This year has been wild! Seriously, only a little over one year ago we were living at a children’s home in Weatherford, Texas. If you had told me that in the span of one year, I would be a temporary dad to 6 boys, a father to my own son, a husband in the midst of learning to parent and trust the Lord to provide for my family, a teacher to over 100 students per day, and a church planter…well, it would be believable up until that last one! Yet, here we are! I never anticipated church planting at 26 years old. In the last couple of years, I had contemplated taking some classes and reading some books about church planting because I always knew the idea interested me, but I had no idea that I would be doing it so soon without any official training or any official salary. We have spent the last two months raising our salary for this first year of the church plant, asking for mostly monthly commitments. So far, we are well over halfway to our monthly goal, but still falling short of having the funds to move out of my wonderful in-law’s house (I don’t just say that because they might read this. They have seriously been a huge blessing for allowing the Lord to use their house as His base of operations for us). We still need about $1500 in monthly commitments in order to launch well with the church, meaning that in order to be fully planted within the community that we desire to reach, we still need to raise the money that would cover rent. Every current bill is covered, therefore we are not in panic mode, but we truly believe that in order to be as effective as possible, we need to live in the targeted community. Most apartments and rentals in this area that are able to accommodate the size and needs of our family cost around $1200 plus necessary utilities. This need is a great opportunity for someone to really step out in faith and reach this community in a tangible way. Donations given from this point on will not only ensure that we have a roof over our heads while we do ministry but will cover the cost of a home that will function as a refuge and gathering place for us to do life with those around us. Having this space would ensure that: 1) We are effectively planted in the community so that we will get to minister to our neighbors by inviting them to church, walking with them in their joys and struggles, and actively show them the real hope of Jesus. The primary apartment complex we are looking at moving into is 1 exit away from the Elementary school where we will be meeting as a church. Living here would make us extremely accessible to the community around us so that we would not just be pastors, but neighbors with many of the people we will be worshipping with. 2) We have peace of mind while I work diligently to adapt to and minister to this new community. Right now there is a level of uncertainty about where we will be living and how we will be able to effectively minister to our church family. It would be a huge weight off of our shoulders as far as the pressures of raising and protecting a family are concerned if we were able to finally move into our own home after a year of living in someone else’s house. For those who are still on the fence about donating, I want to break down the cost of this home we desire and share our prayers and hope for what each space would mean for our family: Kitchen: $250 per month Our vision for this room is that the Lord would use our resources, our skills in cooking (few as they may be), and our heart for people to create a hub where new friends and neighbors find the comfort of a good meal, the joy of delicious desserts, and the necessities- coffee and Jesus, to fuel their lives! We want our kitchen to be a tool for filling the stomachs and hearts of those around us and a place that acts as a creative space that makes our visitors hungry for more.
If the kitchen fills the hunger in their stomachs, the dining table is where we will fill their hearts! Our prayer for this room is that the food eaten, the laughter shared, the games played, and the many deep conversations had around our dining room table would be the open door to sharing the hope and joy of Jesus with all who enter our home.
This is the space that we look forward to creating a comfortable and inviting environment in most. The living room is where we will do just that- live! This is where our will children play, small groups will meet, joys and struggles will be shared, vast amounts of prayer will take place, and where we, as a couple, will unwind at the end of a long day. We pray that the Lord would use every second spent in this area to draw people closer to His heart. We desire that this would be a place where dreams and plans for ministry come to life and where disciples are sent from to spread the love and hope of Christ. Children’s Bedroom: $100 per month We love our son, Knox, and deeply desire to raise him to have a heart for Jesus. He is sweet, loving, loud, rambunctious, and hilarious, and we already see so many qualities in him that indicate how he will be a fearless leader. It is also probable that sometime not too far off we will add to our family of three, and we want to have a special space for our children to grow, learn, and be satiated with scripture and anointed with prayer. We pray that this room would be a great place of fun, rest, and memories, where they can feel safe, loved, and cherished.
As all parents know, a haven for mom and dad to get rest and peace is of the utmost importance! Our prayer for this room is to be a place of safety, love, and intimacy that points our relationship closer to Christ and each other. In this room, we will laugh, cry, pray, and take on the world together.
It’s easy to just say that this is where Marin will store her myriad of cosmetic supplies that I don’t fully understand, and where we will potty train, teach our son to brush his teeth, and not eat toilet paper, but in seriousness we want this room to be a place where we, as a family, focus on symbolically washing away our sins and failures. It is not only a place for business but for teaching independence and the importance of taking care of the temple God has given us. Utilities: $250 per month While utilities such as electricity, gas, water, internet, and trash fees can feel like such a drain on hard earned money, they are so important because without them, the majority of our rooms would be useless! Having the assurance that these necessities are covered will be a load off of our shoulders and minds.
No, neither of us were raised in barns! We place this here because we really do mean it when we say that it is of the utmost importance to our family that we do not live our lives hiding behind closed doors. With a fully funded budget we intend to make a huge impact on the people around us for the Gospel. We pray that the way we live and speak would be a reflection of Jesus to everyone within sight or hearing. Yes, we want to have a community of faith at Real Hope, but we also want to emulate that community to those who may never walk through the doors of any church on their own, so that their experience of knowing us might be a catalyst for change and ignite their desire to know the man behind our real hope. Beyond all of this, we are praying and asking God where it is exactly that He wants us to live. We desire to be planted in the area where the most ministry can be done and where God can receive the most glory because of our presence. It is tough relying on God, alone, to provide for our needs by stirring the hearts of others to give towards our ministry. We have both had painful days of doubt and anxiety, and constantly fight the temptation to take back control and supply provision for ourselves, but we are certain, now more than ever, that God is faithful and that He will hold true to his promise to “supply all [our] needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).”
-Percy-
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Marin HudsonMarin likes to stay up late and write. But sometimes Percy will write as well. :) Archives
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