May 11, 2015

#SmallWonders... How They Add Up Fast! (A Mini Recap of How We Got Here!)

Here we are... the day after. 
{And honestly - after all the excitement and hype of our first Sunday, we crawled into bed last night happy but exhausted and were all, "Wait? We have to do this all again next week... like, for the 2nd Sunday... and so on...? ...AND SO ON!!!?  This is like a JOB?"  LOL! Yeah... seriously... we're slow like that sometimes!}

I know, I know.  I said this would not turn into the Church Plant Blog... and it won't, I promise. But this has all happened so quickly and our heads are still spinning a bit and there have just been all sorts of big and small wonders unfolding all around us and many of them were all leading up to yesterday.


So - ever so briefly, we will recap how we got here today and then on Wednesday, we will talk about something else! (What, I am not sure of yet... but something different, nonetheless! Pinky Swear!)


So I don't really remember if I even told the whole story here, but basically this is how it all went down:

A month or two ago, if someone would have asked us if we were starting a church --or if we would consider starting a church... we would have laughed a little (you know, like in their face) and then said, "No!"

As in, emphatically, No Thank You.

It's not that we don't love the church... we do.  It's just that we have spent a long time, years even... trying to squeeze ourselves in to places that we didn't belong, because - well, you should go to church, right?

We stayed in fellowship and we got involved in several great places - but with each of them, we just knew...

We had small groups and we pressed in and we were growing and not wounded (anymore) but honestly, we were not even going somewhere on Sundays consistently for a(long)while. 

Our 'church' was in many places, on different days, and we loved it - but we longed for a place to belong... to pour out and to see the Kingdom grow.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. (Don't even think that I am kidding. I am not.) One of the couples who had been attending our home group for a few months asked us to consider something.  They said it over the phone to My Honey and asked us to pray.  As Dave was saying the words, I thought it was so strange that I was not screaming "No!" from the inside.  We looked at each other, heads tilted, confusion (and maybe a little fear and trepidation) washing over us and we both said, "Hmm? It's weird that we are not saying no, right? That might be something?"

We prayed and it was clear - SO very clear... (which y'all may need to remind me of at a later date, Mkay?)

...and we said "Yes."

You guys... we are slow. We are older and do not jump in or dive off without some deep thinking and planning and praying... so when we said yes - we thought we were entering in to that cycle of how we tip toe into deep waters, but God (and the other couple!) were all like,
"Alrighty then... Let's DO this thing!"

Gulp. What the what?

And so, 'do this thing' we did... in a matter of days we had a website, a building space rented, all the paperwork filled out and filed, a sign ordered, a board of directors, and we were meeting with locals who saw the announcement and who had also been longing for a place to call Home. 

SPINNING HEADS AND HEARTS, y'all! 

I even tried to be fearful... it wouldn't work.

God met me in Nebraska to remind me that we are doing it differently... so it's OK to expect different results.  He also reminded me that He's called us to it... so He has plans of doing it with and through and in us. We are not on our own. He's all for our team mentality, our love for community, and our family vibe.

We sort of get that from Him.

So yesterday - we opened the doors, and poured out our hearts in worship... in prayer... in laying a foundation of what our vision and mission is... and the people came.

We met in a Theater in the round...
A Disco Ball, Theater in the round, & Dance room classes, you guys!     

Sound Check      


We opened in prayer... we worshiped (and worshiped... and then worshiped a little bit more!)... we prayed... we shared a little and talked... 


That's My Honey!    

We listened to the vision and mission... 

...and when it was all over, the prayer of our hearts was answered in this: the people stayed. 

They lingered.  They visited with each other. (Yes, even on a holiday with an afternoon of plans!)

Because our goal and hope is to be Family, we wanted an atmosphere that felt like Home... one where no one was in a rush to leave. 

(And now we get to do it all over again at Dad's House next Sunday!  We are digging in to our Core Values over the next month or so and will 'officially launch' in July! Next Sunday... Identity! I know, right? You are so surprised!)



P.S.  I'm linking up with these lovely writers:

The Community over at #SmallWonders 

The Community over at #SoulFriends

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday


Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

48 comments :

  1. A family... with a disco ball! Don't you dare leave that detail out! And thank you for writing about this, sweet friend, because I have no idea what God is going to call me to at some point in time, and I will need to have read your story to have faith in all the surprising unknowns! Sincerely! Keep writing it out and we will keep reading.

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    1. Oh friend... yes, the Disco Ball is such an important detail! ;) The surprising unknowns... yes, this! Thanks so much for coming along on the ride!

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    1. Seriously! In another note... we already asked for a few Sundays off! roflol! (As in, for real... nothing specific - but you know, we're gonna HAVE to head to the Spokane area at some point for a weekend so we can meet inrl!)

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  3. So excited that it went so well. And God has indeed called all of you to this ministry. So excited to see where God leads you friend!

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    1. Thank you so much sweet friend for all of your prayers! (Keep 'em comin'!) xoxo

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  4. Anonymous5:21 PM

    It doesn't take long for God to pull things together when the time it right, does it? :-)
    (Note to self, remind her later she has no fear. Check.)
    Blessings,

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    1. Amen! He is so... efficient like that! ;) And yes and amen, when I need a reminder, I am happy to hear that you are on it! Thanks so much, friend!

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  5. Yay! God is so good. So excited to hear about the brand new work He is doing. "Do not despise these small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to se the work begin." Zech. 4:10

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    1. Amen, Tiffany! We're so not a numbers kind of place... we actually like it small - and we will need prayer on how to keep the feel of small as He adds numbers to us in the future! ;) I love that verse and it is such a great reminder that He rejoices to see the work begin! xoxo

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  6. Karrilee,
    I'm so happy you wrote about your church planting because I was wondering how it went since you're back from Nebraska...and it is so exciting when God taps you on the shoulder and says, "Go,"...praying God continues to bless and guide you and your team...Glad I got to hug you in person :-) Thanks for sharing this :-)

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    1. Thanks so much Dolly! I am glad for our inrl hug as well! As I said, next time we will carve out a bit more time to chat!

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  7. Karrilee I am so happy and excited for you. What a gift church planting is. God is doing a new work these days, that is for sure.
    (p.s. I got MARRIED in a theater in the round--Melodyland in Anaheim. You could look it up.)
    I will be praying for you guys.

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    1. Jody - well, our theater in the round houses MelodyLane... so - that's CLOSE!!! Thanks so much for the prayers! So thankful for you, friend!

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  8. I'll like to see where this journey will continue to lead you and the other fellow church members. Our church is so small we can not afford the insurance any long and they are deciding what to do. I have felt compelled to find another church and it hasn't been easy. Maybe church planting is something I will look into.

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    1. Oh Amanda, I am praying for you and your community! That is tough and a real struggle for many smaller gatherings! It's not easy to find a church home... I think for many, if not most... but God has a home for you and He wants you connected, growing, and using the gifts He placed inside of you too! From what I have heard... church planting is not for the faint of heart and I would not suggest anyone do it unless they are called... but if you are called (trust me...) You will know when it is time! Praying you will know!

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  9. Wow how exciting! Praying God will bless your ministry as your follow His path. Thanks for linking up with #SoulFriends today and sharing about your new adventure! Blessings

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  10. So exciting Karrilee! I've been struggling for some years with the same feeling of not belonging anywhere, and although I've still got my home base in the church I was "born and raised" in, I am in a few different ones on a regular basis. So thankful that you and the team are hearing the call to provide an atmosphere of belonging... not just to each other in that room, but to Him. (Too bad I'm in another country! ;) Praying for you all in these early days!

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    1. Amen to the call to create an atmosphere of belonging to Him - as well as for us! Oh... if only you were closer! :) We so appreciate the prayers of the Body for us far and wide... keep 'em coming, friend! We are desperate for them!

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  11. This is such a great story. I'll pray for you and your husband. I can't wait to hear what God is going to do next.

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    1. Thanks so much for the prayers, Jenny! That means the world to us to know that God has people all over the place covering us in prayer!

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  12. How very exciting it is when God does the unexpected in our lives. I will be praying for God to continue to lead you all. May He draw those people He knows need to be there in your community in order for your community to bless & help. Hope you do continue to share so we all get to rejoice with you all!

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    1. Unexpected and how... and yet, you know how it is with God... hindsight and all of that... we see clearly how He has been guiding us to this point for years and years and years! We appreciate and rely on the prayers and blessings! (And you know I will be sharing... I can't not, right?)

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  13. What an awesome testimony of how He is working behind the scenes in ways we could never imagine. Prayers for you and your husband on this new journey!

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    1. Amen! Don't you love how you can see it so clearly AFTER THE FACT? Gah? ;) We can't thank you enough for all the prayers! That is our true foundation!

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  14. Hey Karrilee,

    What a cool thing you guys are doing! My husband is a pastor who fills in at churches around the area. We've been in large and small, and everything in between.

    Isn't it fun when God allows you to minister and uses you to spread hope to others! It will be great to hear all of the amazing ways God uses your new fellowship!

    I found your website via the RaRa linkup. I'm fairly new to blogging, and I'm really enjoying making lots of new friends. (I followed you via email and on FB, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.)

    Glad to find your site and I hope to visit again soon.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

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    1. Melanie!!! (Waving like a crazy person!) Welcome to this wonderful world of blogging! I'm gonna find you and follow you back, friend! Community is HUGE for this otherwise lonely calling of writing/blogging/ministering online... and thanks so much for your encouragement and prayers! They mean so much!

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  15. Wow! What a journey! I'm so glad that God has been preparing you for 'such a time as this' and that you accepted his call when he said, "It's time!" May God be with you as you draw close and do his will!

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    1. He really HAS been preparing us... He's just tricky about it sometimes, because - you know, Grace! (and He knows I'm a runner!) LOL! (Only sometimes!) Thanks so much for the prayers!

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  16. Hi Karrilee! I feel like blestbustrest. Wow. You have talents that you didn't even know you had, and God called you through others to serve them. Wow!! I'm so happy for you and your husband. It must feel so amazing to know you are doing His will, and He is making it succeed. Keep on going!!
    #RaRa Linkup,
    Ceil

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    1. It feels normal... so we KNOW it is God because it is SO not normal! ;) Thanks so much for your encouragement! It's all His doing... but we are thrilled to get to play along!

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  17. This is the wildest filled-up-with-God thing I've heard in a long time, how wonderful! Congrats on your first Sunday in the Father's Presence as a church family! God will use you big as you go forward in Him, just as he has with your beautiful blog, Karrilee :)

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    1. Thanks so much, my friend! So so much! Your words of encouragement are a gift to me!

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  18. This is so exciting! When I first saw your announcement on FB, I just knew that God was up to something big. I love when He works like that. I will be praying for you, your church and that God brings just the right people to grow your community. Blessings, friend!

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    1. Thank you so much, sweet Mary! We are excited and trusting that He has plans and that His promises will come to pass! We are feeling the prayers... keep 'em coming! xoxo

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  19. Wow, Karrilee, you are on quite a journey with God! Thanks for sharing on #SoulFriends. Have a great day! Kim Stewart
    www.kimstewartinspired.com

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  20. Below you at Soul Friends...you go girl and follow the leading of the Lord - I love you sensed Peace, Karrilee as He showed you the way! His hand of blessing is on you and He has equipped you to do well what He has put before you. I know God will fill His house and praise will shake the rafters. Bless you as you step forth in obedience.

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    1. LOL! Amen and thank you so much... agreeing with you! Thanks for stopping by Jeannie!

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  21. What a story! What an adventure. I am SO proud of you, sister. This is good. So good. Can't wait to see and hear about the unfolding!

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    1. Thanks Ash! I love you so! (Because --you know how we are, we already mentioned needing to take some Sundays off! LOL... for real tho! But I'm thinking a mid-week hike could work too... we'll follow through with this plan soon! xoxo!

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  22. Praying you find wings you didn't know you had as you take this leap of faith! Thanks for linking with #SmallWonder, Karrilee.

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    1. Yes and Amen, Kelly! I am believing that with you! Thanks so much!

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  23. This is so exciting, Karrilee! When God calls you to a mission, He will equip you and lead you to it. Can't wait to keep reading how this story unfolds! (And hooray for no fear, even when you tried!)

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    1. I know, right? That is some serious breakthrough right there! xoxo

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  24. Oh my goodness we have felt those very same things you described when ask to step out in faith. Each time when we looked deep we realized, yes, this is what God has been preparing us for, every step of the way. Here is the cool thing about all this, He is still doing it. Never in a million, zillion years could you have told us we would be foreign missionaries in two countries and now serving in the states still with New Tribes. Encouraging post...love the name of your church, Dad's House...yes.

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    1. Oh yes and amen, Betty! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the encouragement... yes - we are never done answering the call to step out of the boat! Love this!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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