Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19 ESV)
New Ministries!
Tony & Angelica have answered the call and stepped up to lead a house church together! We are grateful for their love and faith and willingness to “stand in the gap” due to Nelson & Sydney Brown’s call to DC!
The “Tempe Region” comprises the vibrant “Tempe House Church” and the zealous “LIFE ASU/Teen House Church.” Lemuel & Ada Hardy will continue to serve as the inspiring “Tempe House Church” leaders. Excitingly, Kevin and Brittany Hetrick, back in the states off the mission field, will lead the “LIFE ASU/Teen House Church” and serve as the “Tempe Region” leaders!
On one hand, the “Phoenix Valley Region” has the “Heaven Bound House Church” gallantly led by our newest house church leaders, Tony & Angelica Rivera! On the other, the region has King & Seannah Burke who selflessly lead the “All Nations House Church!” Amy and I will gratefully serve as the region Leaders for the “Phoenix Valley Region.”
New Miracles!
Pictured in the center is our baby sister in Christ, Lavern Goggins, just after her baptism. From Left to right, Regina Holmes, Destine Morgan, Lavern, Dionne Blunt, and Angelica Rivera!
God has added some amazing disciples to our number! Lavern Goggins was baptized at women’s midweek last week, and it was very touching and encouraging to hear the sisters share about her heart and her transformation. (Click here to see baptism and hear sharing!) Excitingly, her husband, Arthur, has set up to study the bible and also he brought their teenage daughter out to the Campus/Teen devotional that Friday! She loved the devotional and is now studying the bible as well! Additionally, God blessed us with Jeff and Sherica Bailey baptized on Sunday! It was moving to hear Jeff and Sherica share about their lives before becoming disciples and to hear their gratitude for the cross! We were grateful to meet their wonderful children, Summer (10) and Coltin (2)!
Jeff and Sherica (center) pictured with the Riveras (right) and the Browns (left) along with their children, Summer (left) and Coltin (with Jeff!)
Speaking of new situations, we were deeply encouraged by the Ashton wedding! Kelvin and Telma are inspiring and genuine servants of our God! Both of them tirelessly serve in the administration of our church. Telma is a woman of rich integrity who faithfully administers the operations and accounting of the phoenix church! She has proven herself both trustworthy and true to God! Kelvin serves as the lead for security and application management for the movement’s WordPress platform! I’m deeply grateful to have another brother training with me in the Internet Ministry and to delegate many of the security concerns for our websites to! Kelvin is a very detailed, hard-working, and thoughtful brother. I know that he will take that acumen and apply it to loving our dear sister and leading her righteously to our God!
Kelvin and Telma Ashton pictured with their spiritual family! On the left, Paulo Jaime (best man) and Manuela Fernandez (Maid of Honor). On the right, The Schultz and their daughters!
New Impact!
The wedding is having an international impact as well! God is indeed doing new things and making a way through the wilderness! Telma’s father, Clement Cunjuca, is a 3-star general and a distinguished statesman, recognized as a member of the current governing party of Angola! He has been so impacted by the Love of the church – especially the Schultz’s deep care for Telma as their spiritual daughter – that he wants to help fund and find a location for “this church” in Angola! We are going to be working with the African Evangelists this week to see if we can galvanize plans for a way to Angola! How amazing it is that God moves so powerfully through love. It is love that never fails and love that finds a way for the Gospel – from Phoenix to Angola! Please pray for Andrew Smellie and General Cunjuca’s connection and for Angola to be planted soon!
Jeff and Sherica’s sharing was heartfelt and very inspiring! Shortly after this, they both shared their “good confession” – “Jesus Is Lord!” and were baptized into Christ!
Of course, God adds to our number – and he takes away from it! And when God takes away, it is because his Holy Spirit has “blown” someone to a new calling! We are going to sorely miss Nelson & Sydney Brown’s presence in our ministry, as they’ve meant so much to so many of us! We are super grateful for them and their service here and the great job they’ve done making disciples and raising up leaders! The Browns were instrumental in instilling vision into Tony & Angelica Rivera to do “even greater things.” God also answered the Brown’s prayers in allowing them to baptize an amazing couple in the wake of their departure – Jeff & Sherica Bailey! It was a joy to see them tearfully share about their transformation in Christ and to meet their beautiful children, Summer (10) and Coltin (2)!
New Pasture!
Nelson & Sydney Brown taking a pit stop at Dave’s Burgers in Arkansas!
Currently, as of 10:30 AM this morning, the Browns are making their way eastward through Arkansas. I told Nelson that I have a lot of memories as a younger child from that part of the USA. Just north of them is Branson MO. and just north of that is Springfield MO. This part of the country is markedly beautiful woodlands and is dubbed, “The Ozarks.” The Browns were blown away by how “green” it is and Nelson’s text to me was simply, “what is this!?” (Oh, and he mentioned another reality of the Ozarks…the massive amount of bugs that end up on your windshield.)
At this moment, I pray that all of us realize God is indeed taking us through new pasture spiritually. We are making our way to new horizons and he is doing something that is “springing forth.” God is calling all of us out of the desert of “Zoom Recovery” and into the green lands of in-person fellowship. Don’t let the bugs of inconvenience, having to plan better, organizing the kids, and getting to in-person church early, cloud the windshield of your vision spiritually. Take a moment during the next time you are at an in-person service to soak in the fellowship and ask yourself, “what is this!?”
New Vision!
Christopher Burdick & Jess Kufner on the even of their engagement!
“This” in-person fellowship is the green pasture God intended for his people. Let’s be determined to continue together and give God all the glory as we faithfully visualize more growth numerically and spiritually than we’ve ever seen in the Valley. It is our prayer and vision that God adds 10 to our number in the month of June! God has added three so far, and several more are at the crossroads of making the decision to be a true disciple of Jesus and get baptized! Currently, we are at 77 disciples! Let’s pray together for our shared vision of 101 In 2021!
With mountain-moving faith to “Bloom In June”,
JMC
Evangelist, Phoenix International Christian Church
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