July 2020 Prayer Team Update
Where We've Been
We have loved the process of preparing, day dreaming, and increase longing for church planting these last few years. One piece that I have GROWN to love is the ever-changing nature of it all. Adaptability and flexibility were not always in my vocabulary. I would make plans, and stick to them. That was admirable in my vocabulary, and in a large part it still is. However, what I didn’t know was that something that cannot flex will break.
I praise God for how he has been slow to teach me how to flex, bend, pivot, and adapt to not just my surroundings, but to the particular next step he is calling us to take. In church planting and in our personal journey of following Jesus we have learned that the path to joy is the path to the Presence of God. Psalm 16:11 has fueled us along the way to be flexible and adaptable when it says,
“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Following Jesus into the joy of His Presence has been our vision as we have followed him to today, and will continue to be our vision as we follow him into Denver.
Where We Are
Today flexibility is the name of every day. Yesterday was my last official day as a staff member of Redeemer Church. Last Wednesday we had the joy and privilege of officially handing over our beloved student ministry, RISE, to Jacob the man who will continue to lead the students toward Christ. It has been a strange (COVID), and yet incredibly delightful experience transitioning into his leadership. I know and trust that he will lead the students, and the volunteers in the same vision of equipping the students to fight for joy in Jesus.
Today marks day one in the next stage of church planting. While we are done with student ministry and I don’t technically work for Redeemer anymore we are just getting started on the immense adventure of fundraising. There are many details to share, but at this point we are approximately 30% of the way to raising our first year budget. I am heavily encouraged and optimistic, but am heavily aware of the immense uphill climb before we arrive at our goal.
I have been describing the rest of our time in Cedar Falls as fundraising and hustling. I have officially been hired back at my part-time job at Sidecar Coffee, and am excited to keep building relationships there that will lead to gospel renewal in the lives of my coworkers. Another opportunity I have been granted for the summer is leading a week long student conference here in Cedar Falls. The theme of this conference is “So What?”. I hope that this edgy and provoking theme will help coax students out of their Midwest churched context and bring them closer to Jesus. I along with many other church leaders will teach tweens and teens about the joy of the gospel and why it matters to them and to the lost. I am very honored for the opportunity to keep preaching the gospel and sharing life with students, all while rallying other leaders in the Cedar Valley.
Where We are Headed
Looking ahead we long for the safe arrival of our baby girl on (or slightly before) August 8. Ally is doing well, but also is very plainly 35 weeks pregnant and feeling it. We are also very thrilled to tell you that we are going to have our assessment with the Send Network/North American Mission Board on August 17-18.
Yes, that is incredibly close to our due date. So what we ask is what we have been asking: pray for safe delivery, and now that she would come just a little early, (just a little) so that we have that much more time to recover before we spend two days in interviews. We are still hoping and praying for Apartment Life to give us placement this year, but we are also being given potential options of housing in Denver through other means, which is also an amazing answer to prayers! We covet your prayers and are grateful for how you have continued to support us.
Stay salty family,
Michael Van Waardhuizen
Prayer Needs
Healthy baby girl and smooth labor for Ally.
For an apartment community in Capitol Hill, Denver to open up this fall so we can move in with this awesome organization.
We are experiencing fruit of family unity, but long for EVEN MORE as we continue and as things get crazy hectic these next four months.
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
For individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
