However, as I look toward the horizon of 2011, I am very encouraged at what I sense brewing just under the surface. I can’t fully explain what I am feeling, but Paul’s words to the Galatians (6:9) come to my mind – not growing weary in doing right, but knowing that in due time a harvest will come.

I am truly looking forward to all that the Lord will lead us into in this coming year.

Over the course of our time in St. Louis, two thoughts permeate our minds: 1) it shouldn’t be this way, and 2) something must change.  What is “normal” in the urban core should not be so. And the one place it stands out the most is in the lives of the children.

Mike** is 8 years-old, and lives with his mom in the second floor apartment of a two-family building about 8 blocks from our home in south St. Louis. They have been a part of our lives for almost two years.

Within the past 2 months, Mike’s home has been broken into 3 times; each time the thieves took whatever valuables they could find (twice taking a video game system that his mom had bought him – the 1^st one as a reward for good behavior and the second one to replace the 1^st one that had been stolen).

Within the past few weeks, two individuals have been shot and killed on the corner just three buildings up from Jarell’s home.  Both happened while Mike and his mom were at home.

A few Monday nights ago, as they arrived home after one of our small group meetings, Mike & his mom were robbed at gun-point as they got out of the car to go into their apartment. The thief took her purse & cell phone along with what little sense of security that they had managed to hang on to.

It shouldn’t be this way.

Ashley** is in 6th grade, has a warm and engaging personality, and has a heart for the things of God. She loves school and is a part of a community cheerleading squad in her neighborhood. However, her mom recently pulled her off the squad.

During a recent practice session in her apartment community’s common area with the cheerleading team, a man came running through saying, “You ladies need to leave, and leave now.”  Bullets began to fly as two individuals rounded the corner moments later.

You must agree: It shouldn’t be this way.

Josh** is 7 years old and lives with his mom and older sister.  I received a message from Josh’s mom last Monday evening saying that they would not be able to attend the Home Gathering that night because Josh had been awake since 3:00am, and he had just fallen asleep. In reply to my question as to why 3:00am, his mom told me, “They started shooting on the street outside, it woke Josh up, and he was too frightened to go back to sleep.”

The next day, one of the moms overheard Josh & Mike talking:  Josh – “Man, they were shooting all night long last night.” Mike – “You gotta get moved out of that block for sure.” Josh – “I know, I think I’ll just move in with you if it doesn’t stop.” Mike– “It ain’t any better on my block.”

Something Must Change

** not their real names

I appreciate the opportunity on two fronts.  First, it is always great to get to see and talk to Pastor Shirrell and his wife.  They are an inspiration as pastors and leaders.  Personally, I listen to the podcasts from Faith Community Church as a part of my spiritual growth.

Also, I appreciate the opportunity because it caused me to step back and think about where we are, where we have been, and where we could and should be going.  This time of introspection has caused me to be very thankful – thankful for the path God is leading us on, thankful for the people we have met and with whom we are building relationships, and thankful for the roots that God has allowed us to establish.

It was also great to have a few of our folks share what God has been doing in their lives; this has intensified my passion and desire to see God continue to work through our lives.

“I can’t speak for everyone in the neighborhood, but I know that the guys on the block, they will never be interested in what the Gospel has to say,” this young man told us, “It would take them losing someone close to them before their hearts would be open.”

Later that evening we received a phone call from that couple: a 26-year-old man was stabbed to death on the corner.

We shall see if hearts open.

It is easier to live in the past than to live in the present.
It is easier to live in a place of security than to live in a place of risk.
It is easier to live for the moment than to live for eternity.
It is easier to live in the world than to live in the Word.
It is easier to do what I’ve always done than to do what I’ve never attempted.

But doing what is easier will never maximize the potential that lies within me and/or within the opportunities that lie before me.

My heart and my hope is to have the courage to not take the easy road.

Although we are meeting on Sunday morning, please don’t confuse this with a traditional church service.  This is a time of discipleship centered on the Scriptures in a relational environment.  It is designed with the thought of multiplication in mind.

Our goal and hope is to see four such Home Gatherings begin by the end of the summer.

A couple of weekends ago the Benton Park Neighborhood Association held the first of two summer concerts in Benton Park.  Since our home is located in the middle of the Benton Park neighborhood, we have become active in the association, volunteering to serve in whatever way necessary.

For the concert event (entitled “Blues in Benton Park”), we helped in the promotion and advertisment of the event. It was fun connecting with individuals and businesses to ask if they would be willing to display the posters to help get the word out about the concert.  Everyone we talked to was more than happy to support the event. 

I was amazed at the amount of work and cooperation that went into the event, from the planning, funding and preparation to the actual performance itself.  It displayed the incredible amount of pride and neighborhood spirit that exists in many of the neighborhoods in South City St. Louis.

In regard to our church plant, the day of the event we set up a shade tent and gave out free bottled water and lemonade.  It was a great point of contact with many people.  We gave out information concerning our Monday evening Gatherings at the Mississippi Mud House.  A small number of individuals that we met at the park that Saturday have attended in the two Monday evenings since the event.

Please pray with us that as we continue to interact and serve our community, the presence and purpose of Novation Church will be made known to the neighborhoods along Jefferson Avenue.

From the beginning we have been hovering around the name “True Life Church,” which reflects our passion of seeing people experience true life in and through Jesus Christ.  However, this name never really settled within me as THE name.  So, for the past 18 months, my wife has been tormented, along with the other members of the church planting team, with my struggle to name the church.

I guess the underlying thought that kept this name from seeming like THE name had to do with all that God is speaking to us about the church plant.  Namely, that we are to patiently follow Him in directions that we are not entirely comfortable with and have little experience in.  On my end, I am inclined to rent a building, begin doing outreach and evangelism, create a commotion, draw a crowd, and call it a church.  This is what I know how to do.

But God seems to be speaking to my heart this thought: you can do what you know how to do and create what you know how to create, OR, you can follow my directions and plans and create what I know how to create.  God is saying to me that if we follow His plans we will be on an unconventional path, but the results will be what He intends.

Back to the name – If we were to go with the True Life Church name, defaulting to it because it is comfortable and conventional, I believe in five years we will have produced a fairly conventional church.  That is not God’s intention.

My good friend and mentor in all things cool, James Kennison (who violently opposed the True Life name), told me that we needed to find a word and give it meaning.  He referred to names such as Google, Twitter, etc., that are words that had little to no meaning in society as a whole in themselves until the concept that they represented gave them meaning.

I won’t bore you with the details and incidents that led us to the name we have chosen (but will give much thanks to Jackie Sharp for being the idea catalyst)….

The name:  NOVATION CHURCH

Pray with us that we will give this word meaning to the glory of God.

P.S.  Look it up – it actually has very profound and significant meaning, although virtually no one know the word in general.

We enjoyed lunch together at Tower Taco on Cherokee Street.  I invited them to lunch because I wanted to ask Pastor Shirrell a few questions and pick his brain. 

To summerize the counsel that they gave us, I will use the word, “plodding.”  “Stick close to your core values and stay true to who you are, and just keep going,” Pastor Shirrell told us.  He also commented that it takes time, lots of time, to establish a foundation.  The more time and care invested in the foundation, the more potential for the overall building.

This council was very refreshing for us.  We see planting a church like raising a crop.  We are only at the “preparing the soil” time of the process at this point.  Knowing that couples whose ministry has shown much fruit are not only behind us, but available to us as friends and mentors gives us the encouragement and confidence that is so very important.

The banquet was held at Frazer’s, a very nice restaurant in Benton Park.  We reserved the entire main dining room, complete with white linen table cloths and fresh flowers.  The mother’s had their choice of dinner entree’s prepared especially for them by one of Frazer’s chefs; they also had their choice of delightful desserts.