Next week we will begin gathering with couples and families who have been led by the Spirit to join in the work He's calling us to do in Paramus. What an exciting time this is! We will begin meeting every other Thursday at our home to begin the process of seeing God build His local church. It is a surreal feeling to be at this point in the journey where we have finished our year residency at Emergence and are now looking ahead at planting in the next 6 months to a year!
Two incredible stories I must share at how God in his perfect providence organizes and plans for His purposes to be accomplished (yet should I be surprised when it's from the hand of the sovereign King of the universe?) Now, I could write pages upon pages sharing unbelievable God-stories, ways he is bringing people together, stirring in hearts, and transforming the area of Paramus for His glory before we have even officially "arrived" to launch the church plant. However, these 2 recent stories have reminded me and testified to the truth that God is in the business of building His church as He promised and will do that on His own.
A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking at Montclair State University. I spoke from Philippians chapter 3, encouraging and challenging students to spend their life with the one great aim of knowing Jesus. When I finished, I hung around after talking to a good number of them about their life, their story, some of them their conversion, and how the Lord brought Kristin and I to the northeast. One girl in particular came over, we began to dialogue, and after she gave some very encouraging words, she went on and on about how her family drives almost an hour to attend a church south of East Rutherford, and how they have been praying for over 2 years that God would birth a God-centered, passionate church where she lives. She then told me how much she treasured God's speaking through me that evening, and that she would love to know where we planned on planting the church. Before I could answer her she said, "I live in a town called...(yep you guessed it) Paramus, will it be anywhere close to there?" What a gift! This 20 year old girl had been praying for over 2 years with her family that God would revive the very town He has called us to go to, what a privilege! She was beside herself when I continued to tell her of our plans to see God birth a local church in that very place. The passion and excitement she exuded fueled in me a passion for why we are here. To see God glorified through the making of many disciples through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The second story just happened this past Sunday night, after I finished preaching at Emergence continuing our walk through the book of 1 Corinthians. The text we were at was 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 where I taught on Paul's aim to forsake his liberties and freedoms for the sake of love to win as many as possible to Jesus. We saw how love limited Paul's liberty, and what were once legal restraints in his life became love restraints. The love that drove Him to see men and women reconciled to God was staggering. After the sermon I was standing off to the left of the stage and a man approached me, 62 years old, with tears in his eyes. He went on to share with me how he retired just two days prior on Friday, owned a volvo dealership for over 40 years in bergen county new jersey (where Paramus is located), stumbled into Emergence as he was looking for a church that preached the word, planned on buying a retirement home and enjoying the remainder of his life. With tear-filled eyes he said to me "Mike, I was so convicted, compelled, and inspired by God's Word through you, that I don't want to waste the remainder of my life. I don't want to buy a retirement home. I don't want to coast through the finish line. I don't want to settle for temporary worldly pleasures. I want to exhaust myself for the kingdom to see as many souls as possible won for eternity in the town of Paramus with you where I've grown up and spent most of my life."
God is so meticulously sovereign, that before the foundation of the world he planned for Bill to retire at the age of 62 on October 5, 2012, two days later wander into Emergence on Sunday October 7 to hear a sermon on 1 Corinthians 9, the exact text he needed to hear, from a pastor who had been convinced by God to leave Virginia and plant a church near his home town in Paramus NJ, be shaken by God to forsake his retirement dreams of picking up sea shells for the remainder of his life and die to his dreams and his own pursuits and redirect his joys, pleasures and loves for the sake of the glory of God in Paramus New Jersey!!!!
Are you kidding?
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
1 Year.
September has been a busy month for the Reed's. Kristin began teaching at HCA, my brother got married, and we officially are finishing up our 1 year at Emergence in the Church Planting Residency. It is unbelievable that we moved to New Jersey 1 year ago. It feels like we were saying goodbyes and feeling the weight of uncertainty and excitement for this journey north only days ago. We were also able to meet down in Virginia with many of our prayer and financial partners a week ago to share praise reports, exciting God stories, and plans for the future. It was such a gift to be with them!
This past year in the residency at Emergence has been deeply beneficial for us as we have begun to establish relationships, experience the culture, and continued to learn and grow in preparation for the church God has for us to serve. We are now turning the corner full steam ahead in looking forward towards preparing and praying for the future church that Jesus will build in Northern New Jersey. God has blown our minds, as he has continued to supernaturally stir in the hearts of families in this area who are changing plans, moving, reorienting their lives, and even changing jobs to join and serve alongside of us! What an incredible blessing!
Kristin and I are going to begin gathering at our home twice a month during the week with these families as we pray and look for the right place to plant in the Paramus surrounding area. Our hope and desire is to plant in Paramus, a town of more than 70,000 people, the shopping capital of the state of New Jersey, with access to every major highway leading to parts of New Jersey, New York State, Connecticut, and New York City. Paramus also borders over 10 major towns encircling it's area populating a majority of the northern half of the state. Please pray for us as we gather with these families that Jesus is primary, unity in the gospel, greater hearts for God's glory and those who do not know Him, and that He directs us to the right location. Our hope is to officially plant in the Spring or Fall of next year.
On October 7 Emergence is having a Vision Night for it's members and will be announcing more specific details in regards to us planting out of Emergence. We pray that God uses this time to excite the congregation and continue a stirring in people's hearts for His glory to be made manifest in the Northeast. In other news, God has continued to provide me with opportunities to preach, and this past Sunday I was given the privilege of preaching a message on The Church at Emergence looking at the first 7 chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians. It was probably my favorite message ever to preach thus far. You can listen to it at www.emergencenj.org. I have also been given the privilege of speaking at Montclair State University this Thursday night, please pray that God is exalted!
A scripture that has been largely encouraging to me is 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who called you is faithful, he will surely do it." God has blown our minds at his evident, personal, majestic faithfulness. He who called us north has come through every step of the way. Through many times of confusion, questioning, uncertainty and mystery, He has proven faithful. We serve a faithful God, who is utterly trustworthy, I pray he reminds you of that today.
This past year in the residency at Emergence has been deeply beneficial for us as we have begun to establish relationships, experience the culture, and continued to learn and grow in preparation for the church God has for us to serve. We are now turning the corner full steam ahead in looking forward towards preparing and praying for the future church that Jesus will build in Northern New Jersey. God has blown our minds, as he has continued to supernaturally stir in the hearts of families in this area who are changing plans, moving, reorienting their lives, and even changing jobs to join and serve alongside of us! What an incredible blessing!
Kristin and I are going to begin gathering at our home twice a month during the week with these families as we pray and look for the right place to plant in the Paramus surrounding area. Our hope and desire is to plant in Paramus, a town of more than 70,000 people, the shopping capital of the state of New Jersey, with access to every major highway leading to parts of New Jersey, New York State, Connecticut, and New York City. Paramus also borders over 10 major towns encircling it's area populating a majority of the northern half of the state. Please pray for us as we gather with these families that Jesus is primary, unity in the gospel, greater hearts for God's glory and those who do not know Him, and that He directs us to the right location. Our hope is to officially plant in the Spring or Fall of next year.
On October 7 Emergence is having a Vision Night for it's members and will be announcing more specific details in regards to us planting out of Emergence. We pray that God uses this time to excite the congregation and continue a stirring in people's hearts for His glory to be made manifest in the Northeast. In other news, God has continued to provide me with opportunities to preach, and this past Sunday I was given the privilege of preaching a message on The Church at Emergence looking at the first 7 chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians. It was probably my favorite message ever to preach thus far. You can listen to it at www.emergencenj.org. I have also been given the privilege of speaking at Montclair State University this Thursday night, please pray that God is exalted!
A scripture that has been largely encouraging to me is 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who called you is faithful, he will surely do it." God has blown our minds at his evident, personal, majestic faithfulness. He who called us north has come through every step of the way. Through many times of confusion, questioning, uncertainty and mystery, He has proven faithful. We serve a faithful God, who is utterly trustworthy, I pray he reminds you of that today.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Humbled
Kristin and I just returned from celebrating our 5 year anniversary in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was one of the best vacations we've taken together, and timely since we were below "E" on the energy gauge prior to leaving. It was a joy to be with my wife and marvel at God's creation in an area we never explored before. It also provided focused times of prayer thanking the Lord for where He's brought us, what He's done, the grace He's shown, and pray with anticipation for how He will continue to use us for His glory in the northeast.
Prior to leaving for vacation, I had the privilege of preaching again at Emergence on July 29. My parents were able to come up and visit that weekend adding to the joy of preaching. I kicked off the series through the book of 2 Peter and preached on 2 Peter 1:1-15. It is a beautiful passage that addresses the complexity of the Holy Spirit's power and our effort in regards to our sanctification and assurance of salvation. Peter tells us who we are in Christ because of the gospel, and then lists character qualities we are to pursue and apply to our faith after conversion with all of our zeal and effort. When most people read sections like this in Scripture, we read them as though they are legalistic codes for our life. But Peter is doing is something wonderful. He is encouraging us by way of reminder that those who make a true profession of faith in Jesus actually live as Jesus taught, arguing that saving faith must take concrete form in our life, producing these features that will inevitably show up in the transformed life! The true gospel is the ability to rest in your acceptance in Christ that leads to actions flowing out of your acceptance in Christ. Our delight in the reconciling work of Christ on our behalf doesn't lead us to a "let me do in order to be" but rather "because I am, let me do." It was a joy to preach this passage of Scripture and deeply challenging to my own heart and life. A few students who graduated last year from the student ministry I pastored in Virginia drove up to hear me preach at the evening service! That was a gift. You can listen to the message at www.emergencenj.org.
One last thing to note by way of reflection are some thoughts God brought to me during my time of morning prayer last week. I began praying for daily faithfulness, deliverance from temptation, and that God would continue to build in my wife and I lives and desires that would reflect His glory. Then...I started praying for His future local church in northern New Jersey...this is when my burden increased for the lost and joy inflated with hope. He has called me? He has asked me? To play a part in the sovereign, redemptive plan of GOD? His preordained plan for the salvation of souls in northern New Jersey had my name written in a column of the means? The remnant waiting to be called out, chosen, and bought by the blood of His Son Jesus for His glory will be brought into the fold by my going into the harvest?
Humbled.
Prior to leaving for vacation, I had the privilege of preaching again at Emergence on July 29. My parents were able to come up and visit that weekend adding to the joy of preaching. I kicked off the series through the book of 2 Peter and preached on 2 Peter 1:1-15. It is a beautiful passage that addresses the complexity of the Holy Spirit's power and our effort in regards to our sanctification and assurance of salvation. Peter tells us who we are in Christ because of the gospel, and then lists character qualities we are to pursue and apply to our faith after conversion with all of our zeal and effort. When most people read sections like this in Scripture, we read them as though they are legalistic codes for our life. But Peter is doing is something wonderful. He is encouraging us by way of reminder that those who make a true profession of faith in Jesus actually live as Jesus taught, arguing that saving faith must take concrete form in our life, producing these features that will inevitably show up in the transformed life! The true gospel is the ability to rest in your acceptance in Christ that leads to actions flowing out of your acceptance in Christ. Our delight in the reconciling work of Christ on our behalf doesn't lead us to a "let me do in order to be" but rather "because I am, let me do." It was a joy to preach this passage of Scripture and deeply challenging to my own heart and life. A few students who graduated last year from the student ministry I pastored in Virginia drove up to hear me preach at the evening service! That was a gift. You can listen to the message at www.emergencenj.org.
One last thing to note by way of reflection are some thoughts God brought to me during my time of morning prayer last week. I began praying for daily faithfulness, deliverance from temptation, and that God would continue to build in my wife and I lives and desires that would reflect His glory. Then...I started praying for His future local church in northern New Jersey...this is when my burden increased for the lost and joy inflated with hope. He has called me? He has asked me? To play a part in the sovereign, redemptive plan of GOD? His preordained plan for the salvation of souls in northern New Jersey had my name written in a column of the means? The remnant waiting to be called out, chosen, and bought by the blood of His Son Jesus for His glory will be brought into the fold by my going into the harvest?
Humbled.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Christlikeness Over Comfort
Kristin and I feel so blessed as the Lord has continued to be a lamp to our feet and light to our path. A number of people have expressed deep interest in being a part of what God is doing through calling us north to plant a gospel centered church that engages communities and people with the message of Jesus. It has been humbling for us to witness the Holy Spirit stirring in others hearts and not only our own. We have been rejoicing as the Lord reveals things like this to us, because our hearts resonate with what they are feeling and experiencing as they are living their lives surrendered and submitted to Jesus. There is even a church in Texas praying about partnering with us and helping fund the mission God has called us to. I will be meeting with the missions team first week of October to pray and talk more about the vision God has laid on my heart in seeing the gospel revive the northeast. Exciting.
During this season of ministry, one of the gifts of not preaching every Sunday is being provided opportunities to preach and teach the Word of God in other local churches in northeast New Jersey. I'll be preaching this Sunday at Emergence, and then I'll have the joy of preaching at two other local churches in New Jersey in the month of August. It's such a privilege to meet others who love Jesus and are laboring for the gospel and God's glory in other parts of the northeast.
One huge praise is that Kristin was offered a job at a private school! She is waiting to hear from one other interview to make her final decision but we are praising God for providing in this way. I'm so thankful for my wife, specifically in the ways she continues to serve me selflessly, and displays Christ's covenant keeping love to me regularly. It will awesome to see how God uses her gifts to bring glory to Him through teaching.
Lately I started reading 2 Peter, and the Lord has been reminding me through this time that He is much more concerned about my Christlikeness than my comfort. In chapter 1, Peter encourages us to make every effort in striving for greater personal holiness in different areas of our life. The question I want you to consider that I have been asking myself is: what are you making every effort for in your life currently? Is it becoming more like Jesus? And working towards becoming a godly man or woman of God? Or being more comfortable. Because His primary concern for you is you becoming more like His Son, Jesus. Maybe you have been feeling ineffective, discouraged, or as though you haven’t seen a lot of fruit in your life recently, and maybe it's because you haven’t been making every effort to know Him deeply, personally and passionately. Maybe you have been making every effort to study the latest stock market trend, stay fit, and make sure your Facebook and Twitter is up-to-date, but you haven't applied nearly the same energy in growing the inner man. If that is you, as it has been with me, I challenge you to pray a pretty bold prayer. Ask the Lord: Change me. Refine me. Even if my present circumstances don't change, make me more holy. Make me steadfast. Make me patient. Make me humble. Make me more like Jesus. Give me a desire to know you, seek after you, commune with you and spend time with you. Give me a Psalm 63 desire for your Word. Give me a larger view of your glory and splendor, a higher view of Jesus, and a deeper understanding of the riches of the gospel.
Praying with you.
During this season of ministry, one of the gifts of not preaching every Sunday is being provided opportunities to preach and teach the Word of God in other local churches in northeast New Jersey. I'll be preaching this Sunday at Emergence, and then I'll have the joy of preaching at two other local churches in New Jersey in the month of August. It's such a privilege to meet others who love Jesus and are laboring for the gospel and God's glory in other parts of the northeast.
One huge praise is that Kristin was offered a job at a private school! She is waiting to hear from one other interview to make her final decision but we are praising God for providing in this way. I'm so thankful for my wife, specifically in the ways she continues to serve me selflessly, and displays Christ's covenant keeping love to me regularly. It will awesome to see how God uses her gifts to bring glory to Him through teaching.
Lately I started reading 2 Peter, and the Lord has been reminding me through this time that He is much more concerned about my Christlikeness than my comfort. In chapter 1, Peter encourages us to make every effort in striving for greater personal holiness in different areas of our life. The question I want you to consider that I have been asking myself is: what are you making every effort for in your life currently? Is it becoming more like Jesus? And working towards becoming a godly man or woman of God? Or being more comfortable. Because His primary concern for you is you becoming more like His Son, Jesus. Maybe you have been feeling ineffective, discouraged, or as though you haven’t seen a lot of fruit in your life recently, and maybe it's because you haven’t been making every effort to know Him deeply, personally and passionately. Maybe you have been making every effort to study the latest stock market trend, stay fit, and make sure your Facebook and Twitter is up-to-date, but you haven't applied nearly the same energy in growing the inner man. If that is you, as it has been with me, I challenge you to pray a pretty bold prayer. Ask the Lord: Change me. Refine me. Even if my present circumstances don't change, make me more holy. Make me steadfast. Make me patient. Make me humble. Make me more like Jesus. Give me a desire to know you, seek after you, commune with you and spend time with you. Give me a Psalm 63 desire for your Word. Give me a larger view of your glory and splendor, a higher view of Jesus, and a deeper understanding of the riches of the gospel.
Praying with you.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Love the Law
God has been so good to us over the past month. We've moved into our new home and are really enjoying digging our roots in. We still have days of loneliness and missing friends from VA, but God has been our rock and refuge. Kristin has been applying for teaching jobs for the fall and has her first interview this Monday, please pray!
I have been busy teaching through the book of Galatians every Wednesday night for the summer college ministry at Emergence. I could tell you story after story of students driving upwards of 1 1/2 hours to hear the gospel and be with others who believe and live the gospel. Over 150 students from all over North and Central Jersey have been coming, many telling me there is nowhere close to them where the word is preached. They are hungry and eager to hear God's Word. What a gift.
Last night I finished Galatians chapter 3 where we had a lively discussion of the law and grace. Conversations were bubbling up everywhere and I got to talk to a good number of students afterwards who were from all walks of life, asking good, thoughtful questions in response to truth. One response that seems to be common when one is preaching in a systematic way about grace like the book of Galatians, most times out of relevant concern is, "Mike, if you preach this way, people are going to do whatever they want, because they hear that Jesus alone justifies them, therefore they don't think they're life needs to change."
That's simply not true. When a heart has been made new because of the gospel message of Jesus Christ, the law no longer terrifies, it tastes sweet to our souls. David called the law sweet as honey on his lips. When you submit your life to Jesus and follow Him, and you hear the law say "Don't have any other gods before me," our heart leaps with joy and responds "Why would I follow any other god? Why would I want any other god? Other gods have to be appeased and given sacrifice. You're the only God who actually appeased Yourself in a sacrifice of Yourself to purchase me for Yourself. I would rather have a God who made the offering for me to save me and rescue me to Himself." When we hear the law say "Don't use the Lord's name in vain," our heart leaps with joy and responds "How could I be trite about the one who saved and rescued me?" When we hear the law say "Do this and don't do this," our heart leaps with joy and responds "Help me do this and not do this so that I might make you known and make you visible to others and the world."
I remind you, if you're in Jesus, the law no longer terrifies you. A great question to ask yourself that I posed to myself and the students last night is: When you think about your relationship with God, are the majority of your thoughts focused on justifying the ways in which you are being "good," or are you more often humbled by the grace He's shown you which motivates you towards good works?
I pray we all can revel in the reality that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
Prayer Requests:
-Kristin's interview for a teaching position in middle school
-Gospel transformation in the lives of college students this summer
-Holy Spirit's leading as Mike networks with churches and potential donors for the future church plant
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Long Overdue
This post is way past due, but I never know when to update and when to keep silent. I'm still learning the balance between leading by example and serving in private. So much has happened in our life over the past few weeks. Kristin officially graduated from graduate school at Liberty University with her M.A.T. and has begun applying for teaching positions in North Jersey. I'm so proud of my wife and the many hours she diligently worked as she studied, researched, completed projects and papers, all while serving me with joy.
I performed a wedding in D.C. for very good friends a few weeks ago, it was a joy to see friends and celebrate another union before God displaying Christ's covenant keeping love for His bride, the Church. I also attended a deeply encouraging pastors conference in Washington D.C. focused on building healthy, biblically faithful, local churches. I was able to bring the Lead Pastor of Emergence with me and it was a fruitful time of growth, conviction and encouragement.
With long awaited anticipation, we officially moved this past Tuesday into our home we will be renting in Hawthorne, New Jersey! We are grateful to God for providing us with this home and look forward to using it for His Kingdom and glory. It is a two-family home which is common for this area. We live on the second and third floor, along with a very sweet neighbor named Artie on the first floor. The picture below can serve as a visual as you pray for the ministry the Lord will have us do not only in northern New Jersey at large, but in this neighborhood, and within the walls of this home as people gather together as the church.
In other news, the Wayne Valley Varsity Boys Lacrosse team that I coach won it's first county title in program history, along with making it to the quarter finals in the state rounds! The North Jersey Newspaper exploded with articles, pictures and interviews describing the season we had. What a joy it was to coach the students, be provided gospel opportunities with players and families, and build relationships along the way. You can check out a great article recapping the cinderella-like season below:
Thank you for your prayers, financial support, and daily encouragement. We treasure each of you.
Please pray for:
-The Lord's guidance and wisdom as we are hoping to lay out a plan in September with more details in regards to the church plant. We are looking to plant in Bergen County. Pray we remain faithful to God, humble in heart and posture, and joyful at His choosing us to go and serve in this way.
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