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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December update - Stay Focused!

Hey, I know we are about halfway through December but I still wanted to let you guys know what is going on here in Macon. 

We started our church planting journey in September and have not looked back since then. We have been meeting with a small group of people weekly. Though we have small and simple meetings, we focus on the one thing that matters most; Jesus and how to make him known! I'm proud to say that we have the opportunity to work with the most humble and most giving people. We are very eager to see what the future holds. 

For the last couple of months I have been commuting between our home town and Macon for work but come January my job will be transferring me to Macon so that I can work in the same city I'm called to reach! I'll admit that this dynamic has made it hard because I was not able to engage my city the way I feel I need to. But we made this move not knowing how God would get me a job in Macon. We came to Macon with only a word from the Lord and knowing He is faithful. So I'm glad to tell you all that He is faithful and His grace is sufficient for every situation!

We have had the privilege of meeting some great people in Macon. We have met some amazing pastors who lead amazing churches. We believe we are going to have the opportunity to work alongside great ministries that are doing big things for the Jesus here in Macon, Ga. We often wonder,"God, why do you need us here in Macon if you have great people like this?". Then I remind myself of the 60,000 to 90,000 people who are not involved in a local church here in Bibb County. More than likely that means they don't know Jesus! Don't be fooled friends, America is a major mission ground that needs to be worked. 

We are finally settling in to our new home and our new surroundings. But there is a dangerous temptation to slide into when "new" surrounds you. That is to forget why you are there in the first place. Daily I wake up to remind myself why I am waking up in Macon, Georgia. That is to make Jesus known! I encourage myself with this passage from Philippians;

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

Church even though we have been called into God's family, have been called to enjoy His blessings, we have also been called into His mission. We have been called as ambassadors for Christ to make His appeal known to mankind to be reconciled to God. 

If you are attending a local church and have not found a way to serve and be on mission with your local church than you are missing out on a great adventure. I challenge you to make time to help your church succeed in the city it has been placed. 

If you are not involved in a local church and you live in the Middle Georgia area we would love to talk to you!

And if you live in the Macon area we NEED TO TALK TO YOU!

Contact us at pharlan@vc2online.com.

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Meet Mike and Jamie Aldridge

I want to introduce you to Mike and Jamie Aldridge. These are two dynamic people who have just moved from California to plant a church in Macon, Georgia.  These two people are truly disciples of Jesus and because of that have become friends of ours. 

I can say that after spending time with them, their love for Jesus is contagious and leaves you wanting to know and worship the Lord.

For those of you who are apart of VC2 (Victory Central Church), our heart and vision has always been to plant life giving churches in Central Georgia. We would be foolish though to think that as a church we can take Central Georgia ourselves, which is why we fully believe that God is sending church planters and ministers to Central Georgia to accomplish the will of God in our region. 

I'm asking if you would join me in praying for this couple as they venture out to be obedient to the Lord and seek to establish His kingdom in Macon.

If you have ever thought of joining or supporting a church plant in the Macon area you can connect with Pastor Mike Aldridge on Facebook.

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November Update - Leaning on Promise!

We are settling into month two of our time in Macon. This last month we as a family have encountered many trying situations both emotionally, financially and socially. In the midst of such circumstances though one thing has become apparent. 

We have an enemy, but there is a Savior. 

www.21st-century-christianity.com

The worst thing you can do is go into a battle not prepared or worst not knowing there is a battle. Our battle so far as been an attack on the mind to undermine the plans and promises of God. The enemy likes to use the age old trick he used in the beginning "Did God really say?". 

I look at the vastness of this place the Lord has called us to and feel so ineffective, inadequate, so unprepared, but I hear the Holy Spirit urging me to lean upon promise and not strength. If I lean upon my own strength, that limits the realm of my influence, but when I lean upon promise my possibilities are unlimited. Jesus promised that He would build his church and that He would give us power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."

Jesus has plans for Macon and Middle Georgia that are far bigger than I can imagine or accomplish. Which is why my most powerful tools now are not strategies and tactics but rather scripture, prayer and the Holy Spirit. As I write this I am reminded of Paul's words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare..".

Words of advice I would give any aspiring missionary/church planter, either domestic or abroad, do not naively step out being unaware of the tactics of your enemy. You have one and he wages war against your soul. But meet him on the offensive because he is a defeated foe! 

As a church we believe that the battle is always won in prayer. Ephesians tells us that we battle not against flesh and blood but spirits in the heavenly places. So everyday do battle in the place of prayer by declaring what Jesus has promised us.

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October Update

Well we have done it. We have moved to Macon. With the help of great team members we have been able to finish bringing all of our things from Tennille to Macon. So we thank everyone who made this move possible!

We are still adjusting to our new life. My wife, Sophia, was horrified at what our little apartment looked like when we began moving in because we went from 1500 square feet to 700 square feet. I promised my wife that we would make sense of it and that in time it would all come together. As i have been unpacking though i have realized that not everything is working the way i want it to. Unpacking everything right now is just not possible because we don't have the space. We are already tripping over each other. So several things will be put back in boxes until we get a bigger place.

We sit in Macon, Georgia with a dream in our hearts. Not just for Macon but for all of Middle Georgia. Our dream is to see people come to know Jesus and be changed by his grace. I meet with our team every week full of vision for the future, but realizing that it is not time for most of it. If i were to unpack everything that was in my heart it would make things confusing and hard to navigate. Just like my little apartment we are only unpacking things when we find the right spot for it. So in time we will do the same for the things the Lord has put in our hearts. So I sit with many things still packed away in my spirit waiting for their appropriate time. 

I look at what we are doing and i don't know what it is going to look like. I don't know how God is going to do it. But what I do know is that Jesus is faithful and he said he would build his Church. I just resolve myself to be a faithful servant over his house. 

If you are in the Macon area or looking to move to the Macon area and would like to know more about how you can get involved in seeing Jesus build his church you can email us at pharlan@vc2online.com or visit us online at macon.vc2online.com.  As we always say at VC2 (Victory Central Church) "Together we are stronger".

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