August 2015 - A Year's Journey

This month is the year mark from when we started our church planting journey. This month last year we announced to all our friends and family that we were moving to Macon, Georgia to plant a church. We packed up our entire life and moved to Macon only seeking to obey what we felt God calling us to do. It would be too long of a post to tell you all that has happened but It is a journey that is still beginning. 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4 ESV) 

I look back and it doesn't feel like it has been a year but it has. I'm here to say that the last year has been more about us than Macon, Georgia. The last year has not been easy by any stretch of the imagination. Every trial and difficulty has forced me to examine what I believe and my faith in what God is able to do. He has been faithful to complete and perfect the deposit he has put within us. 

Brave people have embarked on this journey with us. I am so thankful for all the people that surround us and can't wait to see what he continues to do through each of us and in us.

There have been many times I thought there was nothing happening on the surface. I learned that many times we totally discount what Holy Spirit is doing behind the scenes because we put so much stock in what we are doing, or that we need to be doing something in order for lives to be changed. I learned on many occasions that I really was not needed to change people's lives but rather I have the privilege to be involved in this great story of redemption.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV)

The way I feel now compared to last year is fragile. That is the only word that comes to mind at the moment. That in and of myself I am weak, but in Christ I am made strong. I was always this way but now I know it. I understand now as the above scripture says that "the surpassing power belongs to God and not us." I don't know if many people will admit it, especially us young people, but we think alot of what we think WE can do. Not really understanding that what is really great is the Holy Spirit within.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38)

As we move forward we are contending for the city of Macon. As of 2013 the population of Macon was 89,981. The population of Bibb county was 154,721. We believe there is a great harvest in Macon, Georgia and that great and glorious days await this city. 

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Weapons of Warfare

We all fight different things in life and we spend a lot of energy doing it. For you it might be a person who opposes you, an impossible situation, or a lingering feeling (depression, emptiness, fear...). Everyday we try to pull together enough strength to fight the battle that day. But by the end of the day we probably feel beaten up, destroyed and near death (hopefully only figuratively).

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Consider the verses in Ephesians, have you ever thought that you may be fighting your battles in the wrong place? Try fighting your battle in a new arena.

Ephesians says you are not fighting those people or circumstances but powers in heavenly places, spiritual forces of evil. Those comic powers shroud themselves in our circumstances, family/friends, and even pit our emotions against us. So whatever you see in the natural is only the result of the activity in the spiritual.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV

The place of prayer is sometimes a very underutilized place of battle. From the place of prayer we have access to power to destroy spiritual strongholds in our lives, families, workplaces, and cities.

My encouragement is do not be on the defensive today, but in prayer be on the offensive. See your battles for what they really are, spiritual forces that seek to oppose you, slow you down, distract you. You my friend, in Christ, are a child of God, you are seated in a place of victory with him. You have authority in Christ to speak life and destroy darkness!

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." 2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

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Who's Lacking?

I recently heard a pastor say, "Whatever you don't like about your church is what you probably don't like about yourself." He implied that where-ever you feel your church is lacking is probably where you are lacking.

Lately, I have spent several hours reading everything I can about church planting to see how to be successful here in Macon. The more I read though the more I feel Holy Spirit bring my attention back to ME! The more I search to inquire about our church's development and growth the more the Lord questions me about my development and growth. The more he inquires about my prayer, my worship, and my relationship with him.

My pastor and mentor, Chad Waller, often says that you cannot lead where you have not been. In our leadership development at VC2, before we talk about leading other people, we discuss how to lead ourselves. Before you can lead people to drink from the fountain of grace, you must discipline yourself to drink from the fountain of grace.

As a leader, the key to the success of your ministry or organization depends on your personal development. The time you spend in the word, prayer and worship is fundamental to the development of your ministry. The missing dynamic that you want in your organization must first be found in you, the leader.

Just take a second and jot down what you feel is lacking in your ministry, business, or even family. Then honestly ask yourself if you are an example of those things in you church, business and family. If you're not, then you have found what was truly lacking all along.....LEADERSHIP!

So take that list of what is lacking and simply put your name at the top of that list and make it your goal to be a model of those things. Ask Holy Spirit to work those things in you so you can lead others in those areas!

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Sowing into the Nations

Several years ago I had the immense pleasure of serving churches in the Philippines for close to five months. I was able to go with my dear friend Pastor Keith Lindsey and serve as a missions intern and learn about cross cultural ministry.

The time I spent there radically changed my life, I made friends there that I will never forget and met many godly men and women who serve and sacrifice in ways I deeply admire.

I have for several years tried to return to the Philippines but have not been able to. My friend, Pastor Keith Lindsey, Director of Global Purpose Missions, is returning to the Philippines in the next couple of days. He is returning to encourage church leaders and minister at a local youth conference that reaches out to young people all across the Philippines.

I've learned in this life that we all have a part to play in missions and it boils down to this;

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

We can send or we can go!

Would you consider sowing into the nation of the Philippines?

Give online through Gofundme.

OR

You can also mail donations to:
Global Purpose Missions
PO Box 442
Tennille, Ga 31089

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Church planting changes lives, even your own!

We are in our eighth month as a church plant. Tons of emotions could describe the journey so far. I could talk about the exciting encounters with various individuals around Macon. I could talk about the heartbreaking stories of why this world is in need of redemption and freedom. I could share stories of frustration and disappointment. There is one thing I can confidently say though, that church planting has radically changed my view of ministry and life; that church planting has changed me!

My pastor, Chad Waller, always told me that things would look differently when I got in the "driver's seat", and oh was he right! When you get put in a position to see life from many vantage points, you see how differently you would make decisions. Life suddenly become less black and white but becomes more about compassion, love, and grace. Does God's truth remain true you ask? Yes! That's whats beautiful about it all, that while life becomes increasingly gray and uncertain we are able to share with people the unchanging truth of Christ and his gospel.

There are so many situations that I get faced with and the only thing i know to say is "Christ Is Able"! I haven't scratched the surface of the complexity of life's troubles but i am becoming increasingly aware that people need a real savior with real power! They don't need pretty messages, they need power!

I have become increasingly comfortable not knowing what the "right" answer is. I have resolved myself to having the same attitude the Apostle Paul had in Corinthians:

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:3

Pray for us here in Macon. We believe that the Gospel will yield a great harvest here, we just need the boldness to preach it. We need the compassion to reach out. We need to be able to see beyond ourselves.

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January - Foundations

Hey guys its a New Year. It means new memories, new friends, new journeys among so many other things. 

We have put the final nail in our move to Macon. My job has transferred me to a branch in Macon and the move is real now. It has been great being around my team more and meeting tons of new people. Everyday proves to be an adventure! If I were to tell you all the things that were happening I wouldn't have enough space or time! 

What is encouraging though is that we have a team of people who clearly understand what our goals and aims are and we have set a plan of action in place to be successful this year. Jesus spent so much time with his disciples with the intention of leaving the ministry in their hands. He knew that after he left that the 12 would be left to continue what He started. 

Not that I am planning on leaving, but we have determined to spend this next year with our team, and anyone else the Lord brings us, so that we can ensure we are building on a firm foundation. 

Laying this foundation is vitally important in the life and success of our church. Read the following passage the Lord has given us as we begin to set the stage for what God wants to do through VC2-Macon.

"Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. ” Luke 6:46-48 ESV

And this we will do my friends. We are going to dig deep into God's word, in prayer, in giving in order to ensure we are building on a firm foundation. And that foundation is none other than Jesus!

Pray for us as we begin to lay a foundation that is deep. We all know that before any structure goes up it must have a deep foundation. We are looking to dig a deep foundation because we are looking to have a big impact. We aren't only praying for ourselves but for every Church that is preaching Jesus. We pray for their success and value their future friendship. 

If you are interesting in hearing more about this church plant or other church plants in middle Georgia email us at pharlan@vc2online.com. 

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