It's Only This Much Dangerous

We had 11 in morning services and collected $245 in offerings. Our big family was out with illness and one member had to work.

Members of the mission are diligently looking for land and facilities, but we are taking a slow, deliberate approach to finding a permanent location.

After services yesterday, my family and I went to the Enchanted Rock State Park, located between Llano and Fredericksburg on Texas Highway 16. The Enchanted Rock is a massive granite dome that formed as magma flowed up into the earth's crust sometime after creation, and was later exposed after the flood waters receded and washed away the soil. It's a .6 mile hike from the base of the rock to the summit, and the view is breathtaking.

On the way back down, we lost the trail, and wound up following several smaller paths. One ended at a pile of boulders (the boulders had fallen from the dome over a span of several centuries). It was a 20-30 foot downward climb, so I refused to attempt the climb. So we backtracked and found a shorter climb down, 10-15 feet. I initially refused this one as well, but Jessica took a closer look, determined that all five of us could do this climb, and, holding her hands about shoulder length apart, proclaimed "It's only this much dangerous." Now, how do you argue with that logic! We climbed down and made it safely.

As we returned to the van, we were graced by the presence of a herd of deer. They evidently thought that we would feed them. Good times.

Mission: Brownwood Jan 09 Report

Grace Pointe MBM Core Group Grows, Solidifies

The core group at Grace Pointe is beginning to grow, as we now have three families committed to the work. Their attendance accounted for 17 in attendance in our morning worship services on Jan. 25. The capacity for the Brownwood Apts. Phase II Community Room is 25, so we are nearing a point where we will have to move to a larger meeting place.

All three families are participating in the ministries at Grace Pointe by teaching in our mid-week youth programs, faithfully attending services and contributing financially to the work. We even have a regular visitor who is bringing friends of her own.

Things are really exciting right now at Grace Pointe MBM, as we are seeing rapid spiritual growth in our members and regular attenders, and see the potential for God to move in big ways in Brownwood.

Rocky Springs MBC Launches Building Fund for Grace Pointe

With the numeric growth, and the possibility of exceeding our capacity at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II Community Room within the next few months, the members of the mission are praying about what God would have us do next.

Our options include renting a nearby elementary school, one of the civic centers, a store front, or a vacated church building. There are currently two vacant church buildings for sale in Brownwood, one in Early (Brownwood’s suburb), and one that may soon hit the market.

While the mission is not in a financial position to rent its own facility at this moment, we are expecting that we will be able to within a few months. We also anticipate purchasing a facility within the next 18 months. With our new children’s ministries coming online, we would prefer to move into a permanent facility.

Therefore, we are asking our sister churches to come through once again for us through one-time love offerings or monthly support designated toward the Brownwood mission building fund. Please send all offerings to our sponsoring church.

Financial Report

SUPPORT RECEIVED
MBA of Texas $1,911
Muse MBC (Grapeland, TX) $200
White Rock MBC (Center, TX) $100
Salmon MBC (Elkhart, TX) $25
58th Ave MBC (Amarillo, TX) $102.30
Hickory Grove MBC (Newport, AR) $82.37
Memory Lane MBC (Palestine, TX) $50
Bassett Rd MBC (Palestine, TX) $75
Denson Springs MBC (Grapeland, TX) $50
Donna Prasatik $150
Quaker Ave MBC (Lubbock, TX) $100
Bethel MBC (Tatum, TX) $50
Rocky Springs MBC (Jacksonville, TX) $150
Wyndrock MBC (Abilene, TX) $40
East Side BC (Jacksonville, TX) $100
Nevill’s Chapel MBC (Mt. Pleasant, TX)$189.92
Hickory Grove MBC (Newport, AR) $70.83
Memorial MBC (Rusk, TX) $400
John Nickle (Rusk, TX) $25
Northcrest BC (Andrews, TX) $300

OFFERING:
Grace Pointe MBM $362

EXPENSES:
Salary $1,000
Housing $700
Health Insurance $211
Total to Missionary: $1,911

Postage $16.80
Supplies from Walmart $25.84
Outreach $59.92

LOOKING FORWARD

Grace Pointe MBM launched her AWANA program Feb. 3 with 15 in attendance. See how the program progresses in next month’s report, or log on to the Mission: Brownwood blog at www.lelandacker.blogspot.com.

Missionary Leland Acker and family will be in attendance at the Southwest Association Mission Rally at 58th Ave MBC in Amarillo in April.

Grace Pointe MBM will host the Southwest Mission Rally in July.

Mission: Brownwood will expand apartment ministries.

Possible Mission: Brownwood meeting place

Jessica and I have decided to go back to Plan A in regards to a public meeting place. Those who saw my presentation during my deputation will know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, we plan on finalizing these plans Friday (which will be our next available day to meet with the property management.)

If we successfully secure this facility, we will begin having regular services in October. We've got 4 days to pray about it. Please pray with us.

Prayer requests include:

• That God provides this meeting place for us.
• That God solidifies our core group.
• That God brings those prospective core group members who are still undecided along side us to help launch this new church.
• That God gives us the opportunity to lead more souls to Christ.

Hurricane Ike has renewed our intensity toward getting this new church established. The quicker this church becomes self-supporting and missional, the quicker we can begin lending a hand to those suffering across the great State of Texas.