It's happening!

This Sunday is our last Sunday at The Gathering Church! We are incredibly excited but also very sad to be leaving all of our wonderful family and friends. These people have become very, very dear to us. This church is where the gospel was really introduced and formed in my life, this is where Adam and I met, dated, married and had our children. Our children were dedicated to The Lord here, we have laughed (a lot) and cried here, we have been encouraged and uplifted on a weekly basis and our hearts will ache because we will no longer be in community with these wonderful, wonderful people. But my goodness, we are excited! 

The idea of church revitalization became more of a reality to us in June/July of 2012. We were approached with the idea and pretty right off the bat, we were in. Throughout the next year and a half Adam had countless meetings, phone conversations, and mentor relationships that really began to cultivate a strong desire for church revitilzation. Looking back, we can see so clearly the Lord's working in our hearts and practically in our lives. We began to have a real desire to see God's church flourish and His people proclaim his name throughout the city of Portland. Several times we went down to the prospective church and just prayed for the people that were in attendance there, this really began to grow our love for the people at Sellwood Baptist Church. This past May we had the opportunity to move much closer to the church, but much farther from the one that we were currently at. Adam and I had a lot of reservations and fears in doing this. We were concerned that our community life at The Gathering would deplete and we weren't even positive that this revitalization was even going to happen. But we did it. We trusted that God would be faithful to us even in Milwaukie and he has been. So, so faithful. And now we live five minutes from our new church and our community life at The Gathering is coming to an end in a sweeter season than I ever could have imagined. In October we had our first visit at Sellwood Baptist Church. Adam and I left that day and we were certain. We knew that this is what God has been preparing for us and we were humbled and excited and calmed. After meeting the wonderful members at Sellwood Baptist there was no way we wouldn't go! So many wonderful people that have been walking with The Lord longer than Adam and I have been alive!

So, we will be taking a trip back to North Carolina next week to visit our family. When we come back in the beginning if January, we will start attending Sellwood Baptist Church. Please be praying for us. Pray that our hearts would be content and find joy in The Lord. Pray that our family would stand firm in the gospel.  Pray that the people of Sellwood baptist would be encouraged. Pray that this transition would go smoothly for everyone. Pray that this church would be a beacon of truth and hope in the community of Sellwood. Pray that the gospel would be proclaimed and people would come to know Jesus Christ!