Happy Birthday Nerida

Today is Nerida's 26th Birthday :)
I'm up early cause the three boys and I have a huge day of fun planned ahead to celebrate with Ned.
It's starting with a surprise family breakfast (in about 30mins) and opening some presents and then after the kids get home from school we're gonna continue to party. Anyway, I'm glad Ned's birthday only comes around once a year cause I'm not sure if I could handle being the sole party planner for any more than one. Another thing that Mums do that I just can't...
Anyway happy birthday Honey!

Sunday in Review

I was so encouraged by our time together yesterday. Saturday evening to be honest I was feeling sick wondering if anyone would turn up but again I was blown away by the fact that not only did people come back but that there were new adults and families! Again the children's ministry was a huge success - thanks Lauren, Tim, Rachel and the Kid's Church crew! It was exciting to sit down as a team this morning and hear of their plans to run a creche parallel to kids church. Dan did a great job in teaching the early congregation and it was exciting to share more about the plans to serve the displaced Karen people in Thailand and Burma.
Great stuff.

Engage Worldcare - Karen Refugees

Engage Church really does care about taking the good news of Jesus to our world. With over 10% of our budget committed to various initiatives targeting church planting and gospel community transformation I'm so stinkin excited that Pastor Tim will be leading a team to the Thailand - Burma border in June. With a number of the Engage crew heading over for four weeks I'm looking forward to seeing what Jesus does in and through and to our church as we love and serve the Karen refugees. If you'd like to support the work amongst the Karen or if you'd simply like to find out more come along to the Karen Dinner next month. Details below:

Karen Dinner - 13th March, 6.30pm
Creek Road Presbyterian Church (cnr Creek & Fursden Roads, Carina)
$10 adults, $5 children (under 10 years)
"Come along and hear about the border refugees, eat authentic Karen food and enjoy Karen culture through dance and song. Money raised on the night will go to internally displaced people in Burma as well as supporting the new Bible school at Mae Plu." Book your tickets early. See Pastor Tim Iedema (tim-at-engagecitychurch.com)

"Always Welcome"

This Sunday I'm so excited about week two of our Ruth series "Always Welcome." If there is one thing that we learn from the book of Ruth it is this: God is Gracious and always welcomes those who turn to Him. Ruth a young lady from the land of Moab gives up everything to join God's people in Israel. Though the Law demands that she be excluded, God pours His grace upon her and not only provides for her but Ruth is the Great, Great Grandmother of King David. God is a kind, compassionate and gracious God and we see this most clearly through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus offers forgiveness, reconciliation and new life for anyone who places their trust in Him.

Ruth - Always Welcome from Will Henderson on Vimeo.

Launch Sunday Review

Well after six months of praying, planning and gospel scheming Engage City Church officially launched yesterday!

It was absolutely amazing to meet so many new people, reconnect with old friends and to celebrate with the Engage Launch Team. As I reflect today on what happened I can't help but be humbled and thank God for what He has done here in Brisbane and that I get to join Him in His work. Honestly, I have the best group of Jesus hearted people around, no longer a launch team, but a church that exists to see people engaged with Jesus and the life He offers.

Mike and Lee did an amazing job of leading the time of singing. Tim and Lauren literally blew the kids ministry up - we will be undertaking urgent running repairs on the broken floor this week :) But the most amazing thing was to be able to see the way absolutely every member of the Launch Team got in and just served.

This Wednesday night with great gratitude I will decommission the Engage Launch Team. They have been a part of history, they have seen Jesus gathering His church and they have experienced the joy of serving our community with Him. We will celebrate what He has done and I will re-commission them as servants of Engage City Church! I have the best job in the world.

Engage City Church Launches Today

Just sitting doing a little praying and chillin over a cup of tea as I reflect over the past year and look forward to our Launch Service this morning.
* I'm so thankful for the amazing friends and churches that have got behind the vision of starting a new church in Brisbane, a church that exists to see people far from God engaged with Jesus and the life He offers.
* The support and encouragement we have received literally from all over the world just blows me away.
* I'm so excited that we have a 'place' that we can begin meeting weekly in. It is cool to be able to put our money into serving people and our community and not into the crazy rent being asked in this part of the City. I literally get goosebumps as I think about the plans we have for this building and the ways that we can love and serve our community from this location.
* I so humbled by the amazing team that Jesus has and is gathering. Jesus said that He will build His church and every one on the launch team not only get's the vision but believes it and is committed to it. I'm blown away that a group such as this has been gathered in such a short time since we returned from Georgia U.S.A.
* The plans for the Kid's Church are huge! After hearing what Lauren and Tim have in store I know the kids will not only learn about Jesus but they will have an absolute ball.
* I'd appreciate your prayers for not only today but the next few weeks, that God will draw people who are personally invited or received a flyer etc to come along and hear the truth of Jesus. Pray that lives will be changed, that marriages will be saved, that kids will grow up knowing the love and grace of Jesus.
* A final word to those who ARE Engage City Church... you guys are amazing. I can't believe that I get to be on this adventure with you all. Let's never give up Gathering, Growing and Going for Jesus!