We officially started the new work with All Souls Anglican Mission on September 1st. We are meeting on Wednesday nights in a beautiful room on the back of their old barn. It has a loft and space for 15 or so for a home house church. Week one we had 6 of us, but jumped up to 10 the next week when we did a house blessing at our condo. This last week we began a short Bible study on the "25 Benchmarks of a Follower of Christ" starting the evening with pear cobbler and ending with Compline.
The first few days after we arrived in Indy in mid-August, it "happened" that Bishop +Ron Jackson was able to visit with us and other Anglican leaders in mid-Indiana. At a dinner gathering at Joe & Mickie Murphy's home we enjoyed great fellowship and a powerful time of prayer and eucharist. It was the perfect way to begin our new work- having our Bishop laying hands and praying for this new season of ministry. God's timing is perfect.
Currently we are getting some of the business side of the work in order, including updating the Bylaws and web presence, seeing how most people are finding new churches online before they go and visit. We are following leads and meeting new contacts. In this start up phase, we will not be meeting on Sundays until we can develop a more critical mass. This has allowed me to respond to a request from Bishop +Ron to assist him in promoting, resourcing and developing new work in the Diocese of the Great Lakes. My official title (I'm not much into titles) is Canon for Church Planting. This means I hope to visit several parishes around the diocese challenging them to think about raising up church planters or even birthing new works out of their congregations, or at least supporting in prayer and financially those who are doing this work in their area of the diocese. There is $1000/month contribution from the ADGL starting in Jan. to allow me to do this at this time. This is quite an answer to prayer.
Deb is doing well. She in many ways has made some significant sacrifices of leaving friends and a job she loved to come with me to Indy. She is asking to Lord to open up new opportunities for her here but at times life is a little slow and lonely. A final personal note. I had shoulder surgery just before we left Michigan. Very much a blessing and have found relief from a lot of discomfort from impingement problems and a torn tendon. I have experienced more recovery pain than I anticipated, particularly at night. Pray for a full restoration of motion and relief from the night pain when lying down.
Excited about what God is doing! Dave+ & Deb
