we are back in reno. we got in last night around 10 pm. vaelyn did amazing on the trip. my main concern going to pittsburgh was how she was going to do. thanks for all your prayers.
the trip went well. i was able to meet everyone who i would be working with, what a great group of people. for all of those wondering. Jesus is alive and moving in pittsburgh.
i led music for the oakland northway campus in downtown pittsburgh it was good. the musicians were very talented and had great hearts for God. one of the things i noticed most about those that were serving in pittsburgh was that they all seemed to be serving in areas where their passion were. i was inspired. i didn’t see people just serving out of obligation but out of ownership. it was very cool.
star wars sermon: i was surprised of how i responded to the sermon being beamed in.(incase you didn’t know this is a campus church where the sermon is on a screen.) when i first heard about these types of services i was enraged and irritated that churches would do it, but i have to tell you my heart was humbled. sitting there watching the sermon hearing people respond i thought two things.
one: “this is our culture” we are a media culture. thats how we learn or at least i do. movies, tv, internet, radio. it hit me,”wow this works” hearing the people respond to the questions and the jokes. trippy!
two: i thought” PBS.” i’ve been watching PBS with vaelyn lately. this style of teaching is how we’ve been trained. as the tv asks us questions and interacts with us. wow!
i really like the opportunity the sermon gives the campus pastors to focus on the people too. because the pastor isn’t always giving the sunday morning sermon he has the energy to focus on the people. and when one campus pastor teaches at the main church the other campus pastor goes to his campus and hangs out with the people, so the campus gets to hang out with the guy on the screen. very cool concept. i like the flow.
seeing the campus for myself was good. meeting the team was great, getting to hang out with my good friend mike was encouraging. after months of talking over the phone about everything it was comforting to see it in person.
we asked questions worked through red flags. it was a good trip.
oh ya the culture of the city was very cool. not only was it cool being there during super bowl weekend and seeing and feeling the energy from the steeler fans but there is such a great art community there. i really feel like God could use natalie and i with our gifts not only to reach that community but to be apart.
we will be hearing from the church this week. so we will know soon. as for us we are both in agreement that if they want us we feel called to be apart of the mission there in pittsburgh.
just FYI. this whole process, these last 6 months of praying and conversations, i have to tell you i see God’s hands all over this thing. from the humbling to the excitement to the doubts, to the fears, all the emotions that come with life contemplating change such as this. God is in it.
if this is what God has for us it will be an awesome adventure for Him. if its not what God has for us i’m sure He will open another opportunity. God is so good. we’ve learned so much about ourselves in this process. even though its been hard at times its been very revealing.
please keep us in your prayers. even though we see God’s leading in this opportunity it is still hard to think about leaving our community here in reno. our relationships that we have acquired here in reno and the surrounding area are very valuable to us. leaving them will be the hardest part about the journey if pittsburgh is where He takes us? thanks again for being apart of our story.
love,
chris
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