Change

A special thank you to all of you who are praying for NLBC! God is using you to scatter gospel seeds in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. We've been encouraged to see some of those seeds take root and begin the growing process. Other seeds need more watering, and will require nurturing through prayer. Be assured that you share in the fruit....that which is visible, and that which we believe will become evident in the future, through the power of our Lord.

Our average attendance has been around 20, and the spirit in our services has been refreshing. The Lord has added a few new couples to our core group, and their faithfulness and participation encourages us. One young man who has been regularly attending recently expressed a desire to rededicate his life to the Lord. Others have expressed interest in membership and everyone is always willing to serve. This eagerness to grow and develop and serve is a direct answer to your prayers and ours, and is at the very heart of church planting.....CHANGE. We are seeing change in the lives of saved and unsaved alike. And God is also changing our own hearts by increasing both our burden for the lost and our dependence upon Him alone. True change here in the North Richland Hills area occurs slowly and without flash and drama. We must keep our focus on Christ alone who is able to do the saving, the restoring, the growing, and the changing.

Last week's canvassing brought some interesting results. In one group of young people who had gathered outside we met a professing Atheist, an Agnostic, and another who obviously had some Bible background. In that one group we witnessed hardness, coldness, bitterness, openness, and hopefulness....all who needed the permanent change that only faith in Christ can bring. We trust that one of them might accept our invitation to attend our church services. If not, perhaps they will read the gospel message printed on the brochure and someday trust the Lord to save them. The results are in God's hands.

We plan to hold a Charter Membership Service on the first weekend of December. Please pray that our spirit of oneness will continue and that we as future charter members of New Life Bible Church will always be open to change as God leads and redirects our paths. As some of you have experienced, church planting requires flexibility and the ability to change at a moment's notice....change of location, change of strategy, change of plans, but never change of goals, purpose, or doctrine. Our stand for the truth must be unchanging.

Having lived in Pennsylvania for the past 19 years, we confess that we miss the beauty of autumn....the colors of the changing leaves there are always breathtaking. The seasons are changing here in Texas as well, but with little obvious color....almost unnoticeable, except for the welcome gradual decrease in temperature. How fitting, and what a perfect reminder of the church planting ministry in this area. The change is occurring, but not as overtly, and perhaps not as visible to the casual observer. But upon closer inspection, we see signs of growth and change that God, by His grace, has brought about, and these changes are beautiful. The fact that He is using NLBC (and YOU) to bring about this change makes us feel humble, grateful, and desirous to daily change into His image.

To God be the glory!

In His Service,
John and Shawn

II Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."