Update from Brooklyn

Dear Friends,

I want to start by issuing an apology for not updating you all more frequently. Life as a bivocational church planter and father of two small children can be difficult and time consuming at times. Please understand that we love and appreciate each of you and the fact that you are praying for us. I cannot imagine how much more difficult this journey would be without your support. So, please forgive me (Nathan) if it ever seems like you have been forgotten. You are indeed near and dear to my heart. 

That being said, God is doing some great things here in our ministry and our family. As always, it's much easier to summarize in bullet points:

• Our core team is growing: In that last two months, we have added two couples to our core leadership team. Beyond Kevin and Kristi Cabe who joined us in March, our leadership team now includes: Jon and Bonnie Carr (Atlanta, GA) felt called to plant a church in Brooklyn and have joined our team for a 1-year apprenticeship. Over the next year, I will have the opportunity to train Jon as a church planter, and then when he is ready to plant, Cornerstone Church will function as his sending church and main on-field partner. This is an amazing event for our church, because it means that we will be able to plant a new church even though we are a church plant ourselves! Trey and Caitlin Eitel, after feeling a call to go to seminary decided to attend the NYC extension of SBTS (my alma mater) rather than attending on campus so they could gain experience in church planting and help us support our work. The Eitels come to us from First Baptist Watkinsville, GA, one of our church partners. It's amazing to see how God is bringing people to Brooklyn to serve His church!

• Our church is growing in size: We are now averaging 30 people on Sundays with approximately 20 in our weekly small groups. This is amazing, and we give God glory considering that the idea of planting a church in Brooklyn started with just two people and has grown significantly! We were really excited this fall, that due to the fact we have several children as a part of our church, we were able to participate in a local children's parade.   

• Our church is growing in their love for God and their walk with Christ: Lesley and I are each actively involved in discipling our Cornerstone members. I meet once per week with Jeremy (pictured, above right, holding the banner) to discuss personal evangelism and walking in Christ. He has been a believer for a long time, but craves to follow Christ more deeply, and we are pursuing that together. Lesley has been meeting weekly with two ladies, discussing topics such as prayer and Bible study. We are thankful for the opportunity to lead the people of Cornerstone Church. 

• Summer is already looking to be great: We are already in the planning stages for spring and summer mission teams. We have several churches interested in sending volunteers, and we look forward to seeing God work during our volunteer time in the summer.  

Family Update:

• WE HAVE MOVED! In September God opened the door for us to finally have a 2 bedroom! We are so excited and are loving our new place. Nathan and I have a room to ourselves (with 4 walls and a door!), and the kids room is bigger than before. Our living room is HUGE. We hosted 18 adults for dinner the other night and felt very comfortable. I have a full size dishwasher, a new oven, and my own washer and dryer that cost me nothing. The little things in life that make us happy! To the right is a picture of us sitting on our front steps of our new place.

• Sophia: Sophia is our smart and independent little woman! She  brings me much joy each and every day, as well as teaching moments for myself. Any mom of a 2 1/2 year old has to learn patience!!!! She is doing an incredible job with potty training. She loves going for walks, shopping, etc. Every morning she asks "Where are we going today?" She LOVES to sing, her favorites are "Nothing but the Blood", "Bless the Lord", and "Stand up for Jesus!"

• Caleb: Caleb will be turning 1 next week! He is my sweet little boy! He LOVES his mama.  Started walking at 10 months old and yes he is a climber too! Still has the cutest dimples and loves to show them off. He laughs and smiles all the time. He is determined to do EVERYTHING Sophia does and he is all boy... loves to "attack" Sophia, throw anything and everything and eats like a man! I call him my little monster! 

Prayer Requests:

• Pray that Nathan would lead our church well. Pray that he would have good time management skills, would dedicate time to preaching and preparation, and would disciple the staff and members of Cornerstone Church as God leads. 

• Pray for our church to grow in love for Christ. Our people are asking some great questions about faith, and we are seeking to answer those daily. Pray that we would be diligent in our discipleship. 

• Pray for our summer planning. We have several churches interested, and we want to plan to utilize them well.