God, We're Doing What?

God, we're doing what? This was the response in my heart as it became clear to me that God  was calling the Jackson's to plant a church. I had always thought about church planting as something I was interested in doing, but I knew that if God wanted me to do it then he would lead me to it.

Noah in front of the graffiti wall at Hob Nob. 

My good Father has always worked in my life through opening doors and pushing me through them. Or when I stubbornly try to open doors He hasn't opened; He lovingly holds them shut. And so through a series of wide open doors and affirmation from godly people who know what they are talking about we find ourselves planting a church in Richmond, VA. In a cityburb called Lakeside. I call it a cityburb because it isn't the suburbs, but it isn't downtown Richmond either. Richmond just kind of seamlessly flows into Lakeside.

And here's the thing. I could not be more excited about the planting of Covenant Life in Lakeside. God has given me such a desire to see the people of this community come to know and trust Jesus like I do. In Jesus there is true freedom and my heart and mind are burdened for this community to be radically transformed by Him. This burden is a true answer to prayer and I'm praising God for it. Today as I sat in the window seat of a local coffee shop (my field office as it were) and watched the rhythms of the city my heart was filled with a deep appreciation for the community and again a swelling desire to see the community come to know Jesus intimately. The future is bright.

So where are we at in all of this? As of the writing of this post we have partnered with the SBCV (Southern Baptists Conservatives of Virginia). No, it's not a political party. They are the Virginia branch of the national Southern Baptist Convention and they are excellent partners in this task of church planting. They have a passion and desire to see Virginia and the world saturated in God's glory.

Also, we have great partners in two local churches, Staples Mill Road & Village Church. Both churches are committed to seeing new churches planted and have been a blessing to Covenant Life. I'm interning at Village Church which is going to make a stronger foundation for the launch of the church in Lakeside. I'm really excited about what I'll learn there.

In addition to church support we also have a great core team! Including my family we have two other awesome families that are committed to the church plant. And several other families that are prayerfully considering their involvement in the plant. God is so good. Can I get an amen?

Can I also get some prayer? Because we have started raising support for the work of church planting. God has already been gracious in raising up generous people to support His kingdom work in Lakeside. The reality is planting a church cost money. And raising that money is not something that I have ever done so please pray for me as I go about the work of doing this well. By the way, if you are dying to know how you can support the mission you can give at this link here. Make sure you select the "Covenant Life Church Plant" on the giving button.

So in hopefully what wasn't too long of a post you are caught up on what the Jackson's are doing in planting a church. Please pray for us and continue to follow our story here. And feel free to share this with anyone that you might think is interested. The goal is to post weekly so be looking out for the next exciting update on Covenant Life in Lakeside. Peace to you.