Deeper into addiction

This morning I went deeper into the world o addiction.
In fact over the course of the last five days I have gone deeper and deeper into the addictive world... and man is it great!

Now let share why this is so great.

Earlier this year our leadership team agreed with my feelings that God wanted us to press in even deeper into the recovery and addiction ministry area. Over half of the people that attend Journey each month are opening struggling with some form of addiction.
Over the years we have seen God do some amazing things in these peoples live.
They are often the modern day, "lame, sick, blind" that Jesus touched and reached so well. Our passion to see God work powerfully had lead us to want to see the most broken of people fully healed and restored.

So decided to be even more intentional about reaching, loving and serving these people whom God cares deeply about. The week after we shared this at our annual vision night, we saw a new wave of addictive, hurting and searching people come in our doors....and that wave has no stopped since.

Sunday I was in a different mens recovery / re-entry house and this morning I was invited to visit the Gables Recovery House (For women). Each place wanted to hear about our outreach / coffee house called Uturn, and the Gables has asked me to come semi-regular (rotating basis) on Fridays and talk, listen, help give spiritual advice to these ladies in recovery.

It is amazing how we heard God leading us more this way, how we intentionally responded and now how he has added, and added to this already. We did not go seeking these new connections, they came to us.

Add to all this, on Thursday of this past week a women in recovery meet with me and another lady and she gave her life to Jesus! God has clearly called us to step out and reach these people in recovery. We are reaching them on their terms, in their comfort zone, at church, at recovery meetings and one-on-one settings.

To reach the lost, hurting and broken... we must intentionally be looking for ways to meet up with them and hear their stories. I can see that we are doing that better and better each day, and God is taking us deeper and deeper into this unique area of ministry.

God confirmed how much of an impact we are already having in this new wave of people.
One young lady was proudly wearing the Uturn T-shirt that she bought this Sunday at Journey. The staff at the Gables stated, "They had no idea that you were coming today".

To save a life, you must go to wear people are dying.

I look for and expect God to continue to do even more amazing things as we go deeper into addiction.

Uturn Grand Opening

Grand Opening Weekend is underway.
Check out the Channel 6 news link and come enjoy our concert tonight.
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Headline act is Shasta Blvd. from the Twin Cities


http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2047189.shtml?cat=10151

On Mission

Last night we held our second Monday Night Football party at Uturn. Over all the evening was a “success”. More people came then the week before and new relationship continued starting to form. But last evening was a night that confirmed our mission is beginning to take root and to have a bigger impact in our city.

Yesterday afternoon tragedy stuck the Rochester Skate Park and a local family as a 19 year old committed suicide at the park. He shot himself. How sad that one so young choose to end his life. Yet that tragedy is the very thing that gave another local pastor the chance the use Uturn for something greater. Pastor Dave of Harvest church got the call regarding the suicide, he then spent several hours talking with his son and other young men that were having to deal with news, and lose of a friend. The “friends” were not all friends of each other, but they had the common friendship with the young man that killed himself. Dave heard their cries and their desire to be together. The problem was, where is there a safe place for all of them to meet? Dave invited them all to Uturn and Monday NIght Football. Mid-way through the first quarter they began to arrive. In all at least 12 young men came, talked, shared, cried, ate CiCi’s Pizza, watched football, shot pool and found a new safe place to hang and connect.

At such a tragic moment it was exciting to serve those in need at Uturn.
It was exciting to see God use another Pastor and Harvest Church to use Uturn for a larger than life moment.

This was not about one church, or one ministry. It wasn’t even about one person. It was about the Kingdom of God, churches serving together because our city, it’s youth were hurting and in need. Praise God for how He is taking this dream and already using it to connect churches, serve our city and provide hope for the hurting.

We are on mission, the target is clear, the tools are being put into place each week and getting used more and more. I pray that many more catch the vision and that we see God move in powerful ways each time we open these doors to the city! I invite you to join the adventure.

Walls go up at Uturn

Monday March 30th a team of dry wall hangers came in and hung sheet rock at the Uturn. This guys really rocked (no pun intended). With the walls framed in, you can now see how the building will be taking shape. What a transformation step.

Next taping, mudding, sanding and then painting on Saturday.
By the way, this part of the project is another exciting gift from professional that do this sort of work daily. What a gift! A BIG YEAH God for what they have done, given, and will finish off.

With the walls going up, we move to our next step in getting the Uturn ready for Journey to move into.... Bathrooms must be set up. Check out the updated Razoo donation page and see how you can help us purchase these items in a timely fashion. The time is now, so that we can purchase, install and get inspected ASAP.

Our new goal to have Journey at Uturn is April 18th. Please help us reach the target.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Journey-Church-Of-Rochester-Minnesota

Not just another day

This morning we cut a check for just under $5,000... not something I (we) do everyday. We cut the cut the check knowing that it almost wipes out our building fund. But we do this in faith, not reckless behavior. God has provided just what we needed, as we need each step of this process. Not any less or any more.

We are living on faith... not a bank account.

This morning I received an e-mail with an attachment. KNLW 98.8 FM has decided to create and run a radio ad for FREE that promotes our upcoming fundraiser at CiCi's pizza. (Tuesday, March 9 from 5-8 p.m.) Amazing!!! The event has been planned for awhile and we have been promoting it as best as we can. Our goal was to raise funds and spread the word on this city-wide mission. Now, God works through KNLW radio and increases our promotion output just as we almost break the bank.

It's not just another day... it's another faith builder day.

Tonight is Vision Night for Journey. A night to share some of the details of where we are going in 2010 (and beyond) as a church family. A day of challenge, call to commitment, personal investment, and budget growth as our country slowly climbs out of a bad recession. A night of faith building.

It's not just another day.... it's day where I hope people really catch the dream, can see God leading and desire nothing more to join with God on a wild mission.

It's only 8:25 a.m.
What more can happen today, that did not happen yesterday?

Days of Nehemiah

God rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt in 52 days... the tools used were... Vision, passion, sacrifice, prayer, a and people of faith.

It's been an amazing start to 2010!
Personally I am in awe of how God has cleared the way, and provided for us an amazing place to reach our city for his glory. It has been but a God-size miracle to receive financial gifts, donations and volunteer time from so many people. As I write this more pounding and hammering us going on here at the U-turn.
Demo and Renovation are an amazing process.

Yet there is so much more that needs to be done.
We are just now about to enter into the most costly part of the built-old process.
At this moment we do not have the funds to pay for all that needs, must be done.
Yet.... we press forward in faith that God will provide.
God provides by using men and women to give sacrificially, generously and ridiculously. I know that money does not grow on trees, but it does hide in wallets.

Read the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. See how his heart hurt so badly for his city. How a vision was born. How a call to give, serve, invest at a crazy level was put forward. Read how skeptics came forward to shoot down the vision. And read how God did the impossible in 52 days!

I am thrilled, humbled and amazed to be with a group of people, a church family, that is reliving the days of Nehemiah. If you ever wanted to be apart of a God-size movement. If you've ever wanted to see God-do the impossible.... I invite you to join the adventure. Give like crazy, give so that others may come to know Christ.
Give so that in a short span of time a building can be renovated, and become a nee light to the city. May God be glorified.

U-Turn on KNLW and Facebook

The excitement continues to grow and expand as we move forward with the U-turn remodel project. Go is announcing this new ministry in so many creative ways it blows me away.
Today a Facebook page was launched to act a hub in the social circles of peoples lives.
On day one over 40 accepted in and added it to their facebook profile.
Way exciting.

KNLW interviewed me today and will be airing a 3 min piece on the dreams and plans of the U-turn. Thanks Ken and Betsy.

There is such a buzz already and it's no where near ready to open.

Praise Godm, I open we all can continue to keep up with God's pace on this.