Friends, there’s a lot going on at The River Church! Let’s see if I can summarize a few highlights.

1. Last Sunday, March 23, we had a fantastic Commissioning Service with our partners at Terrace Heights Baptist Church. Four families were officially sent out from THBC for the work of planting The River Church in Moxee, WA. Of course, we were added to that group and shared in the blessing! The three men from those families shared how God had called them to join the church plant and how much the THBC family has meant to them over the years. We closed the Commissioning Service with the signing of a covenant of partnership between the sent families and THBC. Then the church laid hands on us and prayed. It was a beautiful experience we will never forget!

2. Today (yes, today!) we have a group of college students coming to Moxee to prayer-walk through our neighborhoods. They come from CWU and Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Ellensburg, WA and are led by my brother, Jeremy. Pray as we pray through the neighborhoods, and pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of every family in Moxee to joyfully receive the Good News of Jesus. Pray also that we will have boldness to take every opportunity we are given to share the Story that has the power to transform lives, families, and communities.

3. Now for the most obvious prayer request: We have our first worship gathering this Sunday, March 30. This is one of the most significant moments in the story of The River Church. We’ll be meeting in our home (scary!), which I hope will remind us of the true nature of the church. It is not in a building, or a scheduled event, or an organization. The church is people whose lives have been transformed by the Good News of Jesus into a community that God uses to bring His Story to all of creation. Yes, there is so much more to the church, but if we miss that we are God’s people on mission, we miss the Great Commission: make disciples who make disciples! Pray that as we meet we will be empowered by the Spirit to be on mission in Moxee.

4. Finally, pray that God will enable us to form Missional Communities, led by the Spirit and centered on the Good News of Jesus. Our goal is to establish 4-6 new Missional Communities throughout Moxee within the next couple of months. We have families and homes in which to gather. Pray that we will have a vision for sharing the Story and that we will be bold in building relationships with those who are far from God.

My friends, I love you and am praying for you! Your partnership with us cannot be quantified. Please do not hesitate to contact us and share your prayer concerns with us. We want to hear from you and know how God has called you to partner with us. Click Contact to let us know.

Grace and peace,

Michael