Sometimes it seems we have been set adrift on the S.S. How-the-Heck-Is-This-All-Going-to-Work-Out??? It seems the list of details to be worked out to get us from AL to WA, from need to provision, and from nothing to something, is never-ending. In all the craziness, it’s easy to forget why we are doing this in the first place. It’s easy to lose focus when your future looks like a giant black hole. But the reality is, God WILL get us from AL to WA, from need to provision, and from nothing to something. Not only that, but there will come a day when all of these details will seem meaningless and trivial compared to what God is going to do in Moxee and the Yakima Valley region, and even more importantly, what he will do in the lives of individuals that are reached by the work he has invited us to be a part of through The River Church.

As our lives get turned upside down, we are striving to remember the lostness of the people God is seeking out and calling to himself. That’s what we are praying, and we ask you to pray that, as well. Please pray for God to move mightily in the hearts of his people who have no idea what God is about to do in their lives. Perhaps he is about to rescue some from a lifelong addiction. Some from a toxic, abusive relationship. Some from religious legalism and some from a life of licentiousness. Some from bondage to liberty in Christ. From darkness to light. From fear to faith. From lost to found.

This is our prayer. That in all our frantic efforts to get from here to there we never forget that the ultimate goal is to get people from hell to heaven. Right now there are people living and dying in Moxee and all over the Yakima Valley region who do not know Christ and never will apart from the work God has given us the privilege to be a part of. And while it is the scariest, craziest (and that’s saying something for us!) and most faith-stretching mission we’ve ever been a part of, it is also the biggest, best and most amazing opportunity we’ve ever had to watch God work in ways we’ve never seen before or even dreamed possible. It’s not everyday you see a desert turned into pools and springs of living water, but get ready. God is doing something that if we told you, you would not believe!

Pray with us!

(To help make disciples and plant churches in the Yakima Valley, go to www.theriverchurch.co/give.)

The end is nigh! Well, the end of our time in Alabama, at least. A new beginning in Yakima awaits. A new beginning, new adventure and most importantly a harvest field that is crying out to be harvested. God has called us to join him in what he is doing in Yakima, but our question today is: has he called you as well?

Pray

Our calling is one of being sent. But we believe that we are not the only ones called to this harvest field. Perhaps God is calling you as well but it will look differently for you. Perhaps God is calling you to participate in the harvest through prayer. Of all the people who partner with us in this work, most will probably be called to consistent and earnest prayer. God loves to answer prayer and show himself mighty in response to the prayers of his people. “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” Psalm 34:15. If you feel burdened to partner with us in prayer, we ask that you would take that calling seriously and ask God to help you be faithful to obey. We would also ask that you share this calling with us so that we can pray for and encourage you as well.

Go

Another way God may be calling you to partner with us as we go out to Yakima is to come participate in the work. It may be a short-term mission trip but perhaps for a few, it will mean moving to Yakima and beginning to work alongside us as we work alongside the Lord. It is possible that God has something radically different for you than you ever dreamed. We know! That is our testimony!

Give

Lastly, God may be calling you to partner with us in the work by supporting it financially. I have been reading through the Bible this year and way back in Exodus I was moved by the picture that was presented in chapter 35:21-29. The people of Israel were about to begin the work of constructing the Tabernacle as they were instructed by the Lord. It was time to gather supplies and resources for the project. “And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects. . . ” The passage is filled with phrases like, “whose hearts stirred them,” and “whose hearts moved them.” As we have prayed about raising the support we will need to do the work God has given us to do, our prayer has been that people would give as God has stirred their heart. Not out of duty or begrudgingly, but only out of a heart that longs to give cheerfully, generously and obediently. This passage also describes that each person gave what they had to give whether it be a talent, skill or resource. If all you had to give was goat hair, you were asked to give it. (We, however, humbly ask not to receive any goat hair.)

The principle of giving out of a willing heart is repeated in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.” We are not asking anyone to give whom God has not burdened to give. We also do not want anyone to give beyond their ability. But give according to what the Lord has laid on your heart and what you could give cheerfully. Whether a monthly pledge of support, yearly or one time gift, no amount is too small and no matter what you have to offer, we will make every effort to use it to God’s glory and in keeping with the vision he has laid on our hearts for the Yakima Valley.

We believe that just as God has called us to go, He is also calling others to join in the work by giving. He would not call where he will not provide so we know he is burdening people’s hearts and preparing them to give. Are you one of those? This would be an investment with eternal dividends as you “lay up treasure in heaven.” We have been invited to take a front row seat in watching what God is going to do in Moxee and the whole Yakima Valley region. We would love for you to come join us there as we all watch our God do some amazing things and bring transformation to a dry and weary land. “I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys.” Isaiah 41:18.

God bless each of you as you prayerfully consider how God would have you participate in the harvest in the Yakima Valley region. If you have any questions, please contact us through theriverchurch[at]outlook[dot]com or https://www.facebook.com/#!/yakimavalleychurchplanting.

For more information on giving, go to https://theriverchurch.co/give/.

To give online, go to http://www.terraceheightsbaptist.com/#/give.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope most you are enjoying a day off and getting to have some time with friends and family. Our plans for the day include sleeping in and then, well, we haven’t planned beyond that. So it’s pretty much just the sleeping in. . .

I have some awesome God stuff to report!! God has moved in the hearts of some people in WA to see to it that our whole family is able to fly to WA in mid-November for the state convention. (Thank you! Whoever you are!) The convention will be held in Yakima this year. (Coincidence?! I think not!) It will be a wonderful opportunity to address the leadership and many, many pastors in the area and share with them the vision God has laid on our hearts for the Yakima Valley. We will be able to talk to local pastors, visit with churches and do a field survey.

I am so excited for this trip on many levels and for many reasons!!! First of all, the generous offer made by individuals in WA to make the trip possible at all is another confirmation of God’s leading. We are walking a path of faith like never before and these confirmations serve as encouragement to keep going.

I am also excited to see the “lay of the land” with fresh eyes for the harvest. We know WA well and are very familiar with Yakima in particular. But we have never really looked at it from God’s perspective of a harvest field, ripe for the harvest. It will be exciting to be able to be on the ground there and pray over the area, specifically Moxee. I can’t wait to meet our core team in person and be able to talk and pray with them face to face.

And finally, I am of course excited to see our friends and family again. We haven’t seen many of them for over two years. It makes me want to cry just imagining what the reunion will be like.

This trip will be a whirlwind, I know that already. But, it will also be a wonderful time of seeing God work and delighting in Him.

Would you please pray with us as we plan out the trip? Including meetings, events and possible speaking engagements that God will lead and guide us and cause the trip to be very fruitful? Please pray for all we come in contact with that they too would be able to see the vision God has laid on our hearts and will be excited to help and participate in the work. And please pray for safe and smooth traveling! We’ve never done a trip like this with the whole family and I’m sure it will be an adventure!

Lastly, when we get back, our house will be turned into crazy circus town as we will have just barely a month to make final preparations for the move. Cars will need tuning, walls painting, house cleaning, paperwork and important documents gathered and organized and all other final preparations for the big move will need to be made. In short, there will be a lot to do and very little time to do it. Please be praying for that critical time in the move.

That is all for now! Please comment with your own thoughts and prayer requests! We would love to be able to pray for you as well!