Even when I knew it was coming, the starting gunshot was always startling. I suppose that’s the point—the loud crack splitting the air gives that rush of adrenalin that helps the runners race. At that point, there’s no use sitting around and contemplating the race ahead, how long it will take, how much it will hurt, how it will feel to finish.
At that point, all you do is run like crazy.
On June 16th, we heard God say, “Go!”
For about six months we’d sensed that change was ahead. We weren’t sure when, or even what, but kept praying that God would make it clear whenever He was ready, and that He’d give us the sense—the grace—to just obey whatever it was.
And He did. He made clear the when and the what, and although it wasn’t at all what I expected, I had been set in the tracks and waiting for the gunshot. We heard it loud and clear.
It was time to run.
For us, the “what” is an adventure of faith, that of leaving our WCC church home and establishing a church family across the river, in Oregon City. (We love our church family with WCC, so leaving is bittersweet!) We’re not really “starting” or “planting” since Jesus has already started and planted the Church – His Bride. She has been started and planted on this earth for almost 2,000 years, but we sense His movement to establish a new family of believers, gathering together for the purpose of fellowship, instruction in the Word, discipleship, prayer, worship, breaking of bread, sharing resources, outreach, and encouraging one another in the Lord. Because Jesus is in the ongoing process of making us new, giving us new life again and again and again, RENEW Church will celebrate the new life—and the new lifestyle—we have in Christ, seeking to share this new life with the people God so loved, and calls us to so love.
On the one hand, I never saw this coming. The gunshot caught me by surprise. On the other hand, I’ve always seen it coming. He’s been whispering His thoughts, ideas, vision to us for almost 10 years. It’s as if I’ve been carrying a backpack all this time — which I thought was empty — but then suddenly turned around and realized that God had been making quiet deposits in it for a long time, unbeknownst to me. Are we church-planting experts? Nope. But He is. And we believe this is His gig, His work, His church, His kingdom, His glory. He set the blocks in this direction and fired the gun.
We’re just running like crazy.
We’ve been asked a lot, “When will you begin?” Well, I suppose we’ve already begun since we heard God say, “Go!” We don’t have a grand-opening date, since the church isn’t a building, or a program, or an event to come experience. We will begin gathering with anyone who desires to come visit, pray, ask questions, and get to know other RENEW family members during BBQs together the last three Sunday nights in August.
If you are already connected to a church family, awesome! Stay there and continue to flourish. If you live in the Oregon City/South Portland area and are looking for a church home, please feel free to join us. (You can contact me here for location and time.) For more information about the vision of RENEW visit us at Godrenews.us.
What about you? Have you heard the starting gunshot? If so, are you running? It may be you haven’t heard it yet, you might be poised, ready in the starting blocks awaiting His command. That’s a great place to be. But perhaps you have heard the gunshot and it’s time to stop asking questions, stop making excuses, and start running like crazy.
{FYI: I’m just as scared as you are.}
Thanks for running with me; for adventuring through this life of faith and trusting Him for all the details along the way. It’s a joy to do this with you … thanks for reading.
17 thoughts on “"Go!"”
Comments are closed.
This is so exciting! Prayers from South Carolina for you and your husband as you embark on this new endeavor.
I’m so excited for you, Jeff and your kiddos, Kari!
Yes, RENEW…us! God is faithful to His children. I am so excited to see what is in store. This AM in Spurgeon’s devo he wrote, “Gather golden sheaves of grace, for they await for you in the fields of grace. All things are possible to him who believes.” Praying all His children become grace hunters and gatherers! GO!!!!!
Wow that is major, my daughter lives in Oregon City/redland area I should tell her about your ‘new’ little church. Congratulations although leaving a church is always scary and sad. take care
I am SO excited for this adventure God is leading you all on. We will pray for you and your family and Renew Church!!!! Love ya friend.
Dear Kari,
So excited for you and the new adventure(s) God has in store for you!
Love you!
All I can say is wow Kari. I privately emailed you about my fears that my husband had on his heart to quit his job at OHSU, move out of our newly acquired dream home with our two little boys and start classes at Multnomah to become a pastor. Something we have never wanted or worked toward. Well since that email, we have rented our home, moved into an apartment that we manage and Kent is starting classes this month. It has been a HUGE GO in our lives….just last night we prayed about what our future holds…will we plant a church, assist in one, relocate etc etc etc?? I am scared too, but even more exicted and trusting. Never have we felt the hand of God like now. Never! It has been radical!
Wow Kari! This is so exciting! You will be truly blessed (and stretched I am sure too) in this new chapter of your lives. You are ready for this, and God is going to bless your faithfulness in this life, and in the next!
I love you to pieces!
Thank you for sharing this amazing “GO!” experience with all of us. This describes in words exactly how we have felt for awhile. God had been planting seeds of “GO!” in our hearts for some time and now we have stepped forward in faith, waiting for him to show us where to go next. We are praying for our next home as we have rented out our current home and are now living with some wonderful friends in their basement. God has opened every door each step of the way so now we are simply praying and waiting for the next one to be opened. So excited for you and your family and will be praying for you all as well. Thank you for sharing your heart : )
How exciting!! Love seeing God opening up this door for you guys!
Praising God and praying for the work ahead of you!
What a great announcement!! You know we would join RENEW if we didn’t live in California! (A bit of a commute every Sunday morning, ya know). We will be praying and cheering for you from afar. And if we ever live in that area… well, we will know right where to go. 🙂 Love you guys!!!
Frances and I are Praying for You and Jeff and your wonderful family, ” Go In Love” and god will show you the way. I know you have faith, and God rewards those who diligently seek him.
“I am Peter who made many mistakes, but I’am Peter for whom God had great plans, whom God Established to do His work. Peter is the rock on which Jesus built His Church. The very night when Peter foolishly jumped out of the boat, Jesus reinstated Him in the presence of the other disciples. “Do you truly love me, He asked The feed my lambs’
From http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
What a blessing you two will be for everyone who comes to Renew! This is just perfect for you both – but we know that God’s plan is always perfect and I don’t know of any two people who listen and follow God’s plan like you two do!
Prayers and love,
Carole
We soooo need to get together for that coffee now 😉
YES! You read my mind. 🙂