We are still going forward in the process of leasing our first building.  I can’t even imagine not functioning out of a trailer anymore on Sunday mornings!  The reality is almost too good to be true.  Although I have loved the freedom, creativity, and teamwork that it has taken to achieve what we have done, I look forward with great anticipation for a new season. 

We have had a lot of people ask what we need to do this and how you can help.  I put together our wish list (not all of these are necessities to make this happen):

About $7000 more over the next six months

Stage light systems

A few cans of paint (specific colors)

A clean piece of carpet that is about 12’x24′

A load or two of bark dust

Labor to clean, paint, scrape wall paper, mop, scrub, etc.

Labor for outside work – pressure washing, trimming shrubs, hauling bark dust, painting trim

Minor electrical work

Minor plumbing work

A white King size sheet for an art project

A commercial espresso machine…for free! 🙂

Our list is pretty bare-bones.  We are not choosing to make any major structural changes since this is a temporary situation for us.  We would rather spend our money is more permanent ways, so the environment will be clean and cool, but not necessarily like we would choose in a long term situation.    Basically we are doing the absolute necessities and only buying large ticket items that we can take with us when we go.

I’ll keep you updated on when we can begin working!  Thank you for the overwhelming response to this dream.  Financially we are well on the way, we have had ecstatic people who can’t wait to work, and your hearts for the community are inspiring.  As usual, I am impressed by the kind and generous people that call North Creek their home.  You never cease to amaze me!

We are surrounded by amazingly gifted people.  I am pretty sure that is why ministry is not lonely and overwhelming for us most of the time.  One of our board members, Mike, is pretty exceptional.  He is a structural engineer, which happens to come in handy when looking to rent buildings.  He has laughed at some of our suggested buildings and helped us to narrow down the focus to options that could actually be a reality.  I wonder how many doors we would have had to knock on if Mike wasn’t on our team?

He is one of those guys that doesn’t speak much, but when he does it’s probably worth listening to.  He’s a unique combination of conservative and edgy all at the same time…you really won’t be able to figure his personality out at first glance!  He’s smart, talented, and witty.  He’ll wear a perfectly pressed shirt and have a clean cut appearance, but his tattoos will creep down his arm.  He’s an exact mix between two worlds.

Mark and I are grateful for Mike’s input into North Creek.  He thinks much differently than the other board members and brings a different kind of intelligence to the team.  It is that piece of the puzzle that proves for me that God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.  We could not do this without Mike’s giftings and He knew that all along…

And since Mike has that witty personality, I thought I’d pop up a high school picture of him on my blog as well! 🙂  Thanks, Nichole!

We are in the process of walking through the steps to get into our first building.  It is going to be a temporary situation, but the benefits are exciting!  No more set up and tear down, less damage to our equipment, incredible advertising, better setup for our children, the ability to have worship practice, freedom to schedule our events, change our youth ministry…the list is endless! 

This journey has been an educational one…and exhausting!  I feel like it is just this long, drawn out process where you hurry up and wait.  There are questions to ask to get the ball rolling, but then you get to wait painfully for the answer.  It doesn’t sound stressful, but I can honestly say this is one of the most stressful processes I think I’ve ever been through in ministry.  The process limits the ability to take action.  It is really just the paperwork and the system that has to work for itself, but in the meantime it feels like living in a holding pattern.

I am excited and hopeful that we will be moving into our new facility by November 1.  I look forward to watching God provide what we need!  Today we received $2700 in checks from other local churches who believe in us.  That makes me so happy to know that churches with their own wants and needs reach out to help another church in their community.  That unity among churches speaks to people who just honestly believe in the mission of God and not their own agenda.

Putting yourself out there with a dream makes life worth living.  So, whether we are tired, frustrated, elated, or sick of just waiting…the process of watching God work makes it all worth it.  Everyday is a new and exciting piece of the puzzle.  The story of North Creek is being written by God and we get to be characters in His pages.  What an honor!  I can’t wait to get to the end of the book…

Here’s another thought from Kris, our small groups pastor:

“I don’t know about you, but I feel so blessed right now.”

Those words were just uttered to me from a woman in my small group. We were finishing up a community outreach bbq at a women’s homeless shelter where we grilled hamburgers, painted faces, played bingo, and donated tons of special goodies for the ladies to enjoy.  We gave money, we gave time, we gave things….and now she was looking at me with tears in her eyes telling me how much SHE had been blessed. 

Being blessed from giving.  That’s what I love about North Creek’s outreaches.  Every small group gets to decide how and when and what kind of outreaches they want to be a part of.  Outreach and community service can be tailored to what those people love to do, what they’re good at, where their passions lie.  Whether it’s washing a homeless man’s feet or buying a prom dress for an underprivileged teenager, or anything in between, you get to love outreach here at North Creek.  And now you know why, so that a woman in your small group can look you in the eye and say, “I don’t know about you, but I feel so blessed right now.”