Poema

Dear Grace,

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching October! By now, I hope you’ve recovered the rhythms of life that you associate with the fall: transitioning out of summer mode into the routines and responsibilities that keep us faithful in our callings. I’m grateful that some cooler weather has come! 

This past Monday, our church launched into the rhythms of discipleship that will carry into the year. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality began with over 100 participants. Thankfully, we were able to get most people off the waitlist. The virtual group begins tonight. Right across the hall, about 60 people gathered to begin an 8-week journey to dive deep into the heart and mission of God. I always love teaching the first session: it’s a needed reminder for me of the purpose of God to bless us to be a blessing to the world, inviting them into the blessing of knowing and worshipping God, responding rightly to his excellence and fame. 

Stephen Minister training is in full swing as sincere men and women get equipped to walk alongside individuals for a season. It’s been sweet to see God raising up ministers to show compassion and care in Jesus’ name. DivorceCare and Griefshare are meeting regularly as well. 

If you’re a dad or mom, I can’t recommend more strongly that you join our Father Formation or Mother Formation spaces. These are cohort-based spaces where you will be inspired to have a vision for the intentional formation of your children and equipped with tools and community to work it out. It’s a yearlong journey that meets once/month.  (Register for Father Formation or Mother Formation.)

This week, I’m in DC sharing our story of responding to God’s call to welcome the sojourner to an invited guest list of leaders. The Lord continues to invite me into these spaces to share how one local church can be involved in an overwhelming global crisis. Please pray for an economy of words to be able to capture our story with sincerity and passion. 

Next week, several leaders will attend different gatherings across the country. Some of our pastors, worship ministry, and prayer team are heading to Chicago for the 24/7 National Prayer conference. I am praying for a refreshing time of encountering God and unity in the Spirit. I’ll be taking some of our leaders to NYC for the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Global Gathering. There will be some sweet reunions. I will also lead the morning devotion for the Thursday general session. There’s so much to share about this journey and what God is doing among us. I get 10 minutes (and two of those are silence), so I will need clarity and simplicity. Again, pray for an economy of words!  

It is such an incredible honor and privilege to continue to teach God’s Word as part of my calling. While I have the occasional opportunity to do that outside our church, I love the opportunity to not only teach God’s Word in the context of our life together, but also to wrestle with how to live it out. That’s what I’ve enjoyed most from our recent series on the Journey of a Disciple. It seems that God is sending a fresh wind of passion and sobriety to live as followers of Jesus in the purposes and mission that He has for us. 

That’s why the next series is going to pack a punch. Our teaching team has been preparing for our next series in the book of Daniel – how to live in Babylon. I’ll start us out by getting us to think about our convictions and who we are in the midst of a culture and world that doesn’t acknowledge, nor fear the God we worship. 

There’s so much to say. So many applications for our whole church and the place we find ourselves in today’s climate. Pray that the Lord would speak, and I’d get out of the way. You may want to read Daniel 1-7 in preparation for the next seven weeks. Let God come to you before we come together.

With all of the possibilities and activities that are before us, let me remind you to move at God’s pace. His pace is always slower than mine. There’s no profit to get all of your to-do list done and have no reflection on what it all meant and why you did it anyway. May these days be filled with order and intentionality; wildly fruitful and productive, but also present and meaningful in sensing how God is coming to you in it all. 

Join me in praying for Pastor Chris Wolf who had knee surgery this past Monday. Sister Jackie is still recovering from rotator cuff surgery. We’ve had a host of Gracers who’ve had medical scares and need follow-up check-ups. Let’s pray for peace and confidence in the midst of uncertainty. There have been powerful testimonies that have led to requests to intercede for the lost. So many followers of Jesus at Grace taking seriously the call to invite someone to “come and see”; to follow Jesus into the relationships and spaces where He is at work. It’s a great moment to pray for someone on your 7 right now.

Remember Jesus desires you today. See you Sunday.

Mitchel