Our New Home!

Well, within 4.5 hours of doubting and faithlessness on our end, God heard our prayers and not only gave us a new house, but we also had our things moved in! 
It's a singlewide in York, SC.  It is an area with lots of poverty, but the home is nice and owned by a very laid-back, sweet couple who live two houses down.  Our back yard butts up against their horse pasture.  We'll post photos when possible.
Only the Lord could give us a home when we have no job, so we are grateful for God's provision and excited to see how he works here.  It's in an area that we never considered (long story how we got there), but the area is ripe for harvest - pray with us that as we preach and live the gospel here, God will draw people to himself and His name would be magnified there!

Thank you for your faithful prayers.

Hello from North Carolina!

The Lord has been gracious by getting us here safely.  We've been here since Wednesday and have spent most of our time in the car getting familiar with the area(s).  We have two days to find a place to call home.  We have decided to live closer to Charlotte where school is.  We've also decided that we will check out WellSpring Church in Charlotte this Weekend (for those familiar with the Acts 29 church planting network- it's a four year old church plant looking for church planters to disciple and send out!). 
We'll update everyone with more information, but just wanted to let ya'll know where we will be concentrating our search and to ask for your prayers that we would trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledging him, knowing that he will direct our paths.  We will be praying the same for all of you.

Love you guys.

Seek God; Make plans; Follow Jesus!

There seems to be a popular unbiblical belief that if you are seeking and trusting God's will and promises, then everything you plan to do, or everything you attempt to do, will "succeed" or will go the way you have planned it.  If there is something you feel the Lord is leading you to do, please don't let this wrong belief hinder you.  Seek the Lord; Make plans; Go do; then let the Spirit of Jesus lead you.

The apostle Paul continually sought the Lord.  He was continually striving to 'test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2b) And yet numerous times we see Paul planning something, or attempting something that ends up not being God's will.  Yet every time, Paul is faithful to following where the Lord would have him go whether it is in align with Paul's plans or not.  What hope can all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Treasure find in this!

For example: (Acts 16:6-10 ESV)
"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."


Another example:  (2 Corinthians 1:15-24 ESV)

"Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith."

I encourage everyone who thinks that God may be leading them somewhere to first set their hearts on diligently seeking God and then go do something.  Don't let the fear of man keep you from trusting in God's sovereignty and guidance. 

We can trust God when he promises in Proverbs 3:5-7:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil."

"Many are the plans in the heart of a man; but it's the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21)

So seek God, make plans, and then follow Jesus where ever he opens for you to go.  If you get somewhere and things happen the way you thought, trust that God has you there to be a witness and to make disciples.  If you get somewhere and things don't happen the way you thought, trust that God has you there to be a witness and to make disciples.    If you never make it to where you attempt to go, but end up somewhere else, trust that God has you there to be a witness and to make disciples.

We love all of you!

As Megan and I continue to seek the Lord, and desire to do so even more, we are constantly reminded of how much we love all of you and are loved by you.  We are so grateful for your love for Christ and all the saints because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We love you and continue to pray for you all.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.  May he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

May have found housing!

Last night I was looking online (mainly craigslist) for housing.  I was really discouraged and felt doubt creeping in that God wasn't going to provide.  I turned off the laptop and prayed; just a simple prayer- "Lord I'm doubting.  Grant me repentance.  I don't think I'm testing you by asking that you show me that you will provide, so please help my unbelief."

Now up until now, I've had a few certain things in mind when it comes to housing (up to this point I hadn't seen anything that fit the bill):
1.) That it would be a 2 bedroom mobile home;
2.) That it would be in Lenoir, NC;
3.) That it would be in the northern part of the city;
4.) That it would be a six month lease;
5.) That it wouldn't be a lot of money (had in mind $400-$500 a month);
5 1/2.) As a little side, I've always wanted to live up on a mountain with a driveway that went up to the house

So after praying, Megan came into the room and I told her that I had been doubting and she prayed with me.  A few minutes later I went back online and onto Craigslist, forgetting about my doubting.  Here is how he answered the prayers:

-At the exact time I had asked him to show me that he would provide, a new listing was put on Craigslist
-It is a 2 bedroom mobile home
-It is in the norther part of Lenoir, NC
-The landlord is asking specifically for a 6-month lease
-It's $425 a month!
-And to top it all off, it is on top of a little hill with a driveway leading up to it.

So I contacted the landlord immediately (after praising God) and he responded immediately and sent me an application.  We are going to send the application to him today.

Please pray that God's will will be done.  We will be fine either way, knowing that God will provide for us.  This was a sweet reminder that he hears our prayers, that he will provide, and yes, he may even give us exactly what we had in mind.

Love you guys!

Meeting tonight - possible partners!

Megan and I will be meeting tonight with a few friends to discuss them possibly joining us for the work in Appalachia.  Please pray for wisdom and discernment for all parties.

A Sweet Reminder of How Great Our God Is!

We are continually thankful for your prayers. The Lord has been pleased to give us such joy and peace. May he sustain it throughout today!

The following Psalm was a great encouragement to me this morning. He steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 111

Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!


May the Lord bless all of you today with an amazing love and joy in Christ!

Satan knows where to attack

He can't destroy our relationship with God because Christ has secured us as children, but the enemy is ready to pounce on the next great relationship: Our Marriages. Pray for humility and grace as we sense his presence and our sins.

Please pray for us!

These past couple of days have been a struggle. Many temptations to not put our trust and hope in God have been getting in the way of faith in God's promises. Especially me, Bill. I have been doubting that God will provide for tuition and housing. I have been questioning whether or not to even attend seminary, when the Appalachian people don't need or care to have a seminary graduate. I have been struggling with not getting a "job" that promises a paycheck, but only going to school, advocating for the church overseas and ministering to the church and people of Appalachia and trusting God to provide. School loans are not helping this. All I have to do is circle accept and every need to trust God will vanish.

Please pray that we don't stumble and fall back into unbelief, doubt, and into our familiar American lifestyle. When I set my heart and mind on things above God is gracious to give me the faith I need, but once I start thinking and trying to figure things out on my own faith vanishes and anxiety creeps in.

All this is resulting in a lack of love, compassion, and grace toward my wife and children.

Please pray for us! Praise God that he is faithful even when we are faithless!

The Gospel for Appalachia

Courtesy of the late 'Internet Monk,' Mike Spencer:

Read about Appalachia and the Gospel in this 3-part post:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

The Poorest of the Poor in America-

We all can conjure up the image of the poor third-world children and their parents, dirty and hungry. We can all imagine the poor missionaries in India trying to survive everyday on little to no food, water, and housing. But there's another group of people who seem to have been neglected right here in the United States. They do not dwell in urban areas where people and resources are plentiful; they live in the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

These are the poorest of the poor in our nation, and overall, they are being neglected.
Among these people are brothers and sisters who lack solid, Christ-centered, Gospel teaching and living. These brothers and sisters lack food, sanitation, healthcare, and safe housing.

We are praying that the Lord of the Harvest would send laborers into this field, both to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in Appalachia and to love and build up his church.

Is this where we are called? Jesus commanded his disciples to pray for laborers and then sent them out.

May the gospel reign among this hardened people! May his church be diligent to love them.

Lukewarm and Loving It!

Please take time to listen to this.