One of my favorite passages of Scripture over the last years has been 2 Corinthians 2.12-3.6. It is a passage that gives me great courage and great relief, especially when I suck at what I do.

I need to be honest, and I think I can be without causing too much grief because I believe in sin, heck, I believe in total depravity! Too I believe that, to borrow from the title of a book that I’ve been recently reading, that I need to “Lead with a Limp.”

I need to confess, that much like Paul in 2 Corinthians 2.12-13 I have been torn between being in this city, in which God has opened a door to plant and preach the Gospel and trying to “mirco-shepherd” our small flock at TcD by trying to “patch” holes and “plug” leaks. Basically I’ve been trying to be “sufficient for all of these things” and not relying on the sufficiency of Christ for and in everything.

More than that, I’ve been lazy the last few weeks and I have really slacked off of reaching my goals of meeting new people in the city.

Yet I know, with great confidence, that I can make known recent failings and through the Gospel be motivated, encouraged, and moved to repent, rely on Christ, work hard and continue to watch our church plant grow in it’s influence in the lives of our people and our city.

God is truly blessing The church in DeKalb despite my own recent failings and we continue to see new people getting involved in our Community Group, and new people asking to be discipled. Too, our leaders are being stretched and are growing and together we are realizing just how much we need to work harder at the spiritual disciplines in our own lives and realizing too how much we must depend on Christ for everything.

One of the greatest accomplishments over the last few weeks, especially since Cherron, the kids, and I moved to DeKalb, is that our people are beginning to move past community for communities sake and are starting to see that they, even as individuals, have a vital role in the Church. Their language is beginning to change from “I go to church” to “I’m a part of a church.” It’s not just that we get to spend a lot of time together and know each others names, but we’re starting to see how we are all, collectively, a part of a unique family. Our identity is changing, to say it in a corny sort of way, from “me” to “we.”

Yet there is much to do, and much that lies ahead of us. Here are some ways which you can partner with The church in DeKalb as we move forward.

Prayer:

Pray for me. Pray that I repent well and, too, that the depth of my own idolatry and sin is continually matched by the goodness and righteousness of Christ and the grace of God so that in realizing the depths of God’s mercies I’m motivated and moved to work hard for Jesus in our city.

Pray that God continues to use His Word in the lives of His people here that He is drawing into TcD. And pray that His Word transforms them both in new life (people coming to Christ), and sanctification (being made holy and set apart for godly work).

Pray that God would open many doors this summer with the “townies” here in DeKalb. “Townies” are the residents who actually live in DeKalb, (compared to the students). We need to build our church around the Townies as our desire is to be a church for the whole city, not just another college ministry. Pray that God would draw a good number of “Townies” into TcD this summer and help us build a solid foundation of people.

Pray for spiritual growth in the people who are already involved in TcD. That God would mature them spiritually over the next weeks and months, that He would give them a deep desire to know Him and an unquenchable hunger for His Word. Pray too that as these believers grow in grace and knowledge that we would be actively adding new believers that will go through the same process of discipleship.

Give:

As I mentioned last week, we’ve already reached our goal of $5000 this month but that was only because of two very generous churches, and because of that we wanted to raise an additional $2000 this month.

So far we’ve seen $674.50 come in towards that goal. In the next 11 days we would love to see this new goal meet by raising just over $1300.00 more.

If you can give we’re praying and hoping that you will. Even if every member of our Facebook group gave about $6 each we would make our goal this month. Only $6!

Giving can be done through the website at www.reachingdekalb.net or by mailing checks to Redeemer Fellowship (our sending church) at 1125 Oak Street St. Charles, IL 60174

Thank you for continuing to support us through prayer and through giving. More than that, thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.

Grace and Peace,
Jamie