Hello Spokane Friends!

Here’s an update and recap of our last Spokane trip where we spent time with people interested in the new church and enjoyed a bit of downtown Spokane while we were at it!

This last trip was a day shorter than originally planned so we could attend the memorial service for a long-time member of our church on Saturday afternoon.  Dave Jenkins, a quiet yet very influential and godly man, is now with the Lord.  Hearing the stories of how Jesus worked through him to impact so many lives was encouraging and motivating!  As soon as the memorial service was over we got on the road toSpokanein a hurry since a storm front was moving in.  The winter roads were not too fun but we made it over the two mountain passes safe and sound!  (Driving 35 miles per hour…!)

We’ve been using our monthly trips as an opportunity to connect with other pastors and churches inSpokanebut this time we went toPrairieAvenueChristianCenterin Couer d’Alene,Idaho.  Dave Hoit leads this great church and preached it up on the powerful nature of the gospel to transform lives.  Two of the families planning on helping us launch Grace Church Spokane are a part of PACC.  This church is close to our hearts and it will be great to continue partnering together in the future.  After the meeting we got to have lunch with a star tennis player fromWhitworthUniversitytoo, thanks to Stephanie Reardon.  (I sense a very humble athletic “beat-down” moment in my future…!)

We’ve really wanted to begin getting into more of theSpokaneculture and focus on being “Spokane People” so on Sunday night we enjoyed dinner downtown at P.F. Changs!  I am officially a fan.  Great Asian food and great atmosphere.  It didn’t hurt that we spent the time with two amazing couples who are planning to join the church planting adventure with us!  (Please be praying for our family and also the rest of the team, some who are joining us right away and others who are coming later.  We are thanking God for even daring risk-takers who will commit not just to join a church meeting but to build in this important foundational stage of what God will do through Grace Church Spokane.)

We will be coming back toSpokaneMarch 9-11 and I would love to connect with anyone who is interested in hearing more about Grace Church Spokane.  We will meet “officially” on Saturday afternoon on the 10th.  (Location and exact time TBA…)  I’ll share what I feel God is calling us to do and I’m sure some prayer and worship will happen too!  We’re also planning to go to a Spokane Chiefs hockey game that night.  Maybe we could get a group rate if enough people want to go…?  Let me know if you’re interested!

Prayer Direction:

Some of you are already aware that I’m seriously looking at launching a new business venture inSpokanethat will help us meet families in local elementary schools, connect with school administration, and also take advantage of my “trade,” which is music!  We would be starting after-school guitar clubs in elementary schools at rates much cheaper than students could take private lessons anywhere else, PLUS the schools would receive 10% of the tuition back from me into their own PTA programs, etc.  Please be praying for great wisdom, the ability for me to communicate well with school administrators, and for God to open great doors of ministry through this.  It feels as if this is what we’ve been looking for!

As Spring approaches, it is time for our house to sell!  Thanks for praying for the right buyer who will be truly blessed by our home – and who can afford to pay for it.  We’ve had several families really like it but who were unable to come up with the financing.  God’s timing is perfect and we know He has a plan; we also know He’s told us to pray so we are doing that too!

Finally, remember that we have the Church Planting Boot Camp coming up May 3-5, rescheduled from January!  Those of you who were unable to make the January time slot fit have another chance and I would highly encourage you to take it.  You will be encouraged and challenged with fresh vision for planting life-giving, missional churches that are full of the Spirit!  If you have questions and want to know more, just ask!

 For the Kingdom,

Jon