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It's been a while since I mentioned what we're going through on Sunday mornings. Yesterday 10/23) I taught through chapter nine of Daniel. It was about how Daniel prayed earnestly to God for himself and Israel b/c of their sins against Him. The second half of the chapter deals with the future prophecy of 70 weeks laid out for Israel. B/c I didn't have time to speak on it, I provided two links to short teachings on the subject. Here they are:John MacArthur - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NkGzWdcgJYChuck Missler - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imqL2ertPW4
This coming Sunday is the seventh and final message in the series on chapters 10-12.
From day one of our church plant we have talked about and dreamed of sending out a church plant from Encounter. Not surprising, the most asked question I've had in the almost three years we've had services is, "What's your timeline on land and a building?" Here's the thing; it's certainly not that I think owning land and a building is wrong...you've got to have something to meet in! But we at Encounter just like the flexiblity renting allows us and the ability to be extra generous with the funds that are given by our people.Again, from day one of having services (Feb. 1/09) we have laid aside 5% of total offerings for a future church plant. The amount as of September 30 is $27,400.00.So what's in my pocket...a check for $10,000.00 to add to Encounter's future church plant!Praise the Lord for Kingdom minded people!
This past weekend was a bonding time for Encounter's leadership. Once a year all our elders & wives, small group leaders and their wives, ministry coaches and their spouses and all ministry apprentices gather to look back at the past year and look ahead to the year to come.It was a time of great camaraderie and laughter for the team as we ate sweet and salty snacks together.First up on Friday night was hearing a report from each ministry coach about their ministry wins, things we could pray for and what they're dreaming about for 2012. After each one shared I asked if people had any questions or words of encouragement for the coach. I took about 10 minutes to remind the team that we serve a good King whose Kingdom is worth looking forward to and read out of Matthew 6:31-34. Then we went over church financials and had an open Q & A time with the elders. We ended Friday night with a good time of prayer and then some of us stayed later to play Encounter's unofficial cult game: Settlers of Catan. A few of us even slept over b/c we were meeting at 9:00am the next day anyway. (only a few people teased me about wearing the same shirt:-)Saturday was our time to look back over 2011's calendar and begin planning 2012's calendar of events. Then we spoke a little about the survey we had given to the congregation back in the Spring and that we would like to continue evaluating how we are doing in living out our core values and the metrics we put in place to do so. The morning ended with a short update on how the elder in-home visits have been going and that Encounter is still more than ever committed to sending out a group of people to plant a church in the near future.Our time ended with an extended time of prayer.
Last night was a blast hosting Real Life down at OSU! Our congregation did a great job making dozens of cookies and veggie trays for us to offer the students as they entered Independence Hall. 
Eleven of us from Encounter were there greeting at the doors and I was able to get up in front of the students to tell them a little about our church plant. 
