July 2011 Update
July 14, 2011
Dear WOL Family,
Summer is finally here, and in full force, which means it is hot! As we move through summer at Water of Life we always stop to assess the previous year. Generally, our ministry calendar follows the school year, so summer is the obvious time to stop and take account of what God has done and what we believe He wants to do in the months ahead.
In the past 20 years of the church’s life, rarely has a year passed that God hasn’t moved with enormous power and grace — and this year is no different. We began at Glen Helen Regional Park celebrating our 20th anniversary with a day together, highlighted by Matt Redman leading us in worship. For many of us in the WOL family, that celebration was one of the greatest times we had ever experienced together.
We kicked off our first trimester of the School of Ministry in September, which had been in the planning for three years. Much to our surprise, God moved in ways far beyond what we could have imagined. Hundreds of you joined us on Tuesday nights for three hours of equipping and training. It was the single most powerful thing God has done in our midst in years. It also provoked us, as leaders, to realize that there is truly a need for places for those in our school to get their feet wet and serve in ministry.
This led us to prayer and eventually to the conviction that we need to expand ministry now, even as we believe and pray for a new campus. With that conviction in hand, we again began to look for new venues and campuses to expand our ministry opportunities in order to touch more people for Jesus! It appears God has opened a door for us this year in a church that is closing its doors in Upland, located on 8th and Mountain. We are about to sign a one year lease on this property with two years of options. Our intent is to offer two services a weekend at this new location: one on Saturday evenings and one on Sunday mornings. We believe God will reach this neighborhood through Water of Life Community Church.
I am asking each of you to stand with us in prayer and faith, asking the Lord to move with power in our people who will serve on this new campus, as well as expanding His Kingdom through us into the Upland area. This is an exciting moment for us as we are asking God to give us other opportunities to plant similar, smaller campuses in our community so we can continue to reach and touch people for His glory.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us as we trust in God to provide the finances we need to purchase the Sierra property. We are having times to prayer walk the property this summer. They are planned for Sunday, August 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th at the property, beginning at 7:00am sharp. Please plan to join us for prayer and intercession that will bind our hearts to our Father’s will for us as a church family on these dates.
I am also planning to hold a Sunday evening service this fall when we will gather as a church family to discuss and pray for Until the Whole World Hears (UTWWH). As soon as we have a date set we will begin to communicate that to each of you.
As I shared with you in each of these letters, the challenge before us is following through on what we each believe God is asking us to do. Our goal is to make regular and consistent payments on the purchase the Sierra property. I want to encourage those of you who have yet to begin giving toward your commitment, to press into God and believe Him to help you get started. Your faithfulness will be a clear indication that we can expect a good response in actual gifts to the campaign, and it will be of personal encouragement to both me and our leaders, to know our people are responding.
Please keep praying for all that God wants to do with us and through us as a church family. Prayer is our lifeblood and He answers those who call on His name. We are endeavoring to keep all the information relevant and timely so you can pray thoughtfully. Thank you again for your commitment to the King and the Kingdom of God.
Until the Whole World Hears,
Pastor Dan and the Leadership of WOL