I'm into church planting, in Iowa.
I have lived all over the state since I was born, and have a passion for Iowans to hear the gospel of Jesus and form healthy churches that learn the Bible and worship God who governs and transforms every area of life.
This is the goal. Here are four values from my philosophy of ministry that I like to focus on:
Grace lies at the center of the gospel. In order to properly preach the gospel, grace must be understood clearly. The biblical definition of grace, as championed by Reformed theology, is undeserved pardon of sin based completely on Jesus Christ's sinless life and death on the cross (Romans 3:19-26, Eph. 2:1-10). Before salvation, humans are incapable of pleasing God or choosing God. The amazing work of Jesus Christ is thus causing spiritual rebirth into a new nature that can please God, and receive eternal life.
This definition of grace is a missional strength. Using it is of benefit to missional work in Iowa. How is it a strength? I’ll list two ways here, grace is a comfort (2 Thess. 2:16-17) and grace is a catalyst (Titus 2:11-14).
The biblical definition of grace as undeserved pardon is comforting because it removes all pressure of salvation off of our backs. Many Iowans think that God’s view of them is wholly based on what they do, or that their ticket to heaven is purchased by obedience. This is not comforting, and yet every religion other than Christianity says just that. “Just be better” is not comforting. “Jesus was better for you” is.
Many Iowans think Christianity is a legalistic religion. Even many who claim to be Christians try to do good works purely based on their own willpower and resolve. Once grace is put in its proper place, as the foundation of salvation that cannot be lost, then Iowans can successfully obey God. When salvation is secure, by grace, then righteous actions will flow naturally, abundantly, and effectively in a place that desperately needs them. Grace alone will transform the self and society for the better (1 Cor. 1:4-7, 15:10). Grace says that "just be better" or "just try harder" is at best wrong and at worst hopeless. Instead, grace offers certainty for change by placing the responsibility for success squarely on Jesus' shoulders. You can do great things in life whenever Jesus' grace is the catalyst (Eph. 2:5-10).
I am serving as an assistant pastor in Cedar Rapids at a recently planted church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, where I am preparing to plant. In God's good timing, the goal is to begin a church plant within the next year or so.
Success is 100% measured by whether or not God acts. And the Bible is clear that God acts when his people wait on Him (Isaiah 64:4). So wait on God with me, praying temple-access-level prayers (Jonah 2:7, read Hebrews 10:19 if you want this level of acces), that God would give fruitfulness to my labors.
These things require prayer:
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Click this link to fund this ministry. 100% of donations will come to me through the oversight of Trinity Presbyterian Church and the management of MNA (Mission to North America, the domestic missions organization of the PCA)