By Amanda Daniel
“How is the church doing?” This is a question I receive a lot from friends, family, and fellow ministers. This is the hardest question to answer because I never know to what depth they want an answer. Do they want to know numbers? Money? Leadership potential? Vision accomplishment? Recently, I sat with Nikki and the mission vision of our second Missional Community came to light. I have decided to answer that question with this: “God is advancing the vision he gave, and it couldn’t be any better.” I am learning to let go of control, to be intentional about prayer over process, and to continue to invest in people over programs.
So, how are we doing? We are advancing and here is how. Our second Missional Community is in the planning stages. Nikki and David Parnin will lead this community in a housing/apartment complex that Nikki manages. It will be called The Gathering Place with weekly potluck meals and an intentional children’s discipleship group on another night. Many in this neighborhood do not know Jesus. The children are free to spend time with Nikki. We are claiming this territory for Jesus.
We have three discipleship groups running and the depth of advancement in faith is larger than I have ever experienced in my ministry. They are learning to be alone with God in their quiet space, and they can identify God’s voice and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In these discipleship groups, breakthroughs have taken place. GC has identified her judgment, ST her worry, NP her control, RA her safety nets other than God, BG his vain glory, and marriages are healing and maturing.
We are overcoming the prejudice of pastoral power and claiming the priesthood of all believers. DP started with confusion and questioned Nikki’s ability to lead a Missional Community because she is not a “pastor.” But the more we lean into God’s advancement, the more we see the church is established by equipping the body. This has led to new people entering our relational circles because each person is intentionally being a missionary where they live, work, and play.
We are advancing God’s mission by collaborating with The Church in Whitley County. The kingdom advanced this month as we co-planned a concert specifically for reaching the lost. We had 200+ people combine to worship God from many fellowships. Unity was established, mutual submission was practiced, many heard the gospel, and God was glorified.
As we look forward to the second half of 2019, I am excited for our discipleship groups to multiply. I am seeing God’s mission advance through The Gathering Place’s launch. I see God calling RA, DP, ST, and SG at the Exponential Regional Conference this fall. I see God advancing in individual lives, marriages, and territory.
Thank you for asking how we are doing. Thank you for praying. Thank you for investing. And thank you for believing. This spring was a season that advancement happened even though darkness lingered. Your support, prayers, and hope helped us move forward in kingdom advancement even though the evil one did A LOT to prevent it. How are we doing? It is well with The Foundry because of collaboration with you and our God who visions.
