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Welcome the Phillips Family

Below is an introduction to the Phillips family and the church-family and ministry that they are a part of in Jessamine County.  I have been very encouraged to meet their family and discover that they were actively making disciples and simple churches just down the street from me!  We are excited to connect more with them and the work they are doing in the area! – Gavin — It’s hard to know where to start and what to tell about what God has been doing in our lives over the past several years, so I’ll just introduce our family first. My name is Kaleb, my wife is Kate, and our two children are 4-year-old Kristian and 17-month-old Keira. We also have a large dog named Eleanor and a spider named Mitchell who has made his home inside… Read More »Welcome the Phillips Family

Simple Church Conference 16 Wrap Up

I want to take a second and thank everyone who came together this last weekend for the simple church conference.  As I shared at the conference, I had experienced a lot of resistance about the entire during the whole process of planning our time together–so much so that I knew the day had to happen!  I trust that the our time will together will continue to impact our faith journeys and our simple churches that we are connected too. For those that could not make it, allow me to offer a brief summary of our weekend: On Saturday morning, we saw folks from Lexington, Nicholasville, Wilmore, Louisville, Beijing China, and Washington DC come together to consider their call to live out the Great Commission.  Dana and Diego kicked us off with a wonderful time of worship… Read More »Simple Church Conference 16 Wrap Up

What In The World Are We Doing?

Sometimes in simple church, this question can be heard echoing in the back of our brain. Sometimes the question is an accusation from the enemy (that we are really doing nothing of significance with our lives or that whatever we are doing is wrong). However, sincerely spoken it can be a powerful prayer… “God…what are we doing?… What are You doing and how do You want to involve me?” This Saturday, we will sincerely ask the Lord this question. What are we to be doing? With whom? Why? How? Simple church, while simple in form, is not easy. We believe that there is no better way we could spend a day than to pause and revisit these questions with our Leader, Jesus. For only He has the answers and we believe He wants to make… Read More »What In The World Are We Doing?

Ying and Grace Kai Story

This week I had the privilege to meet and spend a little time with Ying Kai and his wife and Grace. It was great to have my faith stretched by their amazing story, humble attitude, and burden for the world to know the love of Jesus. Ying and Grace have experienced the power of multiplication in China (a term we can sometimes misuse here in the United States to describe addition and sometimes even division). Their story is a great encouragement and reminder to us that God is in fact a God of multiplication.  Through their example, we learn that when we expect multiplication to happen and we help others follow Christ in ways that are not dependent on complex systems and hierarchical structures of leadership. When we focus on the simplicity of the Gospel and disciple making, The Church… Read More »Ying and Grace Kai Story

2016 Simple Church Conference / Sept 10-11

  2016 Simple Church Conference Prayer for multiplication.  In our fifth year of hosting this conference, we want to have a prayer focus–specifically praying for multiplication of disciples.  One of the characteristics of church planting movements across this globe is “abundant prayer.”  This year we will discuss the essential role of prayer in simple church and disciple making ministry and we will also spend time… you guessed it…  praying!  Together we hope to hear from the Lord in prayer about our relationship with Him and our  role in making disciples of all the nations–beginning with our neighbors.  Certainly we could spend a lot of time doing good things this year, but our hope is that this weekend will help us all to hear clearly how Jesus would have us focus our heart and lives “as we go”… Read More »2016 Simple Church Conference / Sept 10-11

RESET – Wednesday Aug 17

RESET Hello friends! This Wednesday (Aug 17) is the third Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for our monthly leadership gathering at the Simple Church Office (better known as First Southern Nat’l Bank) With the start of a new school year, it always feels like the beginning of the year for simple church to me as well. I would like to ask that every simple church consider coming and being represented this month as we take time to refocus our hearts and minds on the fundamentals of simple church ministry and indeed the Christian life. I’m continually reminded that we do not have to get together with each other for a monthly leadership time, yet at the same time I am also reminded that this time is beneficial and helps us keep focused on Christ… Read More »RESET – Wednesday Aug 17

Summer Updates (in Photos)

Summer Updates It’s hard to believe that we are about to turn the page on yet another summer!  I wanted to take a few seconds and share some byte-sized updates from simple church happenings.  Thank you for having covered many of these opportunities with prayer. University of Kentucky Simple Church Training         Zumé Project – Kentucky   Summer Celebration Gathering       Water Blast Camp     Awaken Conference in Paintsville, KY     Regional Gathering with Gospel Fellowships       Simple Church Conference Coming Up! Golf Church Finally… What is going on in your neck of the woods?  We would love to hear about what God is doing in your life and in your simple church!  How can we pray for you?  Any news to pass along?  Let us continue… Read More »Summer Updates (in Photos)

Summer Network Gathering – July 30

  July 30th, we will return to the Wheeler’s Farm for a network wide summer gathering.  Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Picnic, Fishing? Rock Skipping? Playing in the creek? The possibilities are endless.  We even hope to celebrate baptisms! Simple Church Summer Network Gathering Saturday July 30, 6-9PM Music By Gideon Maki What To Bring: Your Own Picnic Dinner (Food, Drinks, utensils, etc.) Chairs/Blanket Water shoes (if you want to get into the creek) Everyone in your simple church community! flashlight A Friend (or two or three) A Song or Encouraging Testimony To Share? (optional)   Baptism:  Would you like to take part in believer’s baptism?  Do you have a friend or a child that might like to profess their faith in Christ by being baptized?  This will be a great opportunity for you or a friend to take… Read More »Summer Network Gathering – July 30

Church By A Big Tree

God is giving birth to a simple church composed of folks who originally connected through an “ultimate frisbee” team.  I met Lynnette Malott and her family a week ago when visiting this neat new community of Jesus followers.  Today she posted to her Facebook page the comments below.  I asked her if I could repost here.  — One year in Kentucky today. We moved out here to be part of a church plant, but tonight we did church by a big tree in the park with a group of entirely different people. One of the women that I had just met said to me last week that our church plant didn’t fail, it just ended up looking differently than we thought it would. What a great perspective. Yes, we moved out here to plant Renovation Church ,… Read More »Church By A Big Tree