Over the past few months, many people have asked us what we
are doing in this next season of our lives. I thought it would be best if I
could write it down for all who are interested to clarify what is taking place.
It’s a unique opportunity, one which I’m extremely thankful to God for.
To boil it down, we are in the very beginning stages of
planting a church. Our great desire is to plant a church-planting movement that
will saturate entire people groups across the world with Gospel Communities on
Mission. We want to catalyze and resource a Gospel-centered, reproducing,
missional movement of Jesus. Because this is something that we feel deeply
about and believe this is the task God has assigned for us, there is much
preparation that needs to take place.
I have signed up with a group of churches under the organization
called AntiochNW that
provides an apprenticeship where I will be challenged in my character, skill
and knowledge as a church planter. Through the apprenticeship, I will be living
in community on mission with a mentor who will know our lives and will be able
to bring the gospel to bear on us personally as God continues to prune us for
greater fruitfulness. The mentor will also help me develop the necessary skills
to launch our endeavor. We will learn how to reproduce communities and develop
the necessary DNA to launch a movement. Upon completion of the apprenticeship,
I will earn a fully accredited Master’s Degree in Church Planting and
Leadership Development. While I will be earning a degree, this is not school as
usual. I will be based in Tacoma and will be part of the extended family at
Soma Communities.
On a personal level, Darianne has taken a job as a part-time
music teacher at a local private school while I will be working various restaurant
jobs. We have moved to Tacoma in the north end just off 6th Ave and
are hoping to serve the community as missionaries to this area.
Please continue to pray for us as we venture out to what God
has for us. Here are some ways you can pray:
- Continued health of Darianne and future Baby Westcott
- Open doors with our neighborhood and opportunities to see God move
- New Car and other various needed items
As time progresses, I will be putting together various ways
in which you can keep up to date and ways you can help if you feel inclined. We
really need prayer as this is all a work of God!
If you feel inclined and would like to watch a 15 minute
video about what we are going to be doing, check out this link. http://vimeo.com/22754743
