Looking for good neighbors

The Dowdys are getting ready for ministry in Toronto. It can be a slow process sometimes. You can take a step or two forward and not get as far as we'd hoped. For instance, I thought I'd breeze through a few Christian Colleges and Seminaries online to see what is happening up there. My plan with this is to connect with a few ministries of like faith, set up a few chapel speaking engagements for sometime next year and get an idea of the spiritual temperature. I am waiting to here back from a few places including Liberty University to see if they have a few graduate pastors up there or former students who would be interested in a new church in Toronto next summer.

Our hope is to find "good neighbors" who are currently reaching families in Toronto so we can learn from them. There is so much we can learn from a few good neighbors. They can teach us what is working in ministry and whats not. Either by their words or example, if you know what I mean! ;-) If I can start talking with a few Canadian potential helpers for a church plant, I would feel pretty good about our future. My goal is to have 100 in our church "when the dust clears."

Keep us in your prayers as always. Tracey and I are setting the foundation and philosophies of ministry on our home church, Fair Oaks Church. Check us out at www.LoudOnPurpose.com, then, pray about joining us! You only have to go across an international boarder, find a job, a house and all that "life stuff." Easy,eh?!!

Encouraged by the Lord

As Tracey and I are preparing for our work in Toronto, we are humbled by the call to such a huge task. We, as you, always need to encourage ourselves in the Lord. As I was doing my daily Bible reading, God gave me this verse. "I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life." Luke 18:29 & 30

I needed to hear that this week because we are still in the "concept and theory" stages of this move. We will be in Toronto in the summer of 2010 but there are a lot of details to work out. Tracey and I recently had a week together to pray and think through some things but found it difficult because we know we need to get some concrete plans in action. With God's help, we will have some of those things worked out in June. It is being patient that overtakes our thoughts sometimes.

We were also overwhelmed by the thought of being in our early forties and taking a "leap of faith" when most people our age are doing what they can to make sure their jobs are secure and they are putting back for retirement. The verses above remind us that if we abandon it all for the kingdom of God, HE will take care of us in this age (our lifetime) and the age to come (eternity). By the way, Tracey and I hope to bring a whole lot of Canadians into eternity with us!

Keep us in your prayers and be encouraged by our struggles and resolution in Christ.

Coming to Toronto

The Dowdy Family is coming to Toronto! In the summer of 2010, a church will be planted in the Toronto area that will be an answer to years of praying and preparation. Follow this blog for details!