One of the key areas for us as a church start-up (some people in church-world would call it a "church plant" but "church start-up" just makes more sense to me) is me staying connected with our folks with the same passon I bring when I'm teaching.  So every Tuesday, I'm going to do my best to share my heart as a pastor. 

Here's five things I want everyone connected with Life Church Michigan to know this week:

1. Life is short and eternity is a long time!  I wrote about that here, but was reminded of this again yesterday as I officiated a memorial service here in Caro.  Everyone has a date with destiny... my passion is that that date involves being welcomed in person by Jesus!! 
   
   Listen, the whole reason we're starting a church from scratch is NOT to compete with other churches or "show them" or fill-in-the-blank...  We're not here to compete with the Body, but to complete the Body in our region! 
   
   Our church's vision is to Reach the Lost at Any Cost!  We will do ANYTHING short of sin to engage people far from God.  We want to make heaven crowded!  And we cannot deny what God has clearly called us to do! 
   
   If doing whatever it takes to adavnce God's Kingdom fires you up, make plans to be at our next Informational Meeting on Sunday, March 11th at the Brentwood in Caro.  Don't worry, there won't be any Kool-Aid or anything weird.  Just me sharing our vision and bringing the thunder!  Plus you can straight up ask about ANYTHING (and I really mean ANYTHING!) - our church doesn't believe in hiding things or keeping secrets; we're really an open book.  RSVP over on the facebook (and help spread the word).
   
   
2. Pray for me this Thursday!  I've been invited to Moody Theological Seminary in Detroit as part of a panel discussion on Church Planting.  In the past decade, no county in the state of Michigan has experienced an increase in church attendance.  We need more church start-ups!



3. Pray for our strategic partnership with StoneRock Rehab!  Like Jesus, we want to meet people's spiritual needs AND physical and mental needs throughout the week.  What an impact we could have together throughout this whole region by partnering with a new Christian agency that will help people find wholeness in Christ.  I'm very excited about the possibilities we're talking about.



4. Pray for our future worship leader!  We are already looking ahead to the time when we'll bring on board someone who's heart beats faster when they think about impacting people far from God.  This will be key as we look toward preview worship services like we talked about this past Sunday night.  Pray for God to raise up the right leader who shares a love for fast, loud, modern worship combined with strong entrepreneurial skills.



5. If you're fired up to see Life launch later this year, join us in giving generously!  Listen, we don't want something from you, we want something for you: a life-giving church you can be proud of combined with God's blessing as you honor Him with your best, not your left-overs (this is the one time in the entire Bible where God tells you to test Him!!).  Online giving is available over on our big momma website.

Ok, that's all for now, Lifers.  I love you guys and am believing God's promises for our church start-up.  Now let's pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on us!!

Jonathan