In 2012, my wife, Lara, and I decided that we were in a really comfortable place in our lives and was time to begin stepping out on faith.  We wanted to take some bigger risks for the sake of the gospel.  We wanted to be in a position that was so on the edge that we would be totally dependent on God’s provision and from that position, we could give God all the glory for the breakthroughs He provided.  We wanted to live lives that were a clear testimony of the faithfulness of God.
About that time, the elders at our church approached me about planting a new church.  I knew that if I pursued a position as a church planter, it would be the most difficult calling that we had ever accepted
Lara and I began to pray.  I prayed for some God-sized requests that I could in no way produce myself.  I prayed for these 7 specific requests:
  1. A launch team that loved each other, loved God’s Word and wanted to grow in their faith
  2. A prayer team that would be diligent in lifting up the needs of this new church to our King.
  3. Elder qualified men to come along side me for guidance, coaching and accountability
  4. Facilities that would be central, modern and inexpensive
  5. Children’s ministry teachers that had a passion to see children grow in their faith and knowledge of God’s Word
  6. Experienced ministry workers to help me get started.
  7. Finances to provide for both moving and living expenses
These were huge things to ask of the Lord, but each was essential to putting together a new Christ-exalting church.
I prayed for about 1 ½ years.  I followed several leads.  I read a number of books.  I had various meetings and nothing seemed to come together, so we waited and by faith I continued to simply take the next step.
I remember one day pulling Pastor Jon into my office and telling him that nothing seemed to be falling into place.  I committed to continue praying again and I waited.
About a week later, Pastor Jon called me into his office.  The elders had been working with a group of people from the Verde Valley.  These were people who loved the Lord, who loved God’s Word and wanted to grow in their faith.  In fact, these families had a huge desire to see the truth of God’s Word proclaimed in their community.  That was the first answered prayer.
The elders here already knew the people in the launch team.  With the Verde Valley so close, I would be able to use the elders here at this church to help lead the new church plant.  Answered prayer #2.
We put it out to our church one weekend that we needed a prayer team and over 200 people signed up and have been praying for us on a regular basis.  Some of you have told me that you pray for me and my family every single day.  Answered prayer #3
On day I walked into the Cottonwood Rec Center.  The Rec center is absolutely state-of-the-art.  It has beautiful meeting rooms with all the AV equipment and incredible child-care facilities (better than most churches have).  They had never had a church rent their facilities.  They were wide open and totally reasonable.  Answered prayer #4
The Canyon Kids staff here in PV came to me and said they would be not only willing, but thrilled to come over and help me set up children’s ministry.  Several people from our core team received training and Children’s ministry is ready.  Answered prayer #5.
Several families stepped forward to help us get started.  One family has travelled to Cottonwood almost every week to help us.  Others have helped over as greeters, as kids ministry workers, as worship leaders and as musicians.  Answered prayer #6.
Finally, we needed to finance both our move and the plant.  This is were we saw come through the most:
  • God provided us with a free house to live in for a year before we move to Cottonwood.  We found good renters for our house in Prescott.  We were able to replace our old broken down cars, pay off bills and save some money.
  • Without fundraising, God provided almost $20 thousand dollars in as designated funds for the church plant
  • God provided a house for us in the perfect location in Cottonwood that was $30K under the market value, had built in private financing and came with a separate apartment that we can rent out.
  • Without asking, God provided $5,000 for our family to use for moving expenses and home repairs
  • God provided a crew of workers to help us move and to help us repair our new house
  • God provided equipment and a trailer for the church plant
  • God provided free announcements on the radio and in the newspaper
  • God provided training, books, resources and coaching to make the plant a reality
And there’s more, but I’ll stop there.
Church planting is the most difficult thing I’ve done.  I feel the weight of spiritual warfare every day and the most difficult trials may still lie ahead.
I’m living by faith every day, but when God gives us breakthroughs like what we’ve seen so far, we have the opportunity to glorify o God who is totally faithful!
We are still praying for God to increase our numbers and to provide us with sustainable income and those needs can seem overwhelming.  When I feel overwhelmed with the future, I have to trust the God who has been so faithful in the past.