I am in San Diego today, attending the Guidestone Financial Services Board of Trustees meeting.  This financial entity cares for ministers and their families in many ways such as managing retirement funds, investments, and service matters like hospitalization, also expanding into many other services.  This entity is a $10 billion entity, so the responsibiity is very serious.  Under the incredible leadership of Dr. O.S. Hawkins, this service to ministers and their families is ever-growing.

While I am in San Diego, I am making use of this time by spending most of Tuesday (following the conclusion of the GuideStone meeting) with Doug Sarver, Brad Graves, and Scott Grimm on our San Diego church launch.  We are anticipating some great things.  As I drove down from Los Angeles today and looked over the millions of people between these two cities, it is obvious that the fields are white unto
harvest.  What a blessing to be able to partner with the North American Mission Board to launch this significant church plant.  We are praying
for more churches to come on board to be partners on this significant project.  Our commitment is $250,000 over a two year period of time and the North American Mission Board will also give an additional $250,000.  This $500,000 will be increased over this two year period of time by other churches that partner with us, plus the congregation in San Diego once it gets started.

I am back in the pulpit this next Sunday, so please pray for me.  God has used the past four weeks with our people as Dr. Charles Lowery has
ministered to us.  I have been here two of these weeks and I have been blessed.

Your Staff Team is coming off of one of our finest Staff Retreats (this year we called it “Staff Advance”) I have been a part of in my almost 21 years here with you.  Unity in the Spirit was evident.  We are all believing we are on the brink of our greatest days.  God is moving and getting things ready for a mighty move of God.

Let’s pray to that end.