July updates

As Clarissa and I have embarked on this new adventure of planting a church in Sioux City, there are a few things we have realized.

We have an increased awareness of how God is working and of those He has put in our path. We have also noticed the need to be patient and let things materialize instead of rushing and trying to get everything figured out. Lastly, we've noticed the relentless pursuit of the enemy and how we can easily be distracted and attacked.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite Old Testament characters in the Bible, Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s heart breaks when he learns of the state of the Jews who had returned from captivity. As his heart breaks for them, he sets out to answer his calling and begins the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem. While we see God working by giving Nehemiah favor with King Artaxerxes, we also end up seeing the opposition Nehemiah faces from his enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem.

In chapter 6, Nehemiah is faced with relentless distractions and opposition. What stands out to me in this chapter is not the distractions and opposition he faces, but how he responds. In verse 3, Nehemiah responds, “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come.” Let that sink in: “I am engaged in a great work...”

Nehemiah knew the task before him - rebuilding the wall and restoring the people - was not just any regular task, but a divine calling. Due to this, he doesn’t waver and give in when others try to lure him away. I believe that’s the kind of focus that we all need today as we too answer the calling that God has placed on us. In a world filled with distractions, detours and discouragement, we need the kind of clarity and conviction that Nehemiah shows.

So, how do we begin? Well, let’s look back to the response Nehemiah gives in verse 3: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come.” Do you believe the work you are doing for God is a great work? Think about that for a minute. If you don’t believe the work before you is great, then chances are you are going to stray away.

Fellow Christian, regardless of what God has you doing, whether it’s leading your family, raising your kids, volunteering at church or serving in the community - it’s great. You are doing a great work!

Whatever wall it is that God has you building, stay focused and don’t give up. Remain faithful. God sees your faithfulness, and He will provide exactly what you need to finish strong. When you stay focused on God’s call, He will empower you to finish it all.

Updates:

July has brought a rhythm of steadiness to Connect Church. Possibly the biggest logistical update of the past month has been that we have a bank account and giving platforms! Once we obtained our bank account in June, we were able to set up a PayPal account. We are still working on Venmo so we can have more options for people to tithe and donate. Our next step will be to work on a website. Prayers for smooth setups on all of the above are appreciated!

July has brought a rhythm of steadiness to Connect Church. Possibly the biggest logistical update of the past month has been that we have a bank account and giving platforms! Once we obtained our bank account in June, we were able to set up a PayPal account. We are still working on Venmo so we can have more options for people to tithe and donate. Our next step will be to work on a website. Prayers for smooth setups on all of the above are appreciated!

We have been blessed to have a few regular attendees join us. Anthony and Devin, men with whom Nate works, have been coming, and we've had friends from New Hope in Moville join us a few times as well. At the end of the summer, a family of 7 will be joining Connect after they wrap up responsibilities at their current church. We look forward to their arrival! We are going to outgrow our living room soon. Praise God - what a great problem to have! On that note, please pray that we find a more permanent gathering spot. Our home has been great the past few months, but we will soon be in need of something bigger. Pray that God reveals to us where He would have Connect Church land. Nate and I continue our respective coaching sessions with Tim and Shirley Roehl. What a blessing their friendship and mentorship is to us. Nate appreciates Tim's insight on church planting and pastoring. They have known each other for about 6 years, as Tim was a professor of Nate's in seminary. It is so cool to see how God works and how their relationship has evolved in that time. I look forward to my biweekly calls with Shirley. She has seen so much as a pastor's/church planter's wife, but is still so patient with me as I navigate this role. She is a huge encouragement to me! She always seems to send just the right Bible verse to me when I am in need of some encouraging. All in all, things are progressing well. More updates to come next month! On a personal note: We had a fun 4th of July weekend in Okoboji! We spent some time with my grandma who lives there (I never remember to get pictures together with her). We also hung out with some friends of ours, Josh and Kaman. Murphy got to come along on our adventure and got his first lake experience! Murphy made a new pup friend, Matcha, and the dogs enjoyed playing together and swimming in the lake, only when their humans forced them to go in the water. It was a great time away to disconnect!