We have a date!

I hope you get excited reading this because I am am excited writing it! We still have a lot more to learn and a lot of strategy and planning but we are definitely excited about this church in Toronto.

Why am I writing about this today? Because I needed the encouragement and this has been therapeutic for me. I walked into my daughters' room last night to kiss them and say good night and we began a conversation about Toronto. They told me they wanted to know a little bit more about our plans and to start talking about the plans more consistently as a family. I must admit that I have been busy and have not taken the time to talk with my family much. So, I sat on the bed with them and opened up our conversation. Just for fun, I asked them what they thought the church would be like. I don't know if I'll ask that question again! :-) They began to describe a church of about 20 people with me on the keyboard, the girls singing with me, and Tracey on the tambourine! Is this funny or what!

As the conversation went on and I explained to them what we intended to do, they became excited. I must admit, I worry sometimes that their concept would not be far from the truth except that THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! We have a much bigger God than that and my ambition and prayers are aggressive and pointed with God. So much so that those who interact with me daily on the church staff and notice, know my fasting habits. I am serious about what we are getting ready to do and I am bathing it in prayers daily! Though my daughters had a funny concept of our beginning, I do kinda want to see what Tracey could do with a tambourine! That would be fun, right?

So...what were some of the details I shared you may be asking? I told them that our very first community service would take place on August 22, 2010! Plan on joining us the week during August 16 - 22nd as we canvas the communities of Burlington, Oakville and Halton to invite many to the service on the 22nd of August. This is perfect timing for Virgina and Ontario. In Virginia, we will still be out of school and in the thick of vacation travel. In Ontario, students will be returning to school that Monday the 23rd of August so vacations will have ended and the weekend used in getting things in order for the new school year.

The purpose of the community service is to show the community what we intend to establish in that area. Mass publicity will be key but nothing as effective and our efforts in finding one of two families we can bring to that service with us. Fair Oaks Church and Pastor Stokes will be there in full support and work force. It is our intention to reproduce Fair Oaks Church for a day. This means we will have a full band, children ministry, greeters and cafe, youth emphasis and all the other wonderful full ministry options our home church offers. What does that mean for you? If you are a part of any of these ministries, you will translate that for that service in Toronto. Regardless of your niche in ministry, you will be used in this service in Toronto.

What is the theme for that week? I am using a concept and message series Pastor Stokes preached back in 2006 called Church, Why Bother? This series has been on my heart before the PIVOT Meeting (vision casting meeting) we had at Fair Oaks Church in January this year. We are all about reaching the unchurched/unsaved community and this is the question they are asking. Where America has a rich protestant heritage, Canada has an established church background which means they are stooped in ritual, formal church history that has left them empty and asking the question, "Church,Why Bother?" Makes sense, right?

After the week is complete, we will have even more to do! What I am talking about is the follow up. If you are unable to come during the week of the 16th - 21st, why not come for the Sunday service on the 22nd to attend and help, then stay for the week following August 23 - 28th to reach out to the people who attended that service and help us get them plugged into growth groups and meetings that will follow the campaign as we organize the church and set our Launch Day for later in November or December. On this Launch Day, we will communicate effectively with Fair Oaks Church and figure out who would like to take a shorter weekend trip to work with us that weekend and complete the history of a church plant in Toronto.

Here is what I need everyone to join with me in prayer about:

• That our publicity and canvasing will yield huge results
• That 100 or more people from Fair Oaks Church will set aside time to take this trip
  
• That we find unique and creative ways to share the gospel to the Toronto culture
  
• That we find the right spot to hold our community service
• That we have a spirit-filled service free of complications or demonic attack
• That we are left with a core group of 100 people ready to begin the church

Speaking of this church, what will it be called? We have been exploring different things but like Fair Oaks Church, we want to mirror the community in our name and appearance. For fun, I tossed our the name Burlington Family Fellowship, where we are your BFF. This did not pass my families approval of course, but it is funny and I always like funny. What we are seriously thinking about is Burlington Community Church. We are exploring that name to make sure it is not used or claimed organizationally by any other church. Until we have this entirely figured out, we are simply, Vision Toronto.

The Dowdy family is getting ready to go and I encourage them, sweet daughters and wife, as I encourage you to surrender to the call. Jesus addressed this issue when he said, "whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it." I know the context applies to salvation but I absolutely believe it can apply to our commitment to Christ. I am tired of being a saver; I want to be a loser. Maybe that doesn't sound just right but be a loser with me, won't ya?!! Come on this adventure to Toronto, Vision Toronto!

Practice This Past Week!

As we continue to come closer to the date we move to Toronto, God gives us unique experiences that become a training ground. When we arrive in Toronto, we will be renting a facility that will need to be set up and taken down each week. To add to that, we will have to find a place for our baptism services. It is incredible to think through all the things we will need to do.

We had an opportunity to see this first hand this past weekend . Our home church, Fair Oaks, had a small contained fire in the baptismal pool that forced us to set up services in another facility. Fortunately, our campus includes a Rec Center we were able to move into, but since it's primary use is as a gym, there was a lot to do. We had to think through seating, media, children ministry and a baptism. We kicked into high gear and got it all accomplished so we could conduct a full weekend of ministry in limited space and set up. Plus, we had a baptism in my pool. What a great opportunity to see a "mobile church set up" the way we would want to do that in Toronto.

Thank God for this challenge and training we received this past weekend!