LAUNCHED PHASE ONE OF OUR LOVE OUR CITY INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAREPORTAL, SERVING OUR FIRST FAMILY LAST WEEK WITH CAR SEATS AND A MEAL. WE ALSO MADE OUR FIRST STIPEND HIRE!

IN LIGHT OF THESE PRAISES, I WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME POINTS FOR PRAYER:

• WE HAVE 13 CHILDREN WHO CALL NEW CITY FELLOWSHIP HOME, INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT LEARNING DISORDERS. WE NEED HELP FUNDING, MANNING, AND LAUNCHING A KIDS' MINISTRY THAT CATERS TO THE DIVERSITY OF OUR AGE GROUP AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN. WE NEED A LEADER(S) TO COME ALONGSIDE ME AND SUPPORT THESE PARENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE THIS NEW INTERSECTION BETWEEN FAITH AND PARENTING.

• ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE NEED PRAYER IS FINDING A PLACE TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS. WE CANNOT AFFORD SECURING OUR OWN LEASE AND OUR CURRENT LOCATION IS TOO FAR NORTH FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND THE RULES RESTRICT OUR GROWTH. WE BELIEVE THE LORD WILL LEAD US TO THE RIGHT PLACE BY SEPTEMBER 1.

• LASTLY, WE NEED SEASON SAINTS TO JOIN OUR CHURCH. NEW CITY BEGAN BY TARGETING LOST PEOPLE —THOSE WHO HAD NEVER TRUSTED JESUS OR TURNED AWAY FROM THE CHURCH. MANY HAVE GROWN IN FAITH, BUT PASTORALLY, THIS HAS BEEN TAXING ON MY FAMILY. WE NEED MORE FAITHFUL BELIEVERS TO SHARE LIFE WITH, EXEMPLIFY CHRIST-LIKENESS, AND DISPLAY TRUE JOY IN WORSHIP.

FINALLY, I HAVE FELT THE LORD’S PROMPTING TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THESE SPECIFIC WAYS:

• I BELIEVE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS TO THESE PRAYERS LIE WITHIN YOUR BODY; HOW CAN YOUR CHURCH CONTRIBUTE TO THESE NEEDS? WHO AMONG YOUR PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO BECOME MEMBERS HERE OR JOIN FOR A SEASON BEFORE RETURNING TO YOU?

• HOW CAN YOUR CHURCH HELP FUND A PART-TIME CHILDREN’S MINISTER OR FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO HELP US REACH THESE LITTLE HEARTS?

• MAYBE YOU’RE READING THIS AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT COMING TO NEW CITY. MAYBE WHAT'S BEEN STOPPING YOU IS THAT WE SEEM TOO FAR, TOO UNDER-ESTABLISHED, OR TOO YOUNG. PERHAPS THIS IS THE LORD’S PROMPTING FOR YOU. MAYBE THIS LETTER IS THE NUDGE YOU NEEDED TO START A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHURCH ABOUT SUPPORTING NEW CITY OR TO BEGIN PRAYING REGULARLY FOR US. WHATEVER WAY THE LORD USES THIS TO CONNECT YOU TO US, I PRAY IT BEGINS A LONG AND FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP.

I’M ALWAYS OPEN TO MEETING, HAVING COFFEE, OR SHARING A MEAL.

 

YOURS IN THE MISSION OF OUR GREAT KING,

JUS

NUMBERS 6:24-26