Altar Building

As we move forward into harder times, I think it's important to keep the practice of altar building.  We have to remember what God has done for us while we attempt to build His Kingdom in obedience.  I'd like for us to record these here on our blog as we go, as a place of reference and celebration.  You cool with that?

Having disclaimed, Altar #1 (Providence):

Providence, n. a manifestation of divine care or direction.

Two stories have been Written simultaneously, and to understand this altar, you have to see them happen separately before you can understand their Providence.


Justice Small Group's story; We have come from all over the place...literally.  We've been drawn together from different states and churches and backgrounds.  As we have strived to serve God in obedience, fasting, and prayer, we have watched as God has drawn up our blueprint.

1) Events of service to the Birchcroft Community; outdoor movies, community potlucks,  coats & shoes, clothing drives, home restoration, etc.  At least 6-8 events held this year that will invite the public out, and allow for our Renovatus Community to engage the Birchcroft, and visa versa.

2) Weekly gatherings;  small group Bible studies, ESL classes, Tech. classes, community farming, transportation, child care, dinners, etc.  The regular ways that a more select few of our Renovatus Community engage Birchcroft.

3) Fund raising; Grant applications, Art sales, Garage sales, etc.  How can we become self reliant to support the needs of Birchcroft without depending too heavily on Renovatus, for the use of things such as turning on power for homeowners, supporting live in missionaries, providing our our events, etc.

This was the general plan brought to us through our time of prayer and fasting.

All the while...

Steve Shak's story; The Charlotte Eagles have already begun partnering with the four Refugee Communities in Charlotte, long before we arrived on the scene.  They have live in missionaries, and seek to partner with local churches to get these people plugged into the Gospel and the Narrative of Jesus Christ, recognizing that they themselves are not the church.

While many churches have engaged this particular community in a very fleeting way; dropping things off, preparing food, giving shoes and coats, etc., none have stuck around for the hard work of relationship building and all the good and the bad that comes with it.

The requisites for partnership with the Charlotte Eagles are as follows;

Your church is commited to:
*  Establishing a prayer team - This ministry was birthed through prayer and will be sustained through prayer.  We ask that you would put together a small group that meets regularly to pray for your church, the Urban Eagles staff, and the children in the specific community you will be working in.  
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart." (Colossians 4:2)

* Serving the people in this particular community by:

1. Casting a vision within your church hat this is your outreach.
2. Promoting and enlisting volunteers to help with food/ snacks, tutoring, leading devotions/prayer/bible study, help with transportation and special events.
3. Being a resource to help the community's practical needs: employment, food, clothing, and furnityre.
4. Organizing 305 outreach events per year (food, foot washing, movie night, etc.)
5. As the Lord leads, increasing your commitment and support by giving financially to the needs of the full-time missionaries planted in the community.

God's story; Apart from each other's even knowing, The Lord clearly gave us the same plan, of no invention of our own.  I don't know what else to say, but AMEN!  


Praise the Maker who ties all things together and does all things well.  We remember your faithfulness Father and will worship you when times are as good as they are right now, and when we surround ourselves into the darkness while we try to bring your Light.  We well remain humble and dependent on your movement and guidance, as you have always been good to give us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.


Today, Oh Lord, we give you this Altar.  We will not forget.


~ Mat

Common Prayer

Well, it's safe to say that last night was not what I was expecting, but no matter.  It was still wonderful.  I've started to move through Common Prayer, and it's already giving me much food for thought.  Shout out to our Dusties.  We missed your faces.  That includes Kate too.

Disclaimer:  This will be no guilt in your absence this Holiday Season.  Just do what you need to do.  Hang with your families, and spread some love.

Also, this Wednesday, we will be going over some legistics.  I've spoken with our pastor, and we definitely have some things to go over.  We need to start with our leadership body though, so come and prepare to be open as we get our heads on straight.  Spiritual gifts and all that type of "strategerie."

I'm nuts about this group of folk.

~Mat

Thanksgiving Break

Remember, no meeting today. Go enjoy some time with your family. Also throw your thoughts down about Birchcroft, its important. I need to check our spiritual temperature as it were so I can get some things going for when we get back together.

Have a great holiday. I miss everyone already.

Mat

Birchcroft Recap.

Amen.

Wet Toes

This weekend will be our first step into something larger.  I'm trying to keep my expectations in check.  We've seen/done it all, and I know that small and humble beginnings are the way to go.  This is going to be an amazing opportunity to start relationships in a neighborhood that we are going to start planting some roots in.

In preparation for Sunday, keep your hearts focused.  Look for opportunities to help serve, start conversations, pick up trash, fill in where needed.  Be flexible.  This wont be super organized, only borrowing from strategies we already know.  Be ok with that.  Take the initiative to lead and serve upon yourself.  Don't wait for me or Katie or Denis or Lisa or Tracey.  We are a body of leaders.  I want to be flexible enough to get pictures taken for us to document our first steps, so make sure you get there early enough to rally as we set up and get a loose structure.

Thoughts as we go forward:

Me.  This is how I work, so this is a confession and an explanation so you can see and understand me;  when I don't see anyone step forward in instances to take the "baton" (or whatever) of leadership, I take it and move.  This, over time, limits peoples ability to find their niche in leadership/servanthood.  Does that make sense?  I'm not trying to steal a spotlight, I'm trying to keep us moving.  Sometimes that's necessary, sometimes that isn't.  My weakness is, when I'm not careful, I can look over folks.  Forgive me when I do that.

My job is to play middle man between the leadership of our Pastor and our church, and ourselves, which puts me in a spot of communication a lot.  I'm humbled to steward your relationships/thoughts/passions/vision/gifts/leadership as we navigate uncharted territory.   Forgive me my short comings.  I have quite a number of them.

Us.  We are going to spend sometime during our next meetings to get to know each others gifts, and organize our leadership that way.  There are a lot of us, and it's going to take some time, but that's ok.  We need it.

Organization.  Make sure you are following the blog and our Facebook group.  These are the best ways to share thoughts and touch base through the week.   

I love you guys.  Keep humble hearts and minds this weekend.

Bolstering Ranks

Our numbers are still on the climb.  This week we were joined by Kate and Adam.  I'm going to need the Lord to multiply some square footage at this rate.  


Kate, Katie H., Katie R., Thomas, Denis, Lisa, Patrick, Courtney, Tracey, Christine, Elizabeth, Paulo, Anthi, Adam, Jessica, Erica, and Saucey, my heart is filled with anticipation at getting neck deep in Kingdom work beside each of you.  I get goose bumps, for real.


Remember, next week (Nov. 17th) we are meeting at Birchcroft to walk and pray and learn.  Tentative address is 3143 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205-5413, (704) 536-3520.  That should get you there.  I'll get Adam's address this Sunday.

Sanctification

sanc·ti·fy

   [sangk-tuh-fahy]  Show IPA

–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.

1.

to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.

2.

to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.

3.

to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding:to sanctify a vow.

4.

to entitle to reverence or respect.

5.

to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.

If I listen to my heart to the messages put out there last night, I think it's quite clear, that while we've been praying for a direction, the Lord meant for us to be sanctified first.  I don't think that's meant to be a "Holy Pitty Party" where we dialogue about each other's sins until we are blue in the face, but that He means to put us to work, and to qualify us first.

I think I've heard it said before, but I'm not sure from where "He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

It fills my heart to know that we are getting ready to be used.  

About Thanksgiving in Birchcroft.  I got the green light from Jonathan, (Speaking of, if you have the opportunity to, or even if you don't, stop that man when you see him and hug him around his neck, even if that means jumping.  I've known a lot pastors in my young walk with Christ, and I haven't met many who are so trusting in their flock that they would allow us to set a vision from the Lord out to the church without micromanaging or looking over our shoulders.  We are so blessed to have a leader like him.  I'm not blowing smoke.  We really are.)

I've signed up Reimagined Landscapes at www.signupgenious.com I tried to use Friends Feed Friends, Denis, but I couldn't figure it out quick enough and we're on a time crunch.  We need to figure that out though for any preceding events. 

The URL is: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/thanksgiving657

I'll rally the troops Sunday morning, having been given Jonathan's permission.


It feels like the Lord is steering is in a direction that is meeting us all where we are at.  Prisoners, the trafficked, the poor, widows and orphans...it looks like they can all be found under this one umbrella.  


I don't say this lightly, but last night, I totally felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Keep your hearts humbled as you continue to seek him.  I'm so humbled to be surrounded by each of you.  I love watching what God is up to, and I'm eager to share this journey with you.

Do justice.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with your God.