One Year at One Church

It is hard for me to believe that it was more than a year ago, on March 22, 2022 that we were loading up in the RV to drive down to Hatteras Island to start the ministry God gave us.  We wanted to take time today to update you on what has happened so far, and some goals we have for the future, as well as share some memories along the way. 

In some of the trainings I have attended, they have talked often about “measurables.”  How do you measure growth in a church plant?  Is it people attending? When you’re a pre-launch plant that isn’t having service this isn’t really helpful.  So for our measurables for the first year, we decided to look back at some of our goals and prayer requests, and see what has been met.

We prayed for those open to a church plant.  God came through in a bigger way than we imagined.  He provided Ms. Betsy, who encouraged us along the way, and provided a much needed winter rental.  He provided Ms. Stephanie, who loved our children like her own grandchildren, and made us smile every time we went for pizza.  He provided two ladies who are doing weekly Bible Study with Sharon.  He provided the Crum family, who are great friends, and have become core team members for our church plant, helping with things like worship, promotion, planning, and the kids busy box.

We prayed for NAMB endorsement.  Not only were we endorsed, but God’s timing was so perfect, that with the formation of the SendNC NAMB partnership, we were given benefits beyond those we could even imagine.  For the first year of our plant, we have health insurance, online/text giving, a website, and many other things.

From the beginning housing was big on our prayer list.  I am sure it will be there again in the future, but God always came through at the perfect time.  As we started to meet people on the island, we were offered a winter rental.  The RV broke down the last week we were supposed to stay in it, and hasn’t left the island yet! (We’re so thankful for Barry Crum letting us store it on his property.  If you are a Ford mechanic and might be able to help us get it running, please contact us ASAP!) We were able to move straight from our winter housing into a 1 year lease with the possibility to extend it after the year, and I am writing this from that unit, sitting comfortably in my furniture, with our cat back in our house.

In March, we officially launched a Bible Study, and a couple that we had not ever met showed up the very first time we met!  They have been with us ever since, even through our moves to different locations as we try to find a place to call our own.

One of our personal goals as a family was for the boys to acclimate to life here on Hatteras Island.  Elijah played little league this season and we enjoyed going to all the games.  Jeremiah made friends during the time at the field as well. We have met several homeschool families and, as I write this, the boys are practicing baseball skills on the rec center field with several of those friends.  Jeremiah loves searching for shells and seaglass on our beach walks, and has become the shell expert when we are visiting partner churches. 

I would say that One Church has definitely grown if you count our answered prayer requests as measurables!

So as we move forward into the next year, we continue to need your prayers and support. Here are just a few of the things we can think of right now that we are looking forward to:

One Church needs a place to meet.  As you have heard me talk about over and over, space is a priority here on Hatteras Island.  Avon is a village that does not have a community center or a school.  Most of the businesses are small, and don’t have the space to allow us to meet in their off hours.  We are currently meeting in a local park, and that is a great location when the weather is good, but it doesn’t allow the space for kids ministry, or a place out of the wind.  We know that God has plans, so we are trying to wait to see what they are, but ask you to join us in praying for God to provide a place that One Church can call home.

Our boys have had to go without a lot of things during our time in ministry.  I don’t say that because I am upset by it, but it is just a reality.  Jeremiah was really enjoying piano lessons in Jordan.  The piano we had did not belong to us and we had to leave it when we left.  We wouldn’t be able to get a real piano up the stairs of a beach house anyhow!  Our prayer is that God will provide the extra funds needed for us to buy a portable electric piano with weighted keys, so that we can start searching for an instructor here so that Jeremiah can continue his lessons.

The last request I as that you join us in praying for is patience.  Patience to wait upon God’s timing, and a reminder that this is His church plant.  Pray that we stay the course with our eyes fixed upon Jesus.  That we don’t get discouraged when it’s not going the way we think, or growing like we want it to.  His plans are best, and we want this to play out His way. 

We are so thankful to you for joining us on this journey.  As KJ told someone last night, “we’re about Jesus” and we're thankful you are too.