Residency [Christmas] Update :: free song download

Work continues as a church planting resident at Woodlands Point. Thanks for your prayers, as they are most important of all!

Classroom theology and leadership training kicked-off in November 2012 and runs the next twelve months. We started with assessing personalities and sharing stories among the residents. "Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders is the first of readings amongst other articles on church leadership during our first of four modules. 

"A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position by the inward leading of the Holy Spirit and the press of circumstances..." -A.W. Tozer

In all of this I am privileged to provide practical pastoral care as a coach to community group leaders, serve alongside and consult in children's ministry, as well as help manage the weekly logistics of set-up and tear down. Of course, there are many ways in which a resident is called to serve...you can follow me @JohnShaw76 and track #TheShaw as I upload pics, quotes and just some fun stuff we do in the community.

Living in community with each other is the pulse of the church and the applied practice of how we are being propelled by the Gospel to be on mission for Jesus. Recently I was co-leader in a training class of twenty-eight leaders and apprentices as they are responding to how God is using them as influencers of the Good News of Jesus in their community. 

"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can."  -George Bernard Shaw

Children’s ministry is also foremost in the minds of our leaders at Woodlands Point and I have been able to help lead and consult as we are continuing to grow.

"Nearly half of the adults who attended church regularly as children and now bring their own offspring to a church do not even know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior." -George Barna

As Christ followers, we are called to be the Church and sent as agents of the King into our neighborhood, city, region and the world. Currently we made a move to the other side of the school into the gym. A gym is seen as a place of athletics and pep rallies, yet it is a place of worship for the believer and seeker on Sunday. The fact of not going to a church building, but that we ARE the Church, is a reminder every week that all spaces are redeemable for God's glory as we do that every week setting up and tearing down. 

Please be in prayer specifically as Joni and I have kept the idea of adoption close to our hearts over twelve years of marriage. Through The Orphan Care Network we have taken steps to partner with Arrow Child and Family Ministries to pursue what it might look like for our family to foster-to-adopt a child. This is not a warm and cozy idea for us but a picture of sacrifice, sanctification and redeem-ability of us and a child that God might so graciously place in our care. We started with orientation this week!

Balancing these roles can be enough, however, in the midst of all this I am continuing to fundraise my annual salary for the purpose of development and future launch support. Fundraising prepares and gives great perspective on what it takes to move the Gospel forward as a missionary to the city. 

I have received one-time gifts which help kick start the process, however, monthly partners are key. Presently, monthly donations are at the goal of being at a part-time salary but my hope is to be at full-time in 2013.

I have sought out part-time jobs for support but these take significant time out of a weekly schedule and barely fit the bill, as well as inhibit the process. Your partnership helps with monthly living expenses as well as cost of conferences, travel and extra supplies needed.

As 2012 comes to an end, please consider support of us as missionaries to the city.


HOW TO GIVE:

•  You can give safely and securely online at my specific residency link ---> CLICK HERE 

• You can send a support check to: --- PO BOX 131533, The Woodlands, TX 77393 --- Checks can be be made out to “Woodlands Point Community Church” --- MEMO “John Shaw”

• All proceeds 100% Tax Deductible

Your Kingdom partnership means so much as a faith covenant in which I don’t take lightly.

[Check Out] Woodlands Point "The Songs of Christmas" Series -- a [FREE SONG DOWNLOAD] of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

   Merry Christmas!

   John Shaw

PRAYER NEEDED FOR SHAW'S

I am set to begin residency full-time at Woodlands Point in September. Exciting times! I truly feel like God has placed me in this community to be refined before being sent out as a church planter. My leadership and experience will be utilized in children's ministry, shepherding & training community group leaders, and launching a community group ourselves (aka small group). There will also be formal classroom training involving required readings, listeningassignments, papers, and assessments. Lot's coming up! 

Fear, anxiety, doubt, and more have crept in as Satan has seemingly whispered in our ear, "You can't do this." The enemy certainly knows us and knows our plans to further the Good News of Jesus Christ and is trying to wedge and distort these plans. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." We are being made more aware of the the first part of that verse for sure but HOLDING STRONG to the latter.

This is where prayer is EXTREMELY needed from our extended family in Christ! We need you prayer warriors! 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

I launched this prayer and financial support campaign a couple weeks ago. It has all happened so fast! Joni and I are seriously hitting our knees! This is a shotgun start where most people might have a few months or more but we are working on a tight time frame.

As of Aug 23, 2012, based on next 3 months, our giving report is (8% RAISED SUPPORT / 92% NEEDED SUPPORT). We need to raise the first 3 months of salary before we even receive a check to go toward living expenses. If you would please prayerfully consider financially partnering with us as missionaries to this city as a monthly or one time donor, Click-->HERE

We covet your prayers, we can't do any of this without your support.

His...Yours

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Would you let your best friend go through all of the drawers in your house?? Clothes, utensils, socks, junk, towels, journals, pens, pictures, toys, t-shirts, personal effects, flash drives, money, files...the list could keep going and going! We use drawers to stuff things, organize things, and throw things. To be authentic is to be real...no masks. Imagine your home with every drawer open. I hope that this blog will be a way for me to share with you the journey we are starting on and be an open drawer for you to peak inside my messy and grace-filled life that I experience as a follower of Christ, husband, father, pastor and church planter trying to figure it all out on the way. (Check out my video below)

Please stay tuned for updates as we desperately need your prayers all along the way and selfishly ask that you would become partners in prayer with us as we seek more of Him and less of us. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

How to Partner :

• PRAYER - Subscribe to this blog and/or follow me on Twitter @JohnShaw76
• You can give monthly or one time safely and securely -- Click >>HERE 
• All proceeds 100% Tax Deductible

Personally, your partnership means so much to us in furthering God’s Kingdom as we glorify Jesus Christ and the Good news of his saving power and grace that he extends to us through the cross. May His Grace and Peace abound!

View more info at http://woodlandspoint.org/churchplanting