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Sending Capacity

mission Several years ago I heard David Platt say that we need to measure our churches by our SENDING capacity and not our SEATING capacity. I remember thinking – AMEN, I love that! Yet, as a church planter who over the last few months has sent out 10 people from a core group of 25 – I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t confess that it doesn’t sound as good to me as it once did.

I remember meeting with one of our guys who was soon moving away. As he left the room for a moment, Brandon, who I am training to be a disciple maker, looked at me and said these words…

”Man, Buff, we are sending more than we are keeping. How are we going to plant a church if everyone is leaving?”

This was a sobering question, but I praise the Holy Spirit for granting me wisdom and words for just the answer to a young disciple and leader in our Grace Falls Church. I said that we better get used to it if we are going to be on mission with God and be the Church that God is calling us to be. His question led us to an incredible hour-long conversation and teaching that I am still seeing fruit from today.

I love the text message I received just the other day from Brandon as he says:

“We’ve had a great week on mission! Had Ian over for dinner, took Adam out to dinner and got to speak the Gospel into his life, had our 5th grade neighbor over to hang…love what God is doing!”

A couple days later…

“Happy Resurrection Day! I am praying this morning. We recognized an area of unbelief in my mom and spoke the Gospel into her life this morning. The Spirit is moving!”

God encouraged me in these words and the lives of those we have here on this journey.

As a church, we have been excited to send out Ashley, Joseph, Jim, Donna, Chris, Gen, Robyn, Raafat, Hoda, and Shelby out to be His missionaries. They are going to places like St. Pete, Tampa, Holiday, Riverview, and Africa. They are going with an understanding that they are sent by God to be His missionary servants to the people God puts them with.

There hasn’t been a week that goes by that someone of our Grace Falls family doesn’t hear from one of them and the ways that God is using them in the lives of others. This is what the CHURCH is all about and why I am excited to be on this journey. Brandon and Andrea living on mission are an example for the rest of the church who are trying to BE GOOD NEWS here in New Jersey.

We had an Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday and we encouraged all of our people to pray and asked who they saw God working in through their relationships and invite those people to come and be apart. We had 47 adults, with more than 20 kids, attend because one of our people had been investing in them.

I also challenged our folks to host and connect them with others in our family and to watch what God does. You see, we believe that HOSPITALITY and FRIENDSHIP are often the quickest paths to where believers and non-believers can experience God together.

We are going through a key study that will help lay a foundation of who we are as a church over the next several weeks. Please pray for us as we do this. Pray that God will speak clearly, our people will obey instantly, and God will be glorified in all we do.

Focusing On God - May 1-7

names-of-god-wordleJoin us as we focus on praying the Names and Attributes of God during the month of May.
FR, 5/1: Focus on the truth that GOD IS JEHOVAH, I Am Who I Am.

Read [biblegateway passage="Exodus 3:13-15" display="Exodus 3:13-15"]

SA, 5/2, Focus on the truth that GOD IS JEHOVAH-M’KAD-DESH, the God who sanctifies.

Read [biblegateway passage="Leviticus 20:7" display="Leviticus 20:7"]

SU, 5/3, Focus on the truth that GOD IS INFINITE. He has no beginning, no end, and no limits.

Read [biblegateway passage="Romans 11:33" display="Romans 11:33"]

MO, 5/4, Focus on the truth that GOD IS OMNIPOTENT, all-powerful.

Read [biblegateway passage="Jeremiah 32:17-18, 26-27" display="Jeremiah 32:17-18, 26-27"]

TU, 5/5, Focus on the truth that GOD IS GOOD.

Read [biblegateway passage="Psalm 119:65-72" display="Psalm 119:65-72"]

WE, 5/6, Focus on the truth that GOD IS LOVE.

Read [biblegateway passage="1 John 4:7-10" display="1 John 4:7-10"]

TH, 5/7, Remember GOD IS JEHOVAH-JIREH, The God who provides.

Read [biblegateway passage="Genesis 22:9-14" display="Genesis 22:9-14"]

Earth Day 2015

When the Grace Falls family comes together on a Sunday, we call that our Gathering, when we unite to meet people within our community, we call that our Gathering On the Go! On Sunday, April 26, we gathered on the go by setting up a booth at the local Earth Day Festival, sponsored by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA). Last year, our first spring in Atlantic County, we quickly learned that Earth Day is a huge celebration in this area as people are eager to get out of their homes and enjoy the great outdoors after the long winter months. At that 2014 festival, we realized we didn't want to be spectators any longer, we wanted to be a part of the experience!

Taking a blind step of faith, we registered for a booth without knowing what we would do…. Maybe give away snow cones from our newly donated snow cone machine?! No, God had other plans for that booth. Just days before the deadline, we had a guest come to visit from Albertville, Alabama. John Penney is a farmer and suggested that we teach people to make Seed Bombs!

John hit the nail on the head with that idea, because Seed Bombs were a huge hit. We had kids lined up for hours! Children and adults eagerly rolled soil into a firmly packed ball, poked a hole in the center of the ball, then seeds were dropped into the hole, then they added a little more soil to cover the seeds, making a Seed Bomb! By posting a photo on social media participants also had the opportunity to win a prize.

For the past eight weeks we have been learning how to become an incarnate community. This was a great way to practice sharing the love and light of Jesus.

View the entire album on Flickr

[flickr_set id="72157651757211817"]

Earth Day - Gathering On The Go!

Earth Day This Sunday, April 26, we are Gathering On the Go! We will not meet at the building, but will interact with our community by serving at the annual Atlantic County Earth Day Festival.

The festival is from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Environmental Park located at 6700 Delilah Road in Egg Harbor Township. There will be lots of free, fun and educational activities for everyone with over 100 vendors, crafters and exhibitors.

Meet at the festival, rain or shine at 6700 Delilah Road in Egg Harbor Township. NOTE: If you would like to ride with Pastor Buff, meet at his house at 9:10 am on Sunday.

Our Seed Bomb table will be located in the grass across from the playground. Park in the general parking area and walk up to the festival or take a jitney to area 15. Dress comfortably and be prepared to play in a little bit of dirt! Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Easter Egg Hunt 2015

Approximately 48 adults and 20 children attended the 2015 Easter Egg Hunt. We had neighbors from two households attend merely from seeing a sign in the yard. Jeddi and Judah invited friends from school, and families who attend Grace Falls were joined by their friends and families. Children enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt, a visit from the Easter Bunny who led the Hokey-Pokey dance to get everyone warmed up on the beautiful 33 degree morning. Children who found an egg with a face on it redeemed that special egg for a prize!

We then sat down to enjoy a hot dog/hamburger lunch, which provided an opportunity to get to know our new friends! The Lord was glorified and He blessed this opportunity to build a bridge of friendship in our community.

View the entire album on Flickr

[flickr_set id="72157651628388976"]