Plans to Give You Hope and a Future {a prayer request}

I have mentioned a few times that we go to a really fantastic church in the inner city of Boston. The church meets in a lower income neighborhood called Roxbury in the auditorium of the Orchard Gardens Pilot School. It is a plant church. For those of you not familiar with plant churches, they are typically established by a small group of people who represent a larger group that has a vision to impact a certain location or demographic. They are funded by larger, more established churches and organizations who share that same vision. Those who lead the establishment of a plant church typically leave their homes, family, and home church, to live in unfamiliar areas and basically lead a very missional lifestyle. And just like farmers, they plant and pray that it will grow.

Have you ever heard a band or maybe read a blog that you have thought, "Oh my goodness, this is so amazing. How are they not the most popular band/blog in the world?" That is what I think every Sunday when I go to church. I am from the south where religion is part of the culture, not saying that is always a good thing. But when churches are planted in the south they grow, at least the ones I have been to grow. But Boston is different. Going to church is not so much a part of everyone's routine. And that in itself is not a bad thing, because the people that do come to church are so incredibly committed and intentional with their faith. We do not have passive participants in our church that sneak in and sneak out on Sundays just to check it off their list. We have Berkley students that represent over 6 different countries on our worship team. We have greeters who also balance the check book and teach in children's church. Our church is a ship and everyone on board is essential to maintaining the path. Our church is intentional. Our church is amazing.

Recently a couple of the larger churches and organizations that helped support our church have either decreased or decided to move their funds elsewhere. Not because our church isn't awesome, but because they pledged a certain amount for a certain amount of time and that time has expired. It honestly never occurred to me how much money it takes for a church to open it's doors, even a small one like ours. But when people decide to go and plant a church in a poor, under served area OR in an area that has a high volume of college students, congregational offering is not necessarily going to pay the bills. And unfortunately that has left my church consistently in the red over the past couple of months. The people who can give, give, but it's just not enough. If we cannot raise more support in the next month we are going to be forced to quit meeting in the school, which charges $2500/month, and to look for an alternative, less expensive option. And in Boston, that's not so easy.

God has blessed the church before and I know he will continue to do so, even if it means leaving the Roxbury community. But if you could, please pray for financial relief for our church. Pray for a donor, grant, or pledge from a larger church or individual. Pray that my sweet pastor never has to mention his name and pay cut in the same sentence ever again. Pray that someone who is reading this post is sitting on a pot of money just looking for something good to do with it:)

If you would like more information please contact me at stephanie(dot)sabbe(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11