The Highs:
This summer we began 2 new Bible studies. Both were hosted by those who had experienced tremendous hurt because of the actions of those they’d known from previous church experiences. It was encouraging to see God changing hearts from when we first met them, while bringing healing and hope to the spiritually wounded. One host, who just a few months earlier called the streets of Las Vegas home, celebrated their birthday clean and sober for the first time in years and enjoys being able to offer hospitality to others now. Another has shown tremendous growth in grace, even in the midst of personal heartache. Additionally, I'll be giving a neighbor a ride to our church this weekend after her boss finally gave her the weekend off so she could go to the church she'd been praying for (see post from Aug. 7).
The Lows:
In between these reasons for joy we’ve also experienced our share of heartache. Some Christians who have visited our church have decided to worship elsewhere, at least partially because they’re uncomfortable with our homeless outreach. Earlier this summer a man we helped get off the streets and into hospice care lost his battle with cancer. A few weeks later I got word that one of our first members, while doing time for a crime committed before we met him, had abandoned Christianity for Islam. And just weeks ago, the couple whose home our church plant began in – the wife of which came to Christ through our first church plant – filed for divorce and has cut off all communication with the church. All together we’ve had plenty of opportunity to practice Romans 12:15 together: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
New Beginnings:
This fall began a new outreach to UNLV students and the surrounding community called “The Thomas Society.” Named after Doubting Thomas, it welcomes those struggling with their faith, skeptics, and those longing for honest answers to hard questions in a safe context. This approach has earned us the trust of the UNLV Secular Student Alliance (SSA), who actively promoted our first meeting. While our first attendees were all non-Christians from that group, a Christian who dropped in on our last meeting reminded me why there’s such a need for a safe place for doubters and skeptics. His one careless comment (suggesting the “garbage” a student heard at a SSA meeting led to his recent suicide) seriously offended a former officer in that group and jeopardized the reputation of our group. Fortunately the upcoming topics were too enticing for the offended party to give up on us too quickly.
For those already in the church we are beginning to form new discipleship groups with the hope that God uses them to equip our people to minister to others out of an overflow of their own robust faith.
As a planter, this season has solidified my conviction that “Without (Christ), you can do nothing.” I earnestly welcome prayers for the healing of the broken-hearted, the advance of the gospel among the lost in Las Vegas, God’s financial provision for the work here, and the growth in grace of his saints here. Thank you.
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