If at first you don’t succeed…

Posted on October 15, 2008 by Carl

Ok, so I get my Secretary of State paperwork back for the non-profit corporation and we’re good to go, right??? Nope! I used my mailing address (P.O. Box) on the application, because I did not see a prohibition against it; however, the Lone Star State requires a physical address.

On a brighter note I did get the bank account opened for Simplicity yesterday. I also had a friend challenge me on the need for a building. The location I am considering was impressed upon me as Simplicity was unveiled in my spirit, but my friend felt like I should focus more on the home/office/coffee shop organic expression and utilize free space if we need to do a public meeting. Simplicity is able to operate in both the organic and attractional modes, but I want to make sure I don’t jump ahead of the Lord, so I will be praying this through a little more.

On that note, anyone reading this blog is always welcome to challenge my thinking and push back on my direction.

Tonight I will be meeting with a couple who I believe God has set apart to play a key role in the life of Simplicity. It will be exciting to hear what God has been saying to them.

Building a mailing list

Posted on October 13, 2008 by Carl

I spent most of the afternoon building a mailing list. Nothing more exciting than data entry, but this is an important step in enlisting prayer partners and financial partners. I hope to have my partnership letters and pledge cards mailed out tomorrow.

It is simple

Posted on October 11, 2008 by Carl

Yesterday we went to look at the building that I want to use for our first Simplicity church. This building was formerly used by a church planter I had begun to develop a relationship with, who was unable to remain in ministry for personal reasons.

The building is a store front with 1,000 square feet, a bathroom and a platform. The carpet is fairly new and the walls have been painted in the not so distant past. The lease is $600 per month with a $600 deposit. Carol and I both felt this was the place (and I’m a firm believer in “beauty from ashes”).

Elishba, our Indian ministry intern who is living with us commented: “It fits, it is very simple.”

The landlord is supposed to fax the lease to me this week and I am trusting the Lord to provide for the deposit and first month’s rent. Currently all of the expenses are coming out of the Willis household budget, so hopefully we’ll have some donations coming in soon.

Meeting space

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Carl

Today, I went to look at a meeting space for our weekly community worship services. The facility was being leased by a planter I sponsored who had to close down his church. They had renovated the space with a platform, new carpet and new paint. The price is $600/month for 1,000 square feet that includes the worship center and an office.

I was not able to do a walk through today, but hopefully will have that opportunity tomorrow.

I also secured my EIN# today and sent off my affiliation application for 501c3 status under a group ruling with FGOCI.

So far all of the expenditures for Simplicity have come out of my pocket, I hope to begin receiving some pledge cards here shortly. My last day at my current pastorate will be a week from Thursday and I will be on vacation until the end of the month. At that point there will be no more paychecks. Walking by faith is exciting, but not always fun.

Congratulations!

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Carl

Congratulations! You’ve just been invited to join me on a journey from vision to reality. Over the past 9 months, God has impregnated my soul with a yearning that could not be quenched. A passion for a simple yet powerful expression of faith.

That passion has now become fully developed and the birthing of a dream is close at hand. I hope you will find inspiration, vision and an unquenchable desire for a new move of God in our generation. For me these things are rooted in the simplicity of Jesus Christ.

This blog is a documentary of my journey, my ideas, my successes, failures, fears, doubts and victories. Thank you for taking the journey with me.

Carl

Journey To Simplicity