One of many fond memories of my four years leading high school ministry was our mission trip to Nogales, Mexico. A family from Timonium moved their family from to Mexico, to start a ministry among the people of Nogales.  This community is stricken by severe poverty and as you drive through the neighborhood you would could not identify the house of the family from Timonium. It fits in with the rest of the community. But when you walk in the home there are two beautiful brick chapels in the back and a Greek amphitheater that overlooks the city.

This place is called Cuirim house.  Cuirim is Celtic for incarnation and this house physically represents the truth that Jesus came and lived among us and at the same time embodied divine glory.

On July 20^th the Gallery Church in Sowebo will meet in a building that fits in our community. I actually think many people drive by the building without knowing all that takes place inside. I am grateful that as we live out the gospel we will also occupy a building that communicates the gospel.

I am amazed to look back and see how the Lord has worked everything together. I had no idea that my experiences with a godly family living and serving their community in Mexico would be a tangible example of how I would do the same in Sowebo. God is good.

These are some pictures of the building and some friends discussing how Sundays will look. Thank you to everyone who has prayed, spoken an encouraging word, and financially contributed. This is only the beginning and we’re grateful to have a good start!

More information for Cuirim House in Mexico can be found at www.cuirim.org

 

 

When people ask how the church plant is going my usual response is “Amazing”. And God is doing amazing work. At the same time I’m being stretched and some days are hard. Sometimes the biggest obstacle is myself. I know it’s not popular say (or write), but here it is:

Life is hard.

I know this isn’t encouraging but it’s the honest experience for many people. And if a real God can’t exist in real life, then what hope do I offer? So how do I explain my faith in these difficulties in my life and to the people I encounter in my city? Paul wrote these words in 2 Thessalonians 3:5:

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”

I sincerely want my heart to reside in God’s love and I preach this all the time. But how often do I desire to have my heart in Christ’s perseverance? Honestly, my response to hardships are about me making it through instead of me knowing Christ in His perseverance. This journey of faith has taught me that Christ must be our sole reward in all things; not our comfort and preferences.

I want to be a man whose leadership builds disciples that say, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11).

Here is the good news: Life is hard…but Christ has persevered (John 16:33).