We Have a Church!!

We want to thank everyone who has been praying about our journey to find a church.  It has only been just one year since Josh was formally ordained as a pastor in March of 2013.  Since then, we have been on a roller coaster of seeking the right church that God would have Josh to lead.  Earlier this year, several churches began to actively pursue Josh at the same time from all over the country.  One of those churches was Warsaw Baptist Church in Warsaw, IN.  Josh met with a couple leaders from the church and when he came home I knew that he had been given a burden for this church already.  So, after several meetings and a whole lot of prayer, we all went to Warsaw Baptist on March 2 where Josh preached and formally candidated. We are very happy to report, that on March 9, the church voted unanimously for Josh to be their pastor!  Praise God for the work He is doing in the church and in us!

This is a unique opportunity for our family.  Warsaw Baptist is a small church, with just about 14 members who are ready to bring the gospel to their community. After meeting with the church family last Sunday, it is evident that they love Jesus with their whole hearts and love others more than themselves.  We are all so very excited to grow with this church! Our goal has always been to evangelize the lost and lead the saints to a deeper walk with the Lord.  Even though this church has been around since the 80's, we are coming into a church re-plant situation.  A huge blessing God has given us in this plant, is that we are starting with a physical building and a core of amazing individuals who are committed to making Jesus their life center and, as stated earlier, spreading the gospel in their community!  This is very exciting to us!!

Because of the nature of this call, we are going to need partners in ministry to stand with us. For all of our prayer warriors out there, we have a few immediate needs.  We know that God has called us and He will equip us and provide every need!  Please partner with us as we pray for a house in Warsaw.  We would like to be moved to Warsaw no later than August 1, 2014 so that we have time to settle before the kids start school in the fall.  It's important to us to move there, so that we can begin to build relationships with those in the church and the community.  The second thing we are praying for is a family vehicle for Josh to drive. Currently, he has a single passenger truck that has been a huge blessing from God, but is very difficult when he drives with all three kids in one seat.  Also, as he commutes to Warsaw for now, something with better gas mileage will help tremendously.  Last, but overarching everything, is that God would provide the finances necessary to pay for said house and vehicle as well as living expenses.    He has been faithful to provide for every single one of our needs throughout our lives and we continue to expect Him to meet our needs because He has promised to do so in His way and His timing.  We have seen Him work in miraculous ways, in part because of the prayers of friends and family and in part because His children act upon prompting from the Spirit.  Praying for others allows us to have a part in the work God does in their lives, and we appreciate all of those who partner with us in this way! Every soul we reach with the gospel of Christ can be traced back to your prayers!  Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in Warsaw!

In His Service,
Josh and Melissa
Peter, Bethany, and Chloe