October 17, 2001
Hey everybody wanting to stay up-to-date with the happ'nins at Our Place -
Your Christian Church!
On Sunday October 14th, we were prayed for & commissioned to be a new church
by Beaverton Christian Church during their services! Partnering with East
91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana and North Willamette
Christian Evangelistic Association, a church planting organization out of
Portland, Beaverton Christian Church is giving financially to this project,
providing leadership for our management team, providing opportunities for
exposure and space for offices, blessing their own people to commit to &
help start this new church, and commissioning them to become that new church
in a new place for a new people! They are becoming a model of how the
churches of the 21st century will have to give birth to new churches if we
hope to accomplish Christ's mission & expand God's kingdom for our children
& our world!
I got to "tag-team" preach with BCC's senior minister, Clark Tanner, and as
always, it was a joy to speak with such a servant of God and leader of God's
people! After we spoke, Clark invited the staff (Brookes, Bussells,
Wolvertons & Penhollows) to come forward, and he invited everybody who was
associated with Our Place to come forward to be prayed for and commissioned
to be their first-ever daughter church! I wasn't sure how many people had
been able to make it that morning, and I admit there was a little nagging
thought in the back of mind, "Will our people show?" And you could almost
feel it in the room..."Where is this group of people that Clark & Steve keep
talking about?" But when Clark made the call, it was an awesome sight to
see: people, couples, families, started to rise from different seats all
over the congregation and coming forward down every row, and as they came
toward the front of the sanctuary, a group of a hundred-plus people crowded
into the front of the sanctuary from one wall to the other (for those at
E91, it would be like the front of the traditional sanctuary, from one wall
to the other!) I saw familiar faces and new friends, as well as people I've
only seen from the vantage point of preaching at a couple preview services -
I was so struck by the unity, solidarity & humility of this group, even
though I couldn't put a name with every face I saw! That is soooo cool!
The staff & elders from BCC, as well as Tom Brown from the NWCEA, and even
the congregation all extended their hands toward us, praying for &
commissioning this group of people to become a new church!
(Side note / cool insight: Over 150 people are involved in the new
church...and on Sunday morning, the attendance in the worship service was
1450, exactly 150 above what BCC was running in its worship service the week
before at 1300 - and they have been running a good hundred to two hundred
more than they're used to...and I can't help but remember what we call the
rule of generosity, the truth of what Jesus said, "Give and it will be given
unto you." - We're seeing it happen first hand! BCC has given over a
hundred people, and yet they are running 100-200 more than normal - God is
already blessing them - just as we saw that E91 gave its own Jim Penhollow
and myself to the work, and their numbers & opportunities have been
incredible as well...Let us always remember that, personally and as
churches...give of your best, and it will be given unto you, you sow
generosity, you reap generosity! But now I'm preaching...)
Out in the hall, the atmosphere was buzzing!! We were giving out pink
bubble gum "It's A Girl" cigars, everybody was congratulating Clark & I &
others, & people were taking our extra mailers to pass out, pin up & use to
get the word out, and people were signing up to help with set-up, tear-down
& the children's ministry for our grand opening! Later Sunday afternoon, I
got a call from a gal who has been waiting for this new church to get
started & made it out for our preview services, and just wanted to tell me
how honored & privileged she felt to stand up there with Our Place - and
that her life has changed already in some awesome ways through her
involvement in this new church! And I echo her sentiments - I felt & I feel
so honored & privileged to be a part of this people, this work, this new
church...stepping out in faith to be Christ's new body in a new place for a
new people!!!
What a great Sunday before our Grand Opening! Thanks to all who made it
possible and everyone from the new church who were able to come out for it!
It inspired me! Remember our grand opening is next Sunday, October 21st at
Brown Middle School - keep it in your schedule, thoughts & prayers...Have an
awesome day!
FOR THOSE IN INDY AND AT E91! Pray for some of the E91sters, including
Vonda Gilley, Tom Alley, & Dave Smith, who are flying out this weekend to
support, see & report on the grand opening! And be at one of the E91
services, Sunday October 21st for a slide show & live telephone chat with
Dave Faust & myself for the Grand Opening! Should be an awesome prayer
boost for us as we have our Grand Opening Service right after the E91
services (10am is noon back there in Indy - kickoff time?!?!)
God is awesome - please keep us up there toward the top of your prayer lists
this week leading up to and covering the Opening! Pray for God's blessing &
protection over us & His kingdom extended around us & His powerful presence
in us! Have an awesome Day!
Steve Brooke
ps - So many people Sunday morning let me know how encouraged they were by
the stories of real people's lives being impacted by the new church! It was
like proof that God's blessing is all over this thing - and people are
excited - and wow, between services, many people shared their own stories
with me about friends & family who were putting the mailers up on their
fridges even though they don't go to church, friends & co-workers who were
already talking about coming, and people out there who are just longingly
waiting for this new church to open - the word is out gang - we're gonna be
an exciting new outpost for God's Kingdom! As the time draws near & we
enter into this awesome adventure, PLEASE send me any stories you might have
of lives touched in any little way through this new church! They encourage
me & they can encourage many others! You gotta love it!!!
If you would like to help out or get involved in any way, contact me at
503-646-2151x271 or steve@stevebrooke.com!
If you would like to send donations for our ongoing baby shower for the
start-up costs of this new church, make checks payable, and send to, Our
Place Christian Church, 13600 SW Allen Blvd, Beaverton OR 97005.
If you would like to become one of my 100-plus email prayer partners,
praying for my life, family & ministry, please contact me.
If you would like to support my life, family & ministry as one of my regular
or one-time financial supporters, contact me or make checks payable, and
send to "NWCEA" (Steve Brooke), 444 N Holly St, Canby OR 97013.
Steve hard at work...