We’re continuing to get settled in at the Dallas digs, and we continue to love it. I promise the pictures will come soon…unpacking is such a laborious task.
The events that took place this weekend were in some ways the culmination of six years of prayer and preparation.
On Sunday morning, we participated in a sending service at South MacArthur Church, our primary partner in church planting. Ryan Porche led worship; I preached. It was a reminder of our work together back at Highland Street Church in Memphis, and also a foretaste of the ways we’ll work together in Dallas in the coming months.
One of the South Mac elders offered a blessing for us; the Mission Action Team co-chair offered a charge; and a Richland Hills Church representative prayed on our behalf as the SMAC elders and staff, Mission Alive directors, and friends surrounded us.
It was a powerful moment.
We’re joining Abram, Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Peter, Paul and many others in the sending of God for the sake of the world.
On Monday morning, Ryan Porche and I went with a group of five other ministers (a mentoring group led by Grady King, preaching minister at SMAC) to visit Lynn Anderson at his home in San Antonio. Lynn has been in the ministry of mentoring and equipping for the last ten years. For a seventy-one year old, he’s got the wisdom of a hundred-year old man and the mind and passion of a thirty-year old.
We spent a day and a half sharing our stories and talking about leadership, strategic planning, family boundaries and spiritual formation. And we ate. A lot.
Perhaps the most significant question Lynn asked us in our time together was, “Who are you mentoring?” All of us could quickly mention people who were mentoring us, but we were slower to mention people we were ourselves mentoring . But isn’t that the essence of discipleship—mentored to mentor?
Who are you mentoring?
In the Storyline 
I continue to pray for you and for this great new work.
This is definitely a question we all need to ask of ourselves. It sounds like this was an awesome time of soul searching that any good “church planter” needs.
I for one am so grateful for the powerful moments of prayer and discussions that I’ve had with you and I know that God will continue to work those powerful moments through you as you reach out to your new community.
Peace and Blessings to all of you.
Today, “ROBDOG” was mentoring me.
What a blessing to hear that y’all are doing so well! But hey, we knew y’all would! Thank you God for our answered prayers!
We will continue to pray blessing over y’all and all those who you will reach out to!
Blessings and Love!
Hi Charles- I don’t know you at all, but I’ve been keeping up with what’s going on with the church plant. I grew up at South Mac and was good friends with Ryan at ACU. This picture just made me smile. I’ve known Jason and Micah my whole life and Grady and Ryan for what feels like my whole life. How much fun that you got to spend some time with them! I’m excited about what’s going on with Uptown! And I’m glad I’ve found your blog, because you update much better than Ryan does. Tell him to get on the ball! 🙂
Jennifer (Walker) Takala