Keep Pointing in Waterloo

Sharing God's Story

Hey friends!  I am up in Minnesota at Bethel Seminary working with a group of emerging scholars exploring team leadership models.  Sounds fun, huh?!?  Anyway, while I up here, I have had the privilage of sharing God's story in Iowa to a group of scholarship donors and the leadership of Bethel Seminary, including the President, Jay Barnes, and the Seminary VP, Dr. Ridder.

It's exciting to share what God is doing around the Cedar Valley and beyond!  It almost oozes out of the people at Prairie Lakes.  Let's continue to share God's story no matter where we go!  Let's continue to personally take steps toward God so that we can invite others into something we are already doing.

Thank you Prairie Lakes Church, my scholarship donors and Bethel for investing in me!

What's Next

 

Hey friends! We are shooting for a SPRING launch of the new campus and some may be wondering: “What are we doing in between? What’s next?”

Well, glad you asked! The very most important thing you can do is PRAY! We are looking at specific locations for the church and need your relentless prayers before God to give us His desired spot. You can also get geared up and start serving and training for your new spot in the ‘Loo!

 

In the next two weeks be ready to answer the call for a serving group and sign up for a time to huddle at my home. Amy and I are looking forward to having you over and sharing our next steps!

Viral

 

Yesterday I got an email from Mrs. Parkhurst, Jack’s kindergarten teacher. His class of 21 students was reduced to 2 (two). I couldn’t believe it. We (mostly Amy) have been taking care of a feverish little boy for the past few days and apparently there are quite a few others in the same predicament.

Now Jack really doesn’t seem to care about the chills or the fever, he wants to go to school. I am wondering how long that zeal will last! He is mostly interested in recess and seeing his friends. This is pretty typical, I am sure, but his reasons for getting back are different than I thought.

Jack has been making new friends this Fall and has been inviting them to church. Two weeks ago we brought one of his friends to KidStuf. Last week Mom and little sister came too!

It is interesting to me that in a season where the flu is systematically taking out entire grade levels at school, that there are some that are trying to be viral in other ways. They are trying to invest in others and invite them toward another step with God.

Take Dave and Ashley Koob, for instance, they started attending Prairie Lakes less than a year ago and have now committed to go to Waterloo. This past weekend they brought a friend for the first time and even introduced them to me. Way to go Koobs!

All I am saying is, flu or not, we should be the most viral and contagious people around! Keep inviting, be infectious if you got too!

Get Your T-shirt!

If you are one of the 200+ adults and 150+ kids who are going to be pioneers in Waterloo then stop by and get your t-shirt!  Only those that have committed to "GO" will be getting them (and, of course, Pastor John and staffers).

We want you to wear those things out (figuratively and literally)!  Whether it is Casual Fridays at work, weekends at PLC or running a quick errand, we want you to get the message out.  Just imagine how easy it would be to start a conversation and invite someone to take another step toward God by wearing your new t-shirt.  Just look at me in action, totally pointing my new friend Jaqueline at Regis Salon toward God while getting my faux hawk.  I told her she may have missed a spot...

Jumping In

Today I watched a guy jump three stories into a foot of water and walk 
away clean. He took a huge life changing leap of faith and now holds a 
new world record.

I think that is pretty cool, but all I could think about was, "Would I 
take that kind of risk, not to set a world record, but to change the 
world?"

Am I willing to jump in if God calls? I hope my obedience would be 
quick, but I know that will not be proved until He asks me to that 
next step. We are launching a church in just a few months and I am 
sure that there will be plenty of opportunity to Jump In! Be praying, 
get ready, He is going to ask us all to get a little risky and take 
new steps with Him!

I am so humbled to be called to Waterloo. I thank God every day for 
your committment to follow Him into uncharted waters. Praise God for 
His hope to all the cities of the earth!

Catalyst Session 3

My version of Shane Hipps, Session 3:

The medium of image moves past the left brains logic and arguement to
the right brain experience so that no debate is needed.

Apparently Jesus has something to say about the need for a new message
incased in a new medium.

Mark 2:22

I am ready for God to take it deeper in Waterloo!

Catalyst Session 1

Session One Insight:

Every leader leaves a mark.  It just depends on whose it is; mine or God's. 

Worship with 12000, awesome!

Catalyst Backstage

Curious about what's happening down here at Catalyst?  Follow along with the Catalyst Backstage site. 

Big Week for the Waterloo Crew

This week is a big week for the Waterloo crew. We are team-building 
while traveling to Atlanta, GA for the Catalyst leadership conference. 
I hope to post several times in the next few days about what we are 
experiencing and learning. 

Today we learned that taking steps toward God starts with a 
relationship. This is my new friend Sherri.  We connected over breakfast this morning over at the Waffle House.  She helped me to understand a little of her culture and I helped her to understand a little bit of mine.

New Staffer…Megan Frandsen : KidVenture Coordinator

Have you ever met someone you knew God was going to do something amazing through? I meet them almost every weekend, but not often do they walk right up to me and hand me their resume! Now, let me first say that there is a whole HR process involved to becoming a staffer at PLC, but it has become clear that Megan Frandsen was designed for this role.

Megan will be leading KidVenture, an environment designed to help our kindergarten through 5^thgraders make wise choices, treat others the way they want to be treated, and trust God no matter what. Megan’s passion for helping children take steps toward God is contagious and I cannot wait to see how God does something amazing with our Children’s Ministry in Waterloo!

Please welcome Megan to the team by sending her a quick email: megan.frandsen@prairielakeschurch.org

 

 

"Hello Prairie Lakes.

My name is Megan Frandsen, and I will be Kidventure Coordinator for the Waterloo Campus. From a young age, I have always had a passion for working with children. I believe this passion has lead me to get involved with the children's ministry at Prairie Lakes, and accept the position as Kidventure Coordinator.

Recently, I have felt God's call to enter into the field of children's ministry. Little did I know he would take this new call and make it a reality with this position in about a month's time. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be part of this next big step for Prairie Lakes. This new site means new children to spend time with, laugh with, and worship with. But most importantly, it means new children to share the word of God with.

 

I believe that God has some amazing things in store for new site in Waterloo, and I cannot wait to see where he takes us with this next step."