The following newsletter is being distributed online and via snail mail. Check it out and feel free to leave your thoughts! The formatting got a little messed up, but you get the idea!!! Click on the blue text to download the .doc file and read it with better formatting.
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Hello Friends!
I wanted to take a minute to update you on our lives in Winchester and the progress we’ve made with Renovate Church since moving to Winchester VA in June 2009.
First, Shelley and I are both doing well in our jobs. We’re both working at colleges, and we enjoy what we’re doing. Being bi-vocational, commuting church planters is very challenging, but we are beginning to build some relational inroads. Chloe is doing well in school. She’s learning to read, can already count to 100, can write well, and she’s only 4 years old! She continues to amaze us every day. We have also recently found out that baby #2 is on the way!
We’ve been living in the community of Stephens City, which is a neighboring community to Winchester. There are a lot of housing developments here, and we’ve begun to connect with our neighbors.
So far, we’ve held several relationship-building, community outreach, meet-and-greet type events, like an end of summer party, a Halloween block party, info sessions, as well as taking advantage of similar opportunities that friends have hosted. We’ve found that this area has a huge commuter culture. Many people, including ourselves drive more than 45 minutes, or even an hour and a half (one way) to work, and making new friends is challenging. People here want to connect with others, but are slow to trust newcomers. Although I grew up here, I’ve been gone for 10 years. Reconnecting has been a top priority, and our biggest challenge.
We’ve begun a small, home based Bible study, which meets on Monday nights. Conversations have been messy, to say the least. Our people have been out of church for years, have tons of hurts and church junk, and we’ve been sorting through the incongruencies between who Jesus is and how Christian often behave. We’ve been studying the Gospel of John, which is a great “Intro to Jesus” book. We’re truly learning how to live out our mission statement, which is to “Engage the emerging culture in ways that re-present Jesus Christ.”
I have been able to complete the legal and administrative requirements for starting a church early. We are totally legal, have our own tax ID, website, and all that good stuff! Donations directly to Renovate Church are tax deductible!
I want you to know that although it’s difficult to stay connected with all of you, we value your prayers, your influence, and your impact on our lives. You have impacted us so much already, and you’ll never know how much!
This coming holiday season present some interesting opportunities for us, and for Renovate Church. Here’s how you can help:
- Pray
- We need leaders in our church. As part of our commitment to reaching people who don’t go to church already, I have not recruited Christians from other churches to join us. This presents leadership challenges, as well as relational challenges. Shelley and I can only do so much ourselves, and we are limited in our circle of relationships. We need God to supernaturally send us leaders, as well as those who are far from God. This is all about people, and we need to connect with people and build deep friendships.
- I am still compiling our Board of Overseers. This is a group of leaders who I trust, who I count as mentors, and who are willing to hold me accountable. I’m looking for 3 more people, from ministry, non-profit, and business worlds, who are willing to invest in my life as a pastor and leader. They also make up the initial board of the church, for legal purposes.
- Spiritual and mind battles. Every day seems like a spiritual and emotional roller coaster. When we don’t see the results (in man’s eyes) that others have, or there just isn’t enough time in the day, it wears on us. This is challenging in ways that can’t be put into words. I even cut a toe off in a lawn mower this summer! Luckily, they sewed it back on! That too was an unexpected challenge!
- Supernatural guidance. There is a fine line between human effort and divine intervention. Every day, every event, every plan made is a balance between doing what we’re called to do, and allowing God to be God. We are doing the things we know to do, but there comes a point where it’s no longer up to us, and it’s up to God to do the work.
- Give
- Ministry costs money. We all know that. Right now, Renovate is supported by generous givers like you and your church, as well as my family’s income. There are several ways to give: i. Commit to a monthly gift personally, or as a church ii. Quarterly special offerings from your church iii. A missions-designated special offering for Christmas. I’ve seen churches raise thousands of
dollars for missions and church planting. ‘Tis the season to be giving! iv. Tax returns. This is usually a big sacrifice. Most of us look forward to this each year. Your sacrificial gift could result in a transformed life v. Your gift will allow us to continue to hold more relationship building events, do more
community outreach, marketing/promotion, and simply bless people! - Maybe you or someone you know is interested in church planting. We need people who will commit to be leaders in the Winchester community and surrounding area. We are purposefully bi-vocational. It may be slower growth, but it allows us to be in the community, shoulder to shoulder with the people we are reaching. Our prayer is for leaders from within and from outside of the area to step up with us and transform our community for Jesus.
- Send a mission team from your church! We can canvas the area with fliers, do service projects, and bless this community in ways that will change your life just as much as it will transform the lives of those here in Winchester.
- Let me come to your church! I am booking Sundays after the holidays. Think of this as a Missionary on furlough type event. By inviting me to your church, it allows me to update your congregation on our progress, and give them an opportunity to sow seeds into our ministry.
3. Go
- Ministry costs money. We all know that. Right now, Renovate is supported by generous givers like you and your church, as well as my family’s income. There are several ways to give: i. Commit to a monthly gift personally, or as a church ii. Quarterly special offerings from your church iii. A missions-designated special offering for Christmas. I’ve seen churches raise thousands of
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it’s not been too long! Below is all the info you’ll need to contact us, or to give. Thank you in advance for your prayers, your gift, your invitation, and your time!
Brandon Bowers,
Lead Pastor of Renovate Church
Checks can be written out to “Renovate Church.” Our church and personal mailing address is 106 Ian Court Stephens City VA 22655. My cell is now 304-671-4472. My email is b3.bowers@gmail.com and our website is www.renovate540.com
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