Shutting Down: A Eulogy
It’s with a heavy heart that I announce this Sunday will be the last service for missioDei. Just shutting down the website now almost made me tear up, and convos w/folks have made me somewhat more heavier this week. There were some tears at the past few services and folks have been sad but supportive. I’m making the rounds now to make sure those committed few will continue to grow and get plugged in somewhere. What really bites is knowing that some great people invested deeply in us and if you know me you know that one of the things I hate the most is disappointing people. I wish I coulda done y’all proud but things just didn’t go our way. So here I am eulogizing the past 2 years with missio:
- Summer of ‘06 @ Reach Student Mobilization Retreat. Convos with Eugene Cho of Quest Church who spurs us on to church plant in Bellingham, under his coaching and guidance.
- Began “informational meetings” in the winter of ‘07. Our very first info meet is enthusiastically received. That very same evening Ash finds out she’s pregnant, after a 3-yr period of trying w/o success. Excitement. What hath God wrought?
- Spring of ‘07 = Church planters’ assessment in Detroit with the Evangelical Covenant denomination. Our intro to the ECC makes us even more excited. We pass the assessment.
- Summer of ‘07 – we began gathering folks around us and begin the work of church planting: networking, outreach, meeting folks, building connections, increasing our presence in community.
- Fall of ‘07 – began a series of “preview services” that attract numbers in the 30’s and 40’s. Mostly students from WWU. We seem to attract a different crowd at each preview service…
- Winter of ‘08 – settle into regular meetings @ The First Baptist Church in downtown Bellingham, who graciously offer us their space for use. The preview services did not succeed in generating the buzz we hoped for and we begin the difficult work of meeting regularly while continuing to grow the church.
- Spring / summer of ‘08 – trying to grow deep deep but also out.
- Fall of ‘08 – things slowing down
- Winter of ‘08 – closing this chapter.
Of course there’s all the emotional baggage and stuff we’ll need to work through (i.e. crying myself to sleep at night sucking my thumb) but for now the next steps are very clear. Finish up school @ Regent, full-time, by 2010. What’s after that? We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Wayne, as I said in our chat, I really appreciate your heart and your work these past few years. God’s Kingdom has grown and so have you and yours.
Shutting down a church plant sucks; there’s deep grief in seeing a child die. When we choose to do church in organic ways as you and I and others have done, that also means that sometimes death happens and seeds get flung for the next season.
During this time, I pray that your identity remains rooted in your identity in Christ, and not in any other label. I also pray that the ‘what-ifs’ and the ‘but whys’ don’t cling to you.
much love and respect to you and ash and austin. you guys are heroes
wayne, you are my hero. much love to you through this season, it may be bittersweet, but it will end in sweet.
I’m sorry to see this shut down, Wayne…I hope this is just the end of a chapter and not the whole book. offer to grab some coffee still stands…
take care, brother.
thanx for the encouraging responses all.
While the past few have been tough weeks, we’re looking forward to what is ahead. I’ll keep blogging, and keep in touch.
Wayne — Following your journey though this blog has been such an encouragement to me. I just read this post to my wife and we’re grieving alongside you.
I don’t know if this will sound strange at this time, but I am truly thankful for your honesty — even in chronicling what some might perceive as “failure.” To me, it takes great courage to dive into the unknown of church planting and, perhaps, even more courage to know when it’s time to move on. I think I’m still working up the nerve to follow God’s leading, no matter what the outcome might be. Within the institutional/professional framework of the church today, it’s all too easy to be the equivalent of an event caterer/planner with a relatively stable income than to pour it all into the Kingdom.
So, basically, this is a long way of saying thanks and we’re with you. I am convinced that your work has been, and will continue to be, significant for the Kingdom.
THanks for the encouraging words Daniel
still figuring out what “success” means but we’re willing to be molded to newer definitions…
Wayne,
I’ve been out of touch lately, and am coming to this news a bit late, but wanted to lend my support along with the others here. I look forward to meeting you at some point. Having been where you are myself, I know it’s tough, and will be praying for you.
Peace.
Hey Steve – thanks for this;
It’s been a good journey, tho painful in the process. We are in a much better place for having gone thru w/it…