Dec. 24th

Merry CHRISTmas!

Tonight, Convergence will hold our first service outside a home!  We'll be meeting in the Creekstone community clubhouse for our Christmas Eve service, tonight at 6:00. Our long- term prospects here are unlikely, since there is only one room, and our regular Sunday gatherings need space for our children's ministry as well. But it is a wonderful facility and will be great for tonight's service, with seating for almost 50, a kitchenette and restrooms. 

Please join us in praying for tonight's worship gathering. It looks like we may have several guests with us for the first time, and we want to share the light of the Gospel of Christ clearly, and with love. 

I hope this Christmas season is a blessing to you, and hope you will be used by our Mighty God to be a blessing to someone else!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Dec. 16th

Howdy!

Christmas is approaching, and C3 is hoping to have our first service "out of the house" on Christmas Eve. We are working now to secure a local community clubhouse for this "family-style" gathering, and hope to get a feel for how this location might work for us in the future. Please join us in praying for this gathering!

C3 also just had our first "official" gathering devoted entirely to prayer. It was a great time, and will be a regular part of our schedule. From that gathering, I'd like to share some requests from a few of the people who were there:

• Wisdom concerning a job situation.
• Wisdom for financial guidance during the holidays and into the new year.
• To see people the way Christ sees them, and to love them as He loves.
• A home for C3. A facility that will grow with us; that fits our "DNA." And that in all things we seek God's guidance first, and then continually throughout.

"Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.  Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer."
     ~ Charles Finney

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 29th

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our internet connection has been down at home this week (since Tuesday night or maybe Wednesday morning), so I've had limited access over the past few days. Since I've been given the opportunity to "borrow" a connection for a few hours today, I do want to take this chance to ask for your prayers concerning a few special folks this week:

• J.D. is a very good friend to many of us at C3. Though now making their home in Alaska, we still consider he and his family a part of ours. With that in mind, J.D.'s mom is recovering from surgery in Austin this week, and I hope you will join us in praying for her recovery, as well as peace for J.D. as he can't be there with her.
• There is a little girl, just a few weeks old now, named Alexis Hocanson, who is recovering from some fairly serious heart work in a hospital in Columbus, OH. The most recent development involves potential temporary paralysis of some of her cranial nerves. Please pray that the Great Physician will restore this beautiful little girl to full health and allow her to be home in Findlay with her whole family for Christmas.
• Our search for a temporary new location for C3 continues. Pleas continue to pray with us, as we are needing to get into a larger place soon. Our gatherings lately have been possible, but very "cozy!"

Thank you for praying for these needs, and for continuing to partner with Convergence Christian Church!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 20th

Hallloooo!

This week, we'd like to ask you to continue praying for some of C3's friends, who are serving our great God in other parts of His Kingdom, as well as some folks close to home:

• Beth is a part of Healing Pointe Community Church in Terre Haute, IN. Please pray for God's peace and encouragement as she faces some tough times.
• Mare is working in Nigeria with Global Christian Ministries and recently had to get all of her co-workers out of jail. Needless to say, they are struggling against both flesh-and-blood and spiritual forces there. Please pray for strength, protection, boldness, and daily bread.
• Please pray for a family member of one of our core team. God knows who it is and what is needed.
• Please pray that I (Jeff) will honor our God through this ministry- that my example would reflect Jesus and my will would be yielded to HIS.

Thank you for praying!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 13th

Hi Prayer Partners!

Thanks so much for choosing to lock arms with C3 and join us in this incredible adventure for the glory and the fame of our great God, the I AM! What an honor to be able to "...approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16)." It is really kind of amazing when you stop and think about the reality of wide-open communication with the Creator of everything.

As we begin, here are a couple of updates:

• This past weekend, I was able to meet with our trustees, Ed, Charlie, and Ron, and it was fantastic! We got to spend a good deal of time in prayer, and in discussion concerning what is next for C3. Thank you for praying for us- we were able to cover some significant ground that will be very helpful to us as we navigate the next 3-4 months.
• There has been some progress in our search for a place to meet, although any details would still be premature. Please continue to pray that we find a good location at a reasonable cost.
• Our second week of meeting outdoors went very well, with another sunny Sunday! Please continue to pray that we can use this alternative as much as possible over the next few weeks.

As you pray this week, please also remember the following:

• Dorothea (who helped create "Zeke") was in an auto accident earlier this week. Although she was not hurt, their vehicle didn't fair as well. It would be much better for them to get the car repaired, rather than having the insurance company declare it to be "totalled." Please pray that the vehicle with be declared repairable.
• Please also pray for Jessica's nephew. Jessica is a friend of Chris, who is a part of C3. Jessica's nephew is in the hospital being treated for severe dehydration, and seems to be fighting a virus that hasn't yet been identified. Several other members of his family are also sick.
• Finally, please pray for Cliff and Destiny's daughter, Claire. Cliff is a good friend of Ron, one of C3's great servant-leaders. Claire is battling an illness called Aplastic Anemia and will be having a complete bone marrow transplant tonight at 9:00. Please pray that her body will accept the transplant, and that her now completely depleted immune system will be restored over the next few weeks.

Again, thank you! Our God is attentive to the prayers of His children!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 4th

Greetings Prayer partners!

This week, I'd like to ask you to pray for some folks who are serving our great God in other parts of the world. These people come to us through Kathy, who is a part of C3's core team:

• Please pray for Beth who is part of a church plant in Terre Haute, Indiana,
• Also for Mare, who is in Nigeria working with Global Christian Ministries teaching AIDS/HIV awareness.

Please join us in praying for these two fellow servants- we don't have the specifics, but we know that God does!

Please also pray for Convergence this week in the following ways:

• I will be joined by our trustees, Ed, Charlie, and Ron this weekend to evaluate the last 3 months and to make some important decisions about C3's official launch and location. These are very exciting, but also big decisions- please pray for God's wisdom in these matters.
• As we search for a more permanent public location, the beautiful Fall weather here has given us the opportunity to meet outside. We have done this once, and it was a tremendous success. The whole group met together for the first part of our worship time, as we sang and celebrated communion. Afterward, our children's workers took the kiddos into the house where they got to use the "big" room just for them- it was great! It feels a little funny asking you to pray that the weather stays nice, but the longer it does, the more opportunities it gives us to maximize our current space- so I'll go ahead and ask you to pray for sunny Sundays!
• On that note, we have some new location possibilities that I am pursuing. Please pray for the right place to be both available and affordable.

I'll end this week's update with the elephant in the room, because there's a donkey there too. Today is election day in the U.S. A quick browse through your "friend updates" on Facebook should easily paint a picture of how important most people feel this election is. I certainly have an opinion about it, and I imagine you do as well, so I hope you voted if you are able.

There is much talk about "God's will" on a day such as this. I find it interesting that, on either side of this decision, there will be people who will say the outcome was "God's will"- usually when their candidate wins. I would just like to point out that, to humanity, God has given the gift of free will, and a day such as this is really an overwhelming example of that.

I am NOT telling you to cease praying for this country, or for the selection of its leaders. Jesus instructed the disciples to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

What I am asking, is that you focus a substantial amount of your prayer time on how you and the body of believers that you fellowship with can have the most impact for Christ on your families, and friends, and community, and the world- no matter what happens.

Regardless of who is elected, the King remains on the throne.

In HIM We Live,

Jeff

Oct. 20th

Hi there!

For this post, I'd like to break things into 2 parts. Part one includes ongoing prayer needs that directly affect the physical "launch" of this new church. Part two will be specific notes from members of C3 who are asking for prayer.


Part 1:

1. Please pray for our first leadership retreat, scheduled for November 7-8. I will be joined by the C3 trustees, Ron, Ed, and Charlie, and we will be evaluating the past few months, as well as tackling some very important issues for the future.
2. On that note, please pray that God will show us the very best possible location in which to meet. Our last few months have revealed some very interesting things, both demographically and geographically, and we want to respond to God's leading.

Part 2- Please pray for:

1. Shaun's job situation. Also, for a colleague of his who is in prison, as well as this man's family.
2. Healing for Kyle, who is 15 and battling cancer. Also for our great God's strength for his mom Cindy, as she guides him through this as well as the other challenges of being a single parent. We are rejoicing though, that a spot on Kyle's lung was determined to NOT be cancerous!
3. Healing for Natalie, who is coming to the end of basic training, but may have a stress fracture in her hip.
4. A neighbor of one of our C3 families, who has been wrestling with where he is spiritually, as well as with the death of a close friend.

Thank you so very much for praying!

Jeff

Monday, Oct. 6th

Things are moving right along as C3 heads toward an "official" launch in January. Things in Houston are beginning to return to normal (if there really is such a thing), and in our area, you could hardly tell that we had such a horrendous storm.

As we begin the week, I would like to share some exciting news: yesterday C3 had our first two baptisms! Earlier in the week I was able to visit with Jessie and Patrick. Their mom, Judi, is already a Christ follower and it was great to chat with them and hear about why they believe they need Jesus to be their Savior. So, after our morning gathering, most of us headed over to Grace and borrowed their baptistery- special thank to Darren and company for making everything so available to us, and to Eli for staying and making sure it all went smoothly!

As the month progresses, we will be looking in earnest for a place to meet when we launch. We will also begin to make some of our larger one-time purchases, such as sound equipment. Please be in prayer for these important areas as we continue to seek God's will for Convergence Christian Church.

Thank you so very much for being a C3 prayer partner- your contribution cannot be adequately quantified!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Sept. 16th

Hi!

I'm sorry this post is coming so late- I know some of you are wondering what impact hurricane Ike had on C3 and our area.

For a small group (around thirty of us currently) we are actually a bit spread out, with folks living from Cy-Fair to Stafford, and several points in-between. Despite our various locations, I am very happy to share that no one was hurt, and we as a group sustained very little damage.

On behalf of everyone involved in the Convergence Church plant, thank you for praying!

This week, please join us in praying for the people who have sustained heavy losses from the storm. Please also pray for us as we help our neighbors clean up and make repairs, and as we explore more ways to serve the community.

Again, thanks so much for praying!

Love, Live, Serve,

Jeff

Sept. 12th

Although we only have clouds right now, it looks like our area is going to get hammered in a few hours from hurricane Ike. If you are a part of the C3 community locally and you feel that your home may not be safe, please contact me as soon as possible, and we will find a safer place for you to ride out this storm.

For our prayer partners outside of Houston- our area needs your intercession. It's likely that we will lose power/phone for a while, so don't be alarmed if you can't reach us. I'll update you on the situation as soon as I am able. This is a huge storm, but God is bigger.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Sept. 11th

The sky is blue and the weather is absolutely beautiful today.

Which makes it that much more surreal as I see a few of my neighbors putting up plywood over their windows as if preparing for a riot. Everyone is getting ready (as best anyone can) for the arrival of hurricane Ike sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. Our part of Houston isn't close enough to the coastline to be in any danger of storm surge, but we may see some fairly strong winds. Everyone here at C3 would very much appreciate you lifting us up in prayer as the storm approaches- we believe that prayer is powerful.

Some other things to pray for this week:

- Our friend Iris has a niece who was bitten on the face and leg by a dog a few days ago. Her name is Calli. Although the injuries are not life threatening, please pray that there is minimal scarring- both on her face and on her emotionally from this event.

- Our friend Susie sent me a note sharing this request: "Can you guys please be praying for the family of the man and 3-1/2 boy who drowned in their backyard pool yesterday afternoon (on our street). They just lived a few houses down, in the cul-de-sac. I hadn’t even met them, cuz they’d only been living there for a couple of weeks. I don’t even know their names. He leaves behind a young wife and two other children, one about a year old and I’m not sure about the other, possibly of preschool age as well. It’s just such a sad, sad deal."

Thanks for being a C3 prayer partner!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

More than a p.s.-

Seven years later, it's still hard to write (or type) the date that went into the title of this post. Please join us in praying for the families of those who lost their lives in the events of September 11th, 2001 and for the families of the soldiers who have given their lives in the years following those events.

If you are an American, today is also a good day to remember how this one event has dramatically re-shaped our culture, as we consider so many people around the world who live in places where terrorism is a regular occurrence.

Today, join us in praying for peace. And a revolution of God's love.

Sept. 8th

Hi everyone!

Fall is a great season in Houston. Although the weather doesn't change very much (and the trees don't really change at all!), there are a lot of great opportunities to get out, see things, and meet people.

As we start off the week, I hope you'll join us in praying for opportunities for Convergence to begin to introduce ourselves to the community. This could happen in a number of ways, but I'm asking that you will pray for us to go where HE leads.

Some ongoing things we would appreciate you bringing before our Father are:

- A location to meet in when we launch in January.
- Our search for a second staff person.

Thank you so very much for praying with us! Following Christ certainly leads to action on our part. But prayer remains the most powerful action anyone can take.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Sept. 3rd

Hello Prayer Partners!

It's Wednesday, and I am still smiling from a great weekend!  We had a full house at both Sunday a.m. and p.m. gatherings, with rooms alive with celebration and great discussion (and some tasty food, too!).  Monday, we invited anyone who didn't already have plans for Labor Day over for a cookout, and we ended up with quite a crowd!  

We really did have a great time, but what got me the most excited was seeing the interaction among our core group- it was a front-row seat to the building of community.  

I hope you will continue to pray for C3 this week- for our search for a location to meet when we launch, and for us to joyfully follow His lead into our community in any way He wants us to go. 

But I also hope you will join us in praising God and saying "thank-you!" for the things He is already doing in the life of Convergence.  

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."         -James 1:17  

Talk to you soon!

Jeff

Aug. 25th

Hello!

As we start out the week, there are a few individuals in the C3 community that need prayer.

-Our friend Iris was involved in an auto accident last week and has whiplash, as well as re-injuring a shoulder. Please pray for God's healing.

-Our friend Shaun has had a back injury flair-up, and has been in a lot of discomfort. Again, please pray for permanent healing.

-Our friend Natalie shipped out last week for basic training. Please pray for her time at basic, and for strength and boldness as she seeks out Christ and begins this new chapter in her life.

-School starts this week here- please join us in praying for all these kiddos who are also beginning a new chapter!

Thanks so much for continuing on as a prayer partner with Convergence!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Aug. 20th

Hi everybody!



Over the last several weeks, C3 has been discussing what it means to live in community- with God, and with each other. You may be asking yourself, "why talk about it, when you should be doing it?" The best answer I can give, is to simply say that both are happening. Certainly each time we meet together, we are building community. But a church is so much more than the sum of its corporate gatherings; some of my favorite parts of being a community happen as you simply live life together.

I'm talking about the everyday stuff that brings people together: going to someones home; a trip to the park; seeing a ball game; sharing a meal; playing music together (there's a lot of musician's in our group). But it's also the everyday stuff that we don't always think about: running an errand for someone else; watching someones kids; helping with a home or car repair; just being there. Sometimes the best way community is built is by serving.

So why not just "live it? Why "talk" about it too?" Primarily because our society has slowly been redefining what community is and as a result, we too often end up settling for something that encourages "proximity," but not necessarily involvement. In other words, we have lots of opportunities to be around people, but not so many opportunities to actually share life. That may seem safer- to keep us insulated and minimize risk- but ultimately, real community involves a level of closeness, and that means risk. I doubt anyone ever wants hurt or pain. But without the risk, we can never really find healing; friendship; love. Without risk, we aren't living; we're just existing.

So, we talk about community at C3 because we want it to be real and tangible- an authentic expression of our life together. And we want it to flow out of us so that people will not merely "feel welcome" when they visit; wherever we are, we want our very lives to be the welcome .

Will you join us in praying for that this week? It's a prayer for all of us who follow Christ!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

August 13th

I am updating today to give special attention to some specific prayer needs within the C3 core team. Here they are:

-Susie asked that we pray for her sister-in-law Chris, and her brother Don. Chris was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatments.

-Please also pray for our friend Natalie, who has made the decision to go into the Army. She leaves for Basic Training soon.

-Finally, please pray for the family of Thuy. Thuy lost her life in the tragic bus accident in Dallas last week. She was a co-worker of our friend Teeya.

Each of these people represents so much more than the immediate needs that are presented here. Some need peace; some direction; some are still exploring who Jesus really is.

Thank you for being a prayer partner for C3. Let's all remember that our God will do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine(Ephesians 3:20)." He is amazing, and He is faithful!

Jeff

August 12th

C3 enjoyed another great weekend together- thanks so much for praying and being an extension of our community!

We are continuing to lay the groundwork for our launch in January through the development of our core team. We have been discussing what it really means for our church to love God, live in community, and serve the world. Currently, we're examining the "live in community" side of things, and have been talking about what it means to have an "abiding" connection with the one true God; how we belong to Him, how that belonging changes our identity, and how it all affects how we approach the connection we have with one another.

I hope you'll pray this week specifically about the formation of community at C3. This prayer is not only for those who are a part of the core team right now. It is also for everyone with whom we have contact, and for those we don't even know- yet. Our prayer is that Convergence Christian Church will become a group and a place of belonging for anyone who questions whether God would want them; for anyone who has felt as if they were "slipping through the cracks" of life. For anyone. Period.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

August 6th

Halllooo prayer partners!

Thank you so much for praying for Convergence. We had a great weekend, and the glory all goes to our incredible God! Both the meetings were well attended, and we were able to begin an organized time specifically (and separate) for kids during the morning gathering. Everyone seemed to enjoy this new format, and we again have a little room to grow! I hope you'll join us this week in thanking God for answering our prayers in such an incredible way.

Please pray this week for everyone (adults and kids) who together form C3's "core group." Pray that we will grow as Christ followers, and as a community.

I'd also like to ask you to pray for me and my role as a leader at C3. My heart's desire is to honor Christ; to follow Him and yield to His will as He begins to form this brand new church.

Finally, as we look to the future, please pray with us for the following:
-An additional staff person
-A larger venue for Sunday gatherings
-The finances to meet those needs

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21

In Him We Live,

Jeff

July 30th

This week, we've been working on some of the challenges associated with our weekly gatherings, and I have some changes to share that I'd like you to pray about. Starting Sunday, Convergence will meet in two places, at two different times.

On Sunday mornings at 10:30, we will meet at the Richards' home. This time will include a gathering designed especially for kiddos, 5th grade and under.

On Sunday evenings at 6:30, we will meet at our (Jeff and Tamara's) home. This gathering will relieve some of the congestion we've been experiencing with one big gathering, and will allow some of our friends who are currently serving at Grace the opportunity to finish with those ministries as Convergence begins.

As a church, we are still in the most preliminary of stages, so this may be a temporary change. But for now it is an option that gives us a little room to grow. Not only that, but it will be a great environment for talking about small groups, discipleship, and other things associated with "living in community."

I'm really jazzed about the things God is doing- I hope you'll join me this week in praying that we will follow HIS lead.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

July 24th

Hi there!

Thanks for praying for Convergence Christian Church! I can't adequately express how powerful a gift I believe prayer to be.

When Jesus talked to His disciples about faith He said, "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." -Mark 11:23-25

Do you notice the link with prayer/forgiveness/faith? This isn't Jesus saying, "Make a shopping list and I'll give it to you- just like Santa!" He is indicating that, as we grow in our relationship with Him, our faith and trust increase, which will give us confidence as we pray.

However, part of our growth comes from seeing things more like He sees them. Hence, we begin to forgive others, but not because they have done something to deserve it. Instead, we do it because it reflects that we realize how God has treated us and that we want to be like Him.

If we strive to see things more like God sees them, it not only affects how we forgive; it affects how we pray. Our prayers are less likely to be influenced by a "shopping list" mentality and more likely to be influenced by a seeking of His will. When we seek His will, we can pray and be confident that He will answer.

As the week continues, please keep praying with us as we look for a place to meet. We certainly don't need anything huge, but our group has grown past the point of being comfortably full in a home. We still have several months to go before our "official" public start date, so we are looking for a sort of "in between" location; something that could fit around fifty people total, and have a good space for our kids/youth.

In the meantime, we will keep meeting in homes, and I would appreciate your prayers for those meetings as well, since things are a little crowded right now.

May you be confident as you pray.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

July 21st

Hi there!

Wow- our big move is over, and we have been working to get things unpacked and in their "place" in our new digs. Tomorrow, we will finally get phone and Internet installed at the house- something for which I am very grateful! It's been about 3 weeks since I had easy access to an Internet connection, and in that time I have been relying on "borrowed" wi-fi from our friends Ron and Kathy while visiting with them, or public access points like the one I'm using today at Starbucks.

Yesterday, several of the Convergence "core" joined my family and I at Crossbridge Christian Church in the Cypress-Fairbanks area of Houston, where I got to share the morning message. It was a blast, and I really appreciated the opportunity. (If you would like a copy of the message, just let me know, and I'll do my best to get one to you.)

Outside of yesterday's "special" circumstances, our group has gathered together two other times in July. This brings me to our most pressing need this week. As we made plans for this time in the life of Convergence, I projected that we would be of a size that allowed us to meet in one home or another for a few months. However, we have had more folks coming than I originally anticipated. This is a wonderful situation, and it's given us yet another reason to praise our great God (because this is all about what He has done), but it also presents us with the need to find some sort of temporary location in which we can meet for a few months.

I'm asking that you pray this week about this need- that we will be able to quickly locate a venue that serve as our temporary "home,"- and that this location will be affordable for our young church.

Thanks so much for being a C3 prayer partner!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Monday, June 30th

Howdy!

Today I will travel back to Ohio after spending the better part of a month in Houston. On June 2nd, as I prepared to start this trip, I asked you to pray for several things:
- For my trip
- For our family- especially Quinn and Kyra- while I was away.
- For our housing situation
- For the people that will be involved in the core group at Convergence.
- For the right place to rent when we begin to hold public services.

Here's how God has answered those prayers:

- My trip was safe and uneventful, for the most part. (I'll have to tell you that story on the other blog soon.)
- Our family has made it through the last several weeks of being apart, though we all missed each other very much and can't wait to see one another again later today!
- We now have a house, and it will be a great place to welcome new friends.
- Our cookout on Saturday was a blast! The house was full of adults and kids, and everyone was eager to begin meeting together regularly, which we will begin doing on July 13th.
- Our number one choice for a meeting place is still an unknown. The realtor has been difficult to reach- slightly discouraging. However, the building remains empty, so we remain hopeful!

God's power is infinite; it has no limits. This is the power which is accessed with every prayer.

This week we will finish packing, and hope to load the moving truck on Saturday. Unfortunately, I'll not have much in the way of Internet access for the next several days, so this may be my only opportunity for an update this week. Please pray for the "big" move, and continue to pray for God to use us.

Have a great week!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

P.S.- After being away from my family for almost a month, I am reminded of just one of the incredible sacrifices that are made by soldiers and their families- long term separation. If you know someone in one of those roles, please thank them this week. And please, pass on my deepest gratitude as well.

Tuesday, June 24th

Greetings!

Thank you so very much for continuing to pray for Convergence Christian Church! I am less than a week away from my return trip to Ohio. After about a week's stay (enough time to help finish packing), we will take off on the "big" move to Texas! Tam and the girls are very excited to see their new home, and we're all excited to see each other again after almost a month apart. We'll be leaving Ohio Sunday afternoon, July 6th and driving to St. Louis to see my family for 2 days and then heading to Texas. We plan on being back to Houston and ready to unload by Friday, July 11th, and would really appreciate your prayers for all that will go into this major relocation!

Please also continue to pray for all the great people that God is bringing to us as we begin to form our core team. We will be meeting this coming Saturday, June 28th for a cookout and will soon be meeting regularly every week! Please pray that as we lay the foundation for this new Body of Christ, our focus will remain on Christ and His Kingdom.

As always, I would ask that you pray that my example would reflect Christ, and that my leadership would clearly show that I am His follower.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Thursday, June 19th

A big thank you to all who have been praying about our family's housing situation. In a turn of events that can only be credited to God, we were able to get a house and closed on Monday! We feel blessed to have this home- please pray that our lives would make an impact for Christ in our neighborhood.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." -Hebrews 10:23-24

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Monday, June 16th

Today we close on a house! Please pray that the whole process goes smoothly, and that I would reflect Christ in all I do and say. Please also pray for the family that is selling the house- for a safe move to Dallas and a smooth closing on their new home.

As we begin the week, please pray for our core group. I have been able to meet with several people over the past few days, and have received confirmation of their commitment to the new church. As we begin to meet together informally over the next several weeks, please pray that each of these individuals will begin to discover the unique place they are to have as a part of C3.

Thanks!

Jeff

Tuesday, June 10th

Hallloooo!

Thanks for continuing to pray for Convergence!

-I have several meetings this week and next with people who are interested in partnering with the new church. Some individuals are interested in being "scaffolding" (volunteers from other churches, who will serve temporarily alongside us to train leaders and help staff areas on Sunday mornings as we begin). Others have indicated that they want to be a part of the "core" group, and are exploring where they will serve. Still others represent churches, who desire to help us see that Convergence becomes a new outpost in God's Kingdom. Please pray for these meetings, and especially for the Holy Spirit to guide every conversation.

-My family has found a house, and we would really appreciate your prayers for a smooth closing, and for God's blessing to be on the family that is selling to relocate.

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Saturday, June 7th

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me as I travelled this week. I am now in Houston, and am happy to report that my trip was pretty uneventful.

I would like to ask that you pray for a family that I met on my drive through Arkansas (interesting things always seem to happen to me in Arkansas, but most are stories to save for the Convergence244 blog). They were also heading to Texas- possibly to relocate- but to someplace other than Houston. Please pray that God will bless their socks off during the remainder of their trip, and that He will guide them to where they need to be.

Please continue to pray for my family and I as we are apart for the next several weeks.

Thank you for serving in this way!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Monday, June 2nd

Thanks for visiting the C3 prayer partner's blog!

This week (on Tues.), I am heading down to Houston to get thing ready for our "big" move, and get some more preliminary stuff done.

-I'd be grateful if you would pray for my trip (I'll be driving this time, to take our car down), and also for our family- especially Quinn and Kyra- while I am away from them.

-Please keep praying for our housing situation- God is doing some really cool things in that area! I'm looking forward to telling you how it all works out.

-As always, please pray for the people that will be involved in the core group at Convergence.

- Please continue to pray with us for the right place to rent when we begin to hold public services.

Thanks again!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Friday, May 30th

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:13



"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."
-Brother Lawrence

Thursday, May 29th

This is my final Sunday here in Findlay with our Parkview church family. We are incredibly grateful to God for the opportunity to spend time again with this fantastic group of Christ followers.

- Since I am going down to Houston for a few weeks prior to our "big" move, I am asking that you pray for our family while we are apart, and for my initial travels.

- Although we are still a few months from needing the space, please pray for God to help us find the right place to rent/meet as a church.

- Please pray for the people that are a part of our core group, and for those that will join us over the next few months.

- Please pray for the men who are providing accountability for me, and additional guidance for C3: Ron Richards; Charlie Patchett; Ed Winegar.

- As always, I would be grateful for you to pray that my example is Christ-honoring and authentic.

Thank you!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Monday, May 26th

What a great weekend! Here are some updates on things you have been praying for- we are really celebrating what God is doing!

- Our coffee house event at Springs of Life went really well! Seating was pretty much at capacity most of the evening, and we were able to share lots of great information about Convergence in between music sets from the band. Most individuals took a partner card with them, as well as a bookmark with this blog address on it, so we are praying for more partners to join us in the coming weeks. We also had one individual return a card that night to join us as a prayer partner, and several left small gifts which will completely offset the costs of the material we brought to the event, plus some.

- In the area of our family's relocation: We made an offer on a house last week, and the sellers accepted the offer on Saturday night! Needless to say, we are very excited to have found a place to live! Please keep praying with us for all the remaining elements associated with closing on a house.

Thanks so much for bringing these things to God- I hope you'll join us today in thanking Him!

Saturday, May 24

In just a few hours, we will be at the Springs of Life Coffee House in Findlay for the C3 worship/information event.

Please pray that we will be able to lead people in worship, and that I (Jeff) can communicate the vision of Convergence Church clearly and authentically.

Please pray for those that will attend. Our hope is that people will only respond to our invitation to become C3 partners if there is a genuine interest- it's not about guilt or "obligation"!

Thanks so much for praying!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Wednesday, May 21st

With just a little over 2 weeks until my move, I would like to ask you to pray for my family. I will be in Houston for about 3 weeks or so before our "big move," while the girls finish up school and Tam finishes up her job. I don't like to be away from my family very long, and this will be tough for all of us.

Please continue praying for the event coming up this Saturday at the Springs of Life coffee house here in Findlay. As I've mentioned, it will be part music, and part informational meeting about the new church. Last night's rehearsal went really well, and we are grateful for the amazing friends we have at the Parkview church who have stepped up to help us get things ready.

We are still in the middle of making some pretty big housing decisions. Please keep praying that we will have the wisdom to make the most God-honoring choice.


Thanks for being a C3 prayer partner!

Monday, May 19th

As we start off a new week, here are some ongoing needs that we would be privileged to have you pray about:

- Our focus: Christ. Before anything else, please pray that every leader and core member will clearly show that our love for Christ is what compels us to live each day, and to be a part of planting a new church. I (Jeff) would especially ask that you pray for me- that in my leadership, it is clear that I submit to Jesus and His leadership.

- Our core group. Please pray for everyone who will come along at the beginning of this adventure. (Being a part of a church plant at the beginning is exciting, but it is also a lot of work and a real commitment.)

- New people. This request is HUGE! Even before we have our first "official" meeting in January, we will meet in small groups and serve in the community. Please pray with us that these elements, and things like them, will give us opportunities to connect with people and build real friendships- and hopefully show people something that makes them really curious about us!

Thanks so very much for being a C3 prayer partner! Your ministry is vital to this new church!


"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." -Colossians 4:2

Thursday, May 15

Earlier this week, I mentioned that I had been invited to organize an event at a local bookstore/coffee house that will include worship music and information about the Convergence church plant. That date has been set for May 24th, and a great team of our friends and musicians from the Parkview church have agreed to help us. What a praise!

Please continue to pray with us that this event will glorify God and allow us to share about Convergence with people who may become our partners in this Kingdom work!

We also have major opportunities that are in the works regarding where we will live. Please pray that God's will is done in this area.

Thanks!

Wednesday, May14

Lots of things could be happening today in the area of housing for our family. Please join us in praying for wisdom and direction from our great God! Thanks so much!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Sunday, May 11

As we begin this journey through prayer, please allow me to begin by thanking you. There aren't words to adequately express how grateful I am that you have chosen to partner with us in this most important way. Your decision to pray for C3 is enormous!


- Please pray for Ron this week as he continues to take the lead on important legal issues, such as our non-profit and tax exempt status.

- Pray for the healthy formation of a strong core group over the next few months, and for strength, boldness and conviction for each individual and family that commits to joining this adventure.

- Please join Tamara and I as we pray for wisdom concerning where specifically in the area our family will live.

- I (Jeff) have been invited to organize an event at a local coffee house in Findlay that will be part worship service, part informational meeting about the new church. Please pray that God is glorified and that I can communicate the mission of the new church to people who may become our long-distance partners in the journey!

Again, thanks so much for partnering with us in prayer!