Bibles Unbound...... Clean Water. As we dive into the advent conspiracy a bit more deeply, I am still amazed and humbled by what God is choosing to do in and through us. Honestly, we placed a "God-sized" goal of 835 bibles to be sent into China. God felt free to smile and free us to send 1700+ bibles into the hands of fellow Christ-followers in China. Together, we gave more than $9800 toward Bibles Unbound! Amazing.. Amazing... Amazing!

This past weekend, we turned our hearts toward giving to the BloodWater Mission. I cannot wait to share with you what God has done through our fellowship. Keep your fork!

When it felt like we couldn't sap one more ounce of God's goodness in our weekend Encounter, Ian stood and said 'goodbye' to the crowd for the day. Tied with his 'goodbye' was the announcement that we will be breaking ground the 16th on our MUCH ANTICIPATED preschool building and family-fun area. Even better, we will break ground debt-free, God-willing. Our typical "Journey" giving in December will allow us to have fully paid off the Field House before breaking ground. Utterly and completely amazing!!

It was a good day Sunday! There are so many things that were right. Ultimately, the presence and Person of Jesus Christ was the most pervasive and amazing thing that happened Sunday. There was a palpable sense that we were experiencing one sacred moment after another Sunday. Sunday at 12:30, I was exhausted and refreshed in Christ simultaneously. What a feeling.

Perhaps the most challenging thing that happened Sunday stemmed from a biography that I am reading. The bio is about a Pastor in the underground church in China. The book is compelling. At 5:30ish AM Sunday, I was going to wrap up the book and head to EBC. As I eased into the next to last chapter, I was stopped in my tracks and left undone. He was describing a vision to impact a massive region of the Asian continent. The church in China longs to send 100,000 missionaries out of China and into the most challenging places in the world. Check out the progress @ http://www.backtojerusalem.com/

The three key components of the missionary training include: a deep biblical understanding of suffering as a Christ-follower. They are trained to live and to be willing to die for the sake of the gospel. 2) the capacity to share their faith... while traveling; at a home church; with a Hindu/ Muslim; and when in a van traveling to your execution! 3) how to escape imprisonment for the sake of the gospel....

I want to live for Christ. With all that I am, I want to live for Christ. I want to reach a point of willingness to die for Him as well. All of life for Him. All of life from Him. All of life to Him. Beautiful.

Feel free to comment. I hope that your week is lived as a conspiracy for His glory! Keep your fork, we have an incredible weekend on the horizon. See you Sunday.

By Grace... For Glory,

Mark