MISSION TO STONEY CREEK OCTOBER UPDATE

After months of prayer, Lindsay and I decided it’s time to list our home and start looking for a new one in Stoney Creek. We believe God is calling us to live in the heart of Stoney Creek, close to friends and (soon-to-be) neighbours. This is where we hope to live for years to come, and to see God plant and grow a church and a community that loves and lives the gospel of Jesus. 

Needless to say, this has been a painful decision (perhaps the hardest yet), but our family is learning to trust and obey day by day. A number of times I stood in the Rana living room and I stared at a C.S. Lewis quote hanging on their living room wall: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” We believe this. Church family, thanks for continuing to pray for us, as well as those who reached out with help and with encouragement. We don’t know what the next few months will hold, but we hope our house sells quickly and that we can find the right home to move into… perhaps shortly into the new year.

A couple more updates… We are excited to lead a New City intermission group in the heart of Stoney Creek this ministry season. Jeremy and Michaella Kruizinga will co-lead with us. This group is open to all, but there will be an emphasis on Mission to Stoney Creek: the place and the people of this place, what God is calling us to do, and what a new church that embodies the gospel might look like! Pray for this group and for those who’ve signed up that this will be formative and life-giving! A few Christians from the neighborhood might join as well. 🙂 

Finally, Lindsay and I are heading down for a church planting conference in Florida. Spanish River Church is a PCA church that trains and gives financially to new church plants. Going there is like a rite of passage for new and existing church planters. Plus, they invited us to interview in order to consider giving to us at the end of conference! Pray for God’s favour and for the kids (and their grandparents) to survive while Lindsay and I are away over Thanksgiving weekend 😉

Much love in Christ.
Phil & Lindsay