Surviving the Economy

Surviving the Economy - Auto Edition

Earlier this month we began a series of events to help Las Vegas locals weather the economic storm called "Surviving the Economy." These gatherings combine instruction from different experts with Do It Yourself training to help reduce the cost of living for folks in a city where many are living on the verge of food insecurity and/or homelessness. Many people in these situations live close to where the new church meets for worship. Our first installment (pictured above) was hosted by an auto shop owner and friend of our church. Our host shared his decades of experience to teach folks how a repair shop can take advantage of you if you're not careful, how to avoid being ripped off, and even how to do some of our own service and repairs ourselves to avoid costly repairs down the road.

Future events will focus on basic home repairs, preparing quick and easy yet healthy meals on a budget, extreme couponing, and basic financial principles that most people never learn or know how to apply. In the process we're meeting many others who had never heard of our church but now are excited for what we want to do in the city or want to join us in it. Please pray for the relationships that would develop from this endeavor - that as real felt needs are met God would allow us to minister to the deeper needs of our community. Please pray also that God would supply our financial needs - as some donors have come to the end of their financial commitment - while we trust God to raise up others to supply what is needed to finish out the year.

Building Momentum

A few of the families that form the core of the new church.

We're beginning to feel a sense of building momentum with the new church. Here's a snapshot of some of the recent developments:

• At a recent service of the new church I was looking around the room and it actually felt "full," with about 1/4 of the room being "new" people.
• Being involved with local "MeetUp" groups is beginning to generate interest in the Church. One decided to join us for a gathering the day after we met and immediately felt welcomed by the folks there. Another plans to bring their kids to check out our original worship site next week. 
• One family in our church recently demonstrated what they're learning about loving their neighbor by opening up their home to a disabled veteran trying to get off the welfare system. 
• God is changing my heart as well - granting me peace on those weeks when 90% of the church is out of town on the same day. 
• God is working through people's gifts of hospitality. This weekend's pool party (pictured below) brought together 9 families - 4 of which don't yet know the grace offered in Christ - 3 of which had just moved to Vegas in the past month. God is transforming what were total strangers a few months ago into a community where people can experience the gospel as it is lived out before them.