January 2007

 

This is going to be a very short “update”. Whispering Pines Community Church will be publically launching in about 6 weeks and while God has blessed us greatly there are still some needs that we have. I send this with the hope that each one who reads this will pray about how they or their church can help provide these things. Please read this list prayfully.

1) Macintosh or “Mac” laptop. These are the best computers for doing creative things such as making videos, working on websites, photo movies, etc. - The cost for one of these is around $2000.

 2) “Powerchurch” software. This software is incredibly versatile and would allow us to keep track of contributions, members, and accounting. Ellie is handling most of this and I know this would help her a lot. - The cost is about $300.

3) A copier. Right now we have a couple of churches that have given us free reign with their copiers. This is wonderful, but it would save us gas money if we could make copies in our home rather than driving to another town to make copies. - The cost of a copier is around $500.

4) Sound equipment. Such as mics, mic cords, direct boxes for guitars, monitors, wireless speaking mic, etc. - The total cost for all of this is around $1200.

5) Finally, we are trying to raise around $1000 for the launch. We are hoping to get the word out about the launch using the local paper and doorhangers.

Are these things absolutely necessary for Whispering Pines Community Church to reach people for Christ? Probably not, but we believe that these and other things can help us be more effective. Take the “Powerchurch” software for example. Ellie believes her primary ministry is to love and teach the women in our community. The less time she spends on the church’s business, the more time she can spend ministrying to these wives and mothers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Contact me through email if you have any questions or need more information.

Love and Blessings,

Billy

thinkfeelworship@gmail.com

About two years ago, while in New Orleans, Ellie and I began to pray for another family to join our church planting team. I was very specific in my prayers. I asked God to send us someone who could lead our “Worship Arts” with knowledge, creativity, and humility. I had no problem with God sending us a “volunteer” to do our music and other corporate worship elements, but my request was to have someone that could do this full-time for us. I also prayed that he would be married and that his wife would be connected to this work and have gifts/talents that she would desire to use as well. We weren’t looking for an employee, but a family that was as passionate about this work as we are. Other then the salvation of a family member, I’ve never prayed for anything as much as for this family.

This past August we met Josh and Melissa Rowell. Pretty much right from the beginning I thought they would fit in with the vision and call of Whispering Pines Community Church. We began to build a relationship with them and asked for their permission to pray about them joining the work. They agreed and began to pray about this as well. After a couple of months they believed God was calling them to make this commitment, but had some loose ends to tie up at Josh’s workplace. This week Josh had a meeting with that church and told them what God had been telling him and put in his notice. Josh and Melissa (oh and baby Andrew) will be joining us full-time very soon!!

I have to admit that God did not exactly answer my many prayers. Both Josh and Melissa are much better than what I was praying for. BOTH are incredibly gifted musicians. Josh plays several instruments and sings extremely well. I’m not sure if Melissa plays any instruments (I don’t think she does), but probably has the best voice of anyone I’ve ever heard. Both are passionate about leading others in worship of the Father and very humble in doing so. Melissa also has a passion for ministrying to children. This is huge because neither Ellie nor myself can be around children for more than a few minutes at a time ;).

Thank you God for answering my prayer requests even better than my feeble mind can ask.

Thank you, Josh and Melissa, for stepping out on faith and taking a job that can’t really pay you. (It might sound weird, but it will be fun to watch God provide for you.

Thanks to everyone who has joined me in praying for God to send us a team to plant this church.

Life is so good,

Billy