We have come so far in the adventure of this church plant…hard to believe we just reached our first year of starting this thing. September 12 was the mark of one year since we met with 25+ people in our home. Hard to imagine that we have come so far in just a year. We are just 3 months from our one year official launch anniversary and averaging 86 people in September. Would love to see us leading more than 100 into a growing relationship with Jesus by January.

I wanted to highlight where we are and what is happening to keep you up to pace.

1. EDUCATION; We are continually exposing ourselves to books, podcasts and conferences to grow in our ability to lead a movement of God in our city. We have found that the approach we have taken in walking through the doors God opens is a bit unique. Not many others have experienced the favor within their cities that we have in our 9 months thus far. But with much favor comes much responsibility and growth, so continued education is constant for us. There is almost not a week that goes by that I am not on a webinar or studying some new element to leading an organization.
2. VISION; We continue to pursue the vision for our future here in Bonney Lake. What does God want to do in and through us today, tomorrow and years down the road. Should really always feel there is more to pursue than we can catch up to!  Check out the Open Life website or the Open Life Facebook for the most up to date things we are pursuing content.
3. THE TEAM; I can honestly say I love doing life with these guys. God has brought a crazy gifted and young team together to impact this city. We have more gifted leaders than an average church of 1000 people. One after another are moving into Bonney Lake, which will make a huge difference as we do life in the city more and more. Praise God daily for leading each of them to serve along side the vision of reaching our 80,000 who are unchurched/dechurched.
4. FUNDING; Church launchers have discovered that it takes 18 to 24 months for those who make a decision to follow Jesus to discover the discipline of tithing and giving offerings. The statistics are very solid that you should plan your church budget around the thought that the average person will give about $20 a week. So average your attendance and multiply it by 20 and you have your functioning budget. Thanks to some amazing big gives we have been able to knock this number up to $48 a person. We continue to go month to month, but as we reach more and more people finances will become less of a challenge. In the midst of our first 2-3 years we are encouraging churches we know to give toward the work of Open Life and we have many who have done just that. Great partners in ministry. If you would like to be a part of our first two years and assist the work that is happening at Open Life you can give toward the church here.
5. COMMUNITY; It is hard to explain the favor we have encountered just by being present at community moments where we would be a blessing and meet people who are in need of love and grace. Our heart has been from the beginning to be a blessing to our city. From being nominated new business of the year last January, serving the cities Easter Egg Hunt, Bonney Lake Days Booth, Serving at Beautify Bonney Lake, and now I have been nominated to the board of the Chamber of Commerce. And just this week was asked to speak at our cities monthly Chamber luncheon in November about how companies can engage in serving the community, due to our being leaders in bringing this into the culture of our city. God is certainly up to something.

Please join us in any and all of the above through prayer, support financially and possibly even the team. Jesus is up to something and we would love to walk through this season of adventure with you.