Building something(s) new.

In a few days we (Bells) will have lived in Arvada for one month. During that span, we have done everything we can and prioritized finding healthy pace and rhythms. Here are a few things we have been building and preparing for.

1. The school year. Our kids are attending a small school a few minutes from where we live. This comes with a required amount of emotion when ones enters a brand new space where other participants have already established themselves. As much as established communities say, "welcome" it still always feels like we are an interruption to their lives (whether it is true or not). Our kids are handling this like PROs. Below is a photo of Becky and I praying with a few parents after the teacher meeting event and a photo before first day drop off.

2. A Launch team. This is a technical title for the group of people who are committing to live in Arvada, CO and invest in building a new church with us. While some lines of thinking say to build the largest team possible, our vision is much more connected to slow growth and quality over speed. Have no doubt, God is definitely providing.

You already know about the Garners, Bells, and Broadbooks. Other (committed) launch team members need prayer as they look at the realistic details of uprooting from their current church homes, area of residence, and making their decision public.

Truth is, we are not just building a team, we are building an extended family. Too often the desire to accomplish tasks (together) can overshadow the need to simply KNOW and BE KNOWN by a group of people. Some portions of building a launch team are sharing meals, laughter, and tears together.

Are you sensing a call to join the launch team?

If so, you are inviting to have a zero-pressure conversation with us.

Believe me, we don't want you to join us until after a few conversations and whole lot of prayer. Email Jared and write "launch team" in the subject line to get the conversation going.

3. A spending plan. While many organizations refer to this as a budget, we are calling it a spending plan. This may sound like linguistic semantics but there is purpose behind it. We want to be purposeful with our plan to invest the resources God is trusting us with. The spending plan will eventually have a public version for supporters (prayer team) and sustainers (financial investors) to view and ask questions about. For the most current updates on fundraising, check out our fundraising page.

4. A network. Building a network is a bit like building a life. It is the culmination of coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, and strangers. Calling this is a network simply means we are praying for God to put people in our paths who we can be a blessing too. This occurs by getting out of our houses and our comfort zones. I (Jared) am meeting people at the gym, a church we have attended, and at the disc golf parks. Other launch team members are connecting with strangers at the community pools, their kids' school, and coffee shops.

Pray for us to BE God's Church,

not to invite people to attend church.

I'll unpack that a little. We are not building a church, we ARE God's church. Inviting people to join a community requires time spent and trust built. As missionaries, our focus is less about bringing people IN (to church) and more about being SENT out (as God's Church).

We believe any group of people, radically living out the values and habits of a Jesus follower, in healthy community, will never have enough space for the people who want to be a part of it.

Thank you for being part of building something new.

We dream, we pray, we rest, and repeat.

- Jared

If you have not already, consider signing up for our bi-weekly updates.

If you have not already, consider contributing financially.