Spring has come early after a very mild winter here in Michigan. New Wine seems to be going through a Spring of its own. Spring is when we see new life bursting forth. It's when the sleepy quiet of winter suddenly is replaced with activity and life across the entire creation. This past month we have had a flurry of visitors on Sunday. It started with the visit from four men who had heard about us over a year ago when Bishop Augustus visited us from Rwanda. As a result, when a recent ministry had to close its doors, several from that fellowship have come to see where God is at work in us.
Being an extrovert, I personally have been energized by meeting about a dozen new people over the past few weeks. More importantly, as we share our story, we hear their story of God at work. Often we hear how God has worked in them and given them a heart for worship and service. Their story is such an encouragement to us. We also, however, hear of struggle and pain which keeps the story real. Our God is a gracious and healing Father. We love to hear how He is at work in others and gives us hope that He will work in us and through us in the days to come.
A recent highlight for New Wine was that we had a good start to two new cell groups. The first is a group that is looking at personal finances using Biblical principles to bring order to this part of one's life. There have been around 10 people involved in this Tuesday night cell group. Another group started in the Roxbury Senior Apartments. Here I am working with one of our members exploring the issues of loss and grief through a program called Griefshare. This group meets bi-weekly but we have consistently had around a dozen in attendance. Several of the participants have come even from beyond the apartment complex. With the addition of these two new groups to our other four existing groups, we now have 6 cells meeting on a regular basis. There are now over 50 people meeting weekly in our groups. What is so exciting is that the vision of becoming a church made up of cell groups which impact our immediate communities is finally taking shape. I see every person at New Wine as a potential cell group facilitator who might work on gathering family, friends and neighbors for the purpose of spiritual support, growth and service. This past month it feels like we have taken this to a new level.
At the end of February, on the first Sunday of Lent, we celebrated 6 years of gathering on the Lord's day. After recounting the journey in pictures during our service that day, we held an extended reception time. For those who have been with us from the start, we can look back and see time and time again the Lord's provision and how He has directed our path. It is clear that the call to build a new work around relationships and service is a long slow road to travel. But we can now look back and say it has been well worth it. Church planting is not for the weak of heart or those who expect to reap a quick harvest. This early Spring has proven to be a season of great joy and delight. It makes one eager to see what is just around the corner for the people of New Wine.
Being an extrovert, I personally have been energized by meeting about a dozen new people over the past few weeks. More importantly, as we share our story, we hear their story of God at work. Often we hear how God has worked in them and given them a heart for worship and service. Their story is such an encouragement to us. We also, however, hear of struggle and pain which keeps the story real. Our God is a gracious and healing Father. We love to hear how He is at work in others and gives us hope that He will work in us and through us in the days to come. 
A recent highlight for New Wine was that we had a good start to two new cell groups. The first is a group that is looking at personal finances using Biblical principles to bring order to this part of one's life. There have been around 10 people involved in this Tuesday night cell group. Another group started in the Roxbury Senior Apartments. Here I am working with one of our members exploring the issues of loss and grief through a program called Griefshare. This group meets bi-weekly but we have consistently had around a dozen in attendance. Several of the participants have come even from beyond the apartment complex. With the addition of these two new groups to our other four existing groups, we now have 6 cells meeting on a regular basis. There are now over 50 people meeting weekly in our groups. What is so exciting is that the vision of becoming a church made up of cell groups which impact our immediate communities is finally taking shape. I see every person at New Wine as a potential cell group facilitator who might work on gathering family, friends and neighbors for the purpose of spiritual support, growth and service. This past month it feels like we have taken this to a new level. 
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