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The Kingdom Come on 6th Street

Apr 4

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Below are testimonies from Michael, one of the men living at the Austin I.G. house, of a couple people who have been touched by God on 6th Street.

 

God has been doing a lot of great stuff with the guys in our house. A few of the guys from the house regularly go to 6th street every Saturday to simply show people God’s love and be led by the Holy Spirit. As I have mentioned before, our friend Chris, whom we met on 6th street, had an encounter with God when we prayed for his leg to grow out and his knee got healed instead. Chris is now a regular attendee of our house church. It’s really wonderful to have Chris come around and feel so comfortable with us. He is 20 years old and has had a rough childhood. He knows the CPS system very well and has never had much family in his life. He has problems like everybody else and just needs more love in his life.

A lot of other really cool things have been happening on 6th street as well. A few weeks ago we were just walking around on 6th and we saw this guy with a boot on his leg. By “boot” I mean one of those black medical casts that people wear when they have a foot or ankle injury. My friend Martin and I walked up to him and asked him what happened. He told us that he fell off a roof and shattered his heel. He let us pray for him, and as we were praying he felt heat flowing through his foot and up his leg. Afterward he was able to put pressure on his foot, which he wasn’t able to do before. He was really excited at this point, and he let us pray that he would experience more of God’s love and presence in his life. As we prayed, he started feeling heat going all throughout him and his hands started shaking. The whole time this was happening, his friends were waiting for him with a cab, so he was in a hurry.

We got to encourage him and let him know that what he was experiencing was God’s love for him. I emphasized that it was Jesus who healed him and that He just wants a relationship with him.

These are just a couple testimonies about what God has been doing through 6th street ministry. Thank God for using us and going with us everywhere we go.

Living and Loving: An Update from the Vegas I.G. House

Nov 8

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 Hey IG Family,

 

          I wanted to fill you in on a few of the exciting things that we and God have been up to at the Purple Parrots Community House (odd name, I know.) Towards the beginning of the month, we all went to a showing of the movie “Tony” by Invisible Children. For those of you who don’t know, Invisible Children is an organization that fights for the children in Uganda who are in danger of being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army as lead by Joseph Coney. The children are of all ages and some are even forced to kill their own parents. After watching the video, we all felt it pressed on our hearts to do something about it. As a house we’ve decided to team up and fight this injustice by supporting Invisible Children, fundraising, and having showings of the video at our house to motivate others to get involved as well. It was also amazing to see how the video had motivated us in our studies since it is a privilege for the children of Uganda to have an education whereas we tend to just take advantage of our education.

         Since we live so close to school (University of Nevada Las Vegas), we all tend to walk to our classes, which is incredibly nice, since I no longer have to commute for 40 minutes to school. Along the way, there are many homeless people. We began to notice this as a reoccurring theme in our lives. So, a few of us got together to make lunches for them so that on the way to school we’d have something to give them in the morning and hopefully have an opportunity to pray for them as well.

          One of our prayers has been for our home to be a refuge for others and for God’s peace and love to saturate every person that walks in. It’s been amazing to see this prayer answered, evidenced feedback from friends who visit, commenting on how peaceful the house is. Even a plumber guy who came by the house was a bit shocked by how calm things were. We’ve also had a regular visitor named Elle. Elle is actually mentally ill and so talking with her is always interesting, but at the same time you can tell behind it all she has a heart for justice and is strongly moved by Jesus’ love whenever we pray for her. Her face brightens every time I ask her if she’d like prayer. We also had a random night where four of us in the house woke up around 3 am and each of us felt God leading us to pray that night.

         It’s been absolutely amazing to see God move in and through this community. Although living in community certainly has its struggles, it also has caused tremendous growth in each of our lives. For me (Annie), God has been challenging me in many areas of my life. You see, this semester I had over packed my schedule. Between work, school, logistical matters of the house, leadership in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and a few other things I literally had zero time for any of my roommates and slowly I began to feel the disconnect. After spending a weekend away from everything God reminded me of how he had warned me about joining leadership with IVCF since it would overload my schedule (which it did.) So long story short, I ended up having to go to my IVCF leaders and repent for taking on the role of leadership when God hadn’t called me to leadership in IVCF. Also, as a leader in the house, being spread so thin was definitely having a negative impact. I was also struggling with my school work on top of it all. The amazing thing though is as soon as I stepped down from leadership in IVCF, it was like the flood gates opened up. I suddenly seemed to understand the material in my classes and I ended up acing my tests. Everything just felt like it was moving again, and it seemed that at one point God was challenging me in the areas of teaching, pastoral giftings, and prophecy all at once. It felt great to be where He wanted me.

         All in all, it’s been a joy living in community even in the midst of the struggles. Please continue to pray for us, particularly in the area of conflict resolution and the subjects found in Ephesians 4. Thank you so much for your support!

 

Annie Bouck

 

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Living in Community: A Life-Changing Experience

Nov 8

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         An update on the month of October from Isaac Snow, a resident of the Austin I.G. house

 

       This past month at ‘The Vatican’ we continued to see Jesus dominate all depression, stress, anxiety, discord and sickness that would arise. I personally have been encountered powerfully with Jesus’ love and have witnessed this equally in the lives of my roommates. The enemy has attempted to have sway in the atmosphere of the house and in our lives, but we have been developing a swift recognition that our complete identity resides in Christ. Every moment He dwells in me and I am released from anything other than Jesus himself. There has been a nasty flu/cough/cold/allergy wave swoop through the house several times and it hasn’t affected us negatively. If anything, it has brought us to a place of our dependence remaining solely in Him. We have been praying for healing over one of other during these last few weeks. Everyone is busy with either work or school but we are always available to spend quality time together, and it’s not a strain or obligatory since we enjoy being a part of each others’ lives. Thank you Jesus!

         Cameron, Zach, and Michael have been spending time in our prayer room basking, praising, and worshiping early in the morning before they scurry off to school. We all stand in awe that He died and was resurrected for His divine demonstration of this loving grace that is incomprehensible in its fullest. A year ago, I personally was so broken and dependent on drugs and alcohol that I sought out the Lord with the ‘desperation of a drowning man.’ I honestly did not have many options left but to find God. In all reality, He found me, coming to meet me in my brokenness. This past year I have been praying and meditating on Jesus, asking for His help daily as I’ve been working through a 12-step program. I’ve also become more and more involved in recovery groups and house churches in Austin. I never understood fully what the cross meant until I experienced the Holy Spirit supernaturally encounter me, and Jesus captivated my mind when I spoke his name. I now truly experience peace that surpasses all understanding. I never could conjure up faith, but I have been given a strong faith by God Himself and for this I am eternally grateful. I simply began seeking Him a year ago and tremendous growth has ensued.

         I have recently been getting my son Mason for weekends and all the guys have been so welcoming of having an eighteen month old boy come and stay with us. Having the type of joy that a child like my son brings to our house is incredible. He sleeps in the room with my roommate Zach and I. On many occasions, he has woken up crying, waking Zach at the same time. I asked Zach to let me know if this bothers him because we could sleep in the prayer room, but he says he honestly is not bothered by him when he wakes up. Last week was Mason’s second visit to our house and everyone told me that they noticed a significant difference in the words he was speaking, and could understand things he was saying. I saw them interact with Mason and it was sweet indeed. They sincerely enjoy him being there every couple of weeks, and understand that he will be a disturbance here and there if he is crying. I am very blessed to have such spiritually sound dudes around my son for the next year to come.

         All of the guys that are students are involved with various student Christian groups. Michael has started a hookah house church. We have been going to 6th Street with our friend, Will, praying for people and bringing the joy of Jesus to those we come across. We all have personal friends over that may not know Jesus, but are a bit curious. They come to the house to hang out and we just ‘chill’ and develop relationships with them. We also have plenty of our fellow Jesus lovers over for large gatherings where we fellowship, share, pray, and praise our Lord together. Heidi Baker’s personal assistant Ania Noster came over one night when all the house churches met up to hear her speak. It turned into a crazy night of praying and worshiping fueled by the Holy Spirit.

         We do plenty of good ol’ fashioned Bible reading together as a house, but it normally isn’t as rigid or structured as Bible studies can be in the conventional sense. We are immersed in his love non-stop and it just happens naturally. Some weeks we take communion every night and sometimes only twice a week. As a community of brothers in the house, our relationships with Jesus and with one another flourishes naturally. We recognize that we are wholly complete in Jesus, and fruit exudes entirely of Him through us. We no longer must perform under our own will power to pray, read the bible, love on others or do anything else other than that which flows naturally and spontaneously under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. Lately we have been brimming so full of Jesus love that we love doing all the things listed above that done by our own initiative would of have been missing the whole point of what God did for us through His Son. Guilt to perform is not what we are compelled by. The enemy is tricky, but Jesus captivates our mind through the wisdom of His Joy, and we are fooled no longer. This last few months have been AWESOME! Thank you IG supporters!

Living & Learning…An I.G. Update

May 2

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Jesus & His Kingdom…

What an amazing few months it has been. Lots of transition & change means you don’t have a choice but to be desperately shaped & molded by the Holy Spirit. The Snow family, and Intentional Gatherings as an organization has experienced this “molding & shaping” first hand. The Lord continues to  clarify the things that are valuable to Him – this constantly challenges what the world around us screams constantly…

My job is going really well, and we have no doubt that Jesus has moved me, and the vision of I.G. into the business world for a great purpose. I plan to spend a good amount of time in the “business world” to gain some needed experience before moving I.G. into a season of training other “professionals” to make disciples and plant churches in their context. This reality excites me, but I do not want to rush things. Please continue to pray that Jesus brings supernatural wisdom & discernment as we continue to seek His vision of equipping lay people to make disciples and plant simple churches in their context.

Las Vegas…

As you know, it’s been about a year and a half since we moved from Vegas to Austin. Eliza and I had the privilege of spending a weekend in Vegas to visit the Church we planted there. Things are going well, and one of the elders from the church just got married! Another one of the couples recently had a baby. It was great to visit them to see new marriages birth and watch existing families flourish!

My travelin’ buddy!

Eliza, making sure she knows the safety procedure on the Boeing 737
The Wright’s little girl – so amazing getting to marry this couple almost two years ago now, and watch them grow a family of their own…
Eliza with “Auntie B” – We’ll get to join Brenna & her husband to be in October as they get married – Morgan and I will be officiating their wedding.

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“Missionaries & I.G.”

I.G continues to foster incredible relationships with passionate students and lay people who feel led into the “mission field”. Whether it’s full time overseas, or in a bi-vocational role here in the U.S. we have the wonderful opportunity to partner & walk alongside of some passionate missionaries who are seeking to live out the principles they have received through their Student CPx Training. Over the summer we’ll get to be a part of sending several young people to various countries all over the world, as well as some summer internships here in the states to continue training & planting simple churches as they go. There is nothing more powerful than seeing someone who has been raised up and trained go out and put that training into practice with their life!

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I.G. Community Houses in Austin…

This is very exciting for us as an organization. Here is Austin we now have three potential I.G. Discipleship Houses in the works. Your continued prayer and support makes these types of things possible for I.G. We’ll be revamping the “I.G. Houses” page on the website soon so you can stay up to date with the various houses as they launch. We’re trusting God for some major life & city transformation through these community houses!

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That’s it for now! Thanks for continuing to walk with us for over three years now! We are continuing to trust Jesus, and partner with Him to grow the Kingdom as we humbly obey what He has called us to.
 

On Behalf of I.G.,

Aaron Snow
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Eliza is getting SO BIG!!!!

The garden at our house is rockin. We’ve got squash, cucumbers, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, kale, arugula, swiss chard, watermelon & cantaloupe! Yum!

Morgan is 40 weeks pregnant & now OVERDUE! Baby Beck should be joining us any day now! I am currently traveling back and forth from Austin to DFW to await the arrival of our third little snowflake!

 

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I.G. March 2011 Update…

Mar 6

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I Got A Job…!!!

As you know we made a leap of faith a couple of months ago as I began searching for a full time job in the business world. During that time I was able to delegate much of the “daily operations” of I.G. to others, while continuing to act as “Director”. Part of that transition meant we would voluntarily stop receiving any type of financial compensation from I.G. Jesus is so faithful. We knew this was the direction He was leading us, and things have been beautiful every step of the way. We are walking in a new level of freedom – I am working full time – and I.G. continues to see the Kingdom Advanced as lay-people are equipped to live a Kingdom lifestyle, make disciples, and plant new house churches in their context – I am able to direct I.G. out of the overflow of my heart, and spend my time investing relationally in people & house church communities – PRAISE JESUS! I started working for a start-up company here in Austin called MooLaLa about a month & a half ago. It’s a fast paced, quickly growing daily deals site similar to others like Groupon, Living Social, etc. I love what I do, and feel that I am fully using the gifts God has given me more than ever before! I am just as much in “ministry” as I have ever been. There are lots of neat things happening as a result of this job for me personally, us as a family, & I.G. as an organization. Feel free to email me for more details. Oh, and CLICK HERE if you love receiving daily deals for 50-80% off on great businesses in your area!
House Churches In Austin…

There are a lot of house churches in Austin – it’s pretty incredible. We (I.G.) have had the privilege of being connected with many of these “organic faith communities” as well as helping birth some of them.

The above photo was taken at a gathering that we currently call our “house church family” – there’s about 15 of us, and we come from all walks of life – it’s a great change of pace for us as most of the community is made up of young married couples, and several families with young kids. The previous H.C.’s have been mainly single people & college students. That said, we still have the privilege of staying connected with other house churches in town that we’ve helped train & birth…

The King Street House Church continues to thrive and multiply…I took the above photo one evening when over 40 people crammed into the house to worship, prayer, and share stories about what God was doing all over the city as people stepped out in faith to bring the Kingdom!                 ___________________________________________________

I.G. Community Houses in Austin…

-We now have TWO potential I.G. Community Houses in the pipeline! -I am working with one of our board members in Vegas who also “oversees”/pastors the house church we planted there to develop a great process for potential I.G. Community House “candidates”. -These community houses have proven to be life-changing for those invovled, so I.G. will seek to create as many outlets as possible for those who are interested in pursuing living in a community house. _______________________________________________________

That’s it for now! Thanks for continuing to walk with us for over three years now! We are continuing to trust Jesus, and partner with Him to grow the Kingdom as we humbly obey what He has called us to. Love.
On Behalf of I.G. & the Board of Directors,
Aaron Snow

Must Read Blog Posts…

-“The Most Embarrassing Day Of My Life: To Date” -About MooLaLa.Com -Promote Your Business with MooLaLa.Com

Partner with I.G. through Prayer and Giving: Donate _________________________________ Help our friends, the Ramirez’, in Sudan to raise $2000 for tools to empower the people there to be self-sustaining as they share the Gospel and plant churches! You can give, & learn more by CLICKING HERE (non-tax deductible) For tax-deductible donations CLICK HERE to go to the I.G. website & select “Love On Sudan” from the drop down menu. _________________________________
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Eliza is getting SO BIG!!!! We got the garden started at our house! Morgan is 32 weeks pregnant now! Our little boy will be here in May!

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January Update From I.G.

Jan 23

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Big Transitions…

As we embark on this new journey – shifting focus towards the marketplace, new community discipleship houses, & providing an outlet for missionaries – Jesus has already been confirming our direction!

-As you can see in the “Must Read Blogs” list to the right, the team has arrived safely back from S. Asia!

-We plan to launch a new I.G. Community Discipleship House. We are currently working with a board member & outside consultant to put together the “I.G. House” plan/guidelines. Some close friends/supporters of I.G. are looking to purchase a house in Austin to rent for this community house, a group of guys are interested in moving in, and we hope to launch in August!

-I’ve already been conversing with people in different parts of the country about the Marketplace CPx Training we are developing

-As I continue seeking a FT job in the business world we’ve been able to delegate/outsource much of the I.G. administrative/logistical daily operations.

The I.G. Missionary Fund:

Part of this transition for I.G. involves providing an outlet for in state & overseas missionaries. We seek to help those we have trained step into their destiny. For some that means moving to another country, for others it means a short term trip or traveling throughout the U.S. planting new house churches along the way. Either way, our board decided it would be an extremely wise use of resources to open the “I.G. Missionaries Fund”. God has already started using it!

-Team of 7 sent to S. Asia to host CPx Training for 41 local students!

-Hosted intern in Austin

-Missionary on the ground in Ecuador seeking to build relationships & start a new house church!

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That’s it for now! Thanks for continuing to walk with us throughout this exciting, and non-conventional transition! We are trusting Jesus, and continuing to watch Him do mighty works as we obey Him.

On Behalf of I.G. & the Board of Directors,

Aaron Snow

Must Read Blog Posts…

-I.G. Ecuador Missionary on the ground!

-S. Asia Team Returns!

-Moolala.com – Don’t Miss Out!

-“Preaching vs. Good Teaching”

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South Asia Team Is Back!

Jan 21

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Many of you have asked me about the the team that went to S. Asia over the break to do a CP training. I look forward to seeing them in person to hear the incredible stories of how God used them to equip the local believers there. Until then, I thoroughly enjoyed this detailed update from my friend Jon Dorris, who accompanied the team as a wonderful “Spiritual Father” & guide. I trust the testimonies will encourage you also…

REMINDER: the unique thing about this team & this trip is that God spoke directly to each person involved. They believed BIG things from the Lord, and had great faith to pursue what they sensed Him speaking to them. They arranged and organized this trip entirely on their own. (Yes, a group of twenty somethings!) From raising over $25,000, to hosting info sessions, making travel arrangements, & conducting a Church Planting Training for 41 locals they have proven that everyday believers CAN hear God’s voice, step out in faith, and see incredible Kingdom Growth as a result. We truly believe this trip has sent a message to other young people throughout the country that you don’t need a big “missions organization”, huge budget, already established presence, etc. to see unreached peoples come to Christ!

Update from Jon: (edited for the protection of the locals in the closed country)

North INDIA Mission Trip
REPORT

December 27, 2010 – January 15, 2011

Greetings Family & Friends 1-18-11,

The MISSION
For the last time, before starting the long journey back to America, I stood on the roof of the place where we had been staying, peering across the border which lay less than 10 feet in front of me. While looking into this nation that I had been praying for over the last 8 years, I was thanking God (again) for the incredible privilege that our Team had in spending the last 9 days training the 41 young leaders. They would now go back into their country, armed and envisioned with specific God-given plans to powerfully and lovingly make disciples for Jesus Christ resulting in the creation of church planting movements. Ironically, even though this nation now stood just 10 feet away, God has yet to give me permission to enter it. (To protect these 41 on fire young leaders we will leave this nation undisclosed.)
A few days earlier one of the 41 saw a vision that so appropriately describes what is going to happen (God-willing). She saw the young people bringing revival to her nation, in the form of multiplying candles on a cake spreading the fire of intimacy with God.

The TEAM
Like a proud Papa, I marveled at how well our team of 6 college students conducted this mission. They were the primary ones to lead and conduct this CPx Training (Church Planting experience). All I did was simply fill in the gaps and help them navigate their way through the vast country. They did such a wonderful job of imparting to the 41 all that they had learned and experienced in their church planting and disciple-making experiences at the University of Texas. Highlights of their impartations: The loving Father heart of God; Hearing God’s voice; Experiencing the Presence of God through creative prophetic worship; Team building; Treasure hunting – prophetic – healing Evangelism; Disciple-making, Church planting; and much more.
Our Team wonderfully maintained the John 17 love and unity, which powerfully facilitates the Presence of God. Our daily Team worship times astounded all of us. The Presence of God uniquely flowed among us each day during the Team worship times. Many times one or more members of the Team began getting various respiratory ailments, mainly due to the nasty air pollution, BUT very quickly God’s healing would usually manifest. I wish I could say it was every time, but some symptoms persisted a few days.  Once, during our Team worship times, while we were all praying for another Team member I got instantly healed of a several hour old soar throat. These healings became so common among us on a daily basis, that we lived in this awesome state of joy constantly. Laughter was commonplace. We then would take all this into the larger morning worship times with the 41 trainees. To God be all the glory. He is the Healer, not us.

TESTIMONIES from the 41
1. One of the 41, which we will call “The great Dancer”, during a corporate worship time started crying after a sister laid hands on him and prayed, resulting in him experiencing the Presence of God for the first time in his life. He then went into a vision (for the 1st time) and saw a Light, then saw Jesus with His outstretched arms beckoning him to come to Him (Jesus). He then felt Jesus hug him.
2. One of the 41 laid his hand on his tumor on his chest during a corporate creative worship time, and felt the tumor continue to shrink during the entire worship time. This radically revolutionized his relationship with Jesus Christ.
(After forming the 41 into small home church groups for the training, ironically one day we forgot to assign one of them to lead worship like we normally did. That day spontaneous creative and prophetic worship broke out among us, with no one leading it (except for the Holy Spirit). It turned out to be the most powerful worship time of the training. During those 2 hours many of the 41 and us experienced God’s loving ministry in wonderful and powerful transforming ways.)
3. At least 3 testified that they came with bitterness in their heart which was blocking them from receiving from God, until the Holy Spirit sovereignly melted it away during corporate worship times. They stayed free and flowing with God from that time on.
4. The great Dancer saw another vision. During worship he watched Jesus’ entire crucifixion detail by detail unfold from start to finish in his vision.
5. During another worship time the love of God fell strongly on Y____, one of our translators, and she began to minister God’s love to several of the 41, who later testified that they came away profoundly transformed from those wonderful times of experiencing God’s love.
6. After I encouraged the 41 to ask God to interpret their visions and dreams, one girl, the previous day, saw a vision of a small seed fall from heaven, then a person (in the vision) next to her said “plant the seed”. She did and saw it grow into a tree with lots of fruit. Then saw many birds coming and eating the fruit and taking the seeds to many other people. This girl did not know what it meant. But then she asked God what it meant. He quickly revealed to her that He wanted her to share certain Biblical truths with an unbelieving friend of hers. She felt like God was saying that friend would get saved and lead many other people to Jesus.
7. Somehow a girl got invited to come to this training but was not yet a follower of Jesus. You could tell it by looking at her countenance. She testified that after watching our Team’s love for God and one another, she knew God was real and invited Jesus to come into her heart and be the Lord of her life, which He wonderfully did. Her smile was beaming the rest of the time. We think this same thing happened to a young man whom his sister invited to come. (He was one of the few survivors of a tragic bus accident which killed their mother and another relative and several friends just 2 weeks before the training. Early on in the training I spent some time talking with this young man as he processed this unfortunate event. Later we began to see him enthusiastically participate in worship and prayer times.)
8. Several times we sent the 41 out in small groups to practice treasure hunting / evangelism in the town where we were. One group met a man who fled from them. Later God led them to a house. They knocked on the door and this same man lived there. They spent the next 2 hours witnessing to the man and his wife. Long story made short, both the man and wife renounced Hinduism and invited Jesus to be their Lord. They came to our compound the next day and wanted to get water baptized.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Twice we had the 41 meet in smaller teams (according to their local regions) and ask God for and develop specific plans of how He wanted them to go back into their country and implement these things they experienced in our training. As we listened to each group testify to the God-given detailed plans and their passionate commitment to one another to carry them out, we were overjoyed knowing this nation was getting ready to see an explosion of the spread of the Kingdom of God among their people (almost all of which are unreached people groups). A couple that helped translate for us will be periodically going back into this nation and encouraging these new evangelistic and disciple-making groups.

PRAYER POINTS
PLEASE PRAY with us for these 41 precious, passionate and dedicated (even in the face of persecution that they know will come) fellow Believers. Pray for the increase in their fiery passion (never a decrease). Pray that they will regularly fellowship and pray with each other. Pray for unstoppable disciple-making and church planting movements to sweep through their nation and on into surrounding nations. Pray for their favor among their lost friends and family and for a great harvest of souls to come into the Kingdom of God. Pray for their protection and provision to do God’s will. Pray for our Team to hear clearly about how we are to follow up with these 41 fellow Gospel laborers (whom we are maintaining ongoing contact via email and hopefully a return trip). Pray there would be no demonic backlash on our Team. We were and are praying for all of you who gave financially and prayed for our mission. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS AS MUCH YOUR FRUIT AS IS OURS. ALL OF US CAN GIVE THIS FRUIT TO JESUS AS A REWARD FOR HIS SUFFERING FOR US!!!

For more information about this trip, or the work being done overseas please send an email to info@intentionalgatherings.com

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Life "Outside The Walls"

Dec 13

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We are often asked by people all over the world, “what does a typical simple/house church gathering look like?” While many of the house church communities we have started or been a part of cannot be defined by what takes place during a weekly gathering we did feel like our friend Chris Kosho did a great job of capturing a bit of what the life of the King Street House Church looks like on a regular basis…(Much of which takes place outside of the context of the powerful weekly gatherings that take place within this community)

Chris made a documentary film capturing short samples of videos from the past year or so as this community has formed…the unique way this documentary was developed uses some pretty cool technology, which selects random/short video clips based upon your click. Take a minute to peruse the site, and make sure to click on “Film” at some point. Check out a few of the short clips, and take a powerful peek into what God is doing in Austin through some ordinary young people who started taking the Great Commission seriously…

***A pretty cool side note not mentioned in this documentary is the fact that there are several other house churches that have been started as a result of the King Street House Church sending out lay church planters***

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"Permission" – Part 2

Dec 8

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(Part one of “Permission” can be found HERE)

In His grace, Jesus has allowed us to be a part of these incredible people’s lives. The King Street House Church family was birthed after a group of these young people went through Student CPx in Austin two summers ago, and then helped me run SCPx Austin this past summer. In the last few months I have had the pleasure of watching this house church community flourish & grow into a healthy spiritual family. There are some things about what is happening with this group of radical young people that I think are worth taking a look at. Below are some things that come to my mind when I think about these close friends. (You read in “Permission” Part 1 about the team of 7 this house church is sending out to S. Asia over Winter break to train University students there to plant house churches)

What is unique about this community?

1) It is completely lay-led (There is no paid staff) – There is something powerful about a group of people who are pursuing the Kingdom in radical ways when there is no paychecks or any kind of financial gain attached…They birthed, lead, and pursue the healthy growth of this family out of the pure love for Jesus in their hearts.

2) It was birthed by women in their early 20′s – I almost did not mention this because it seems so normal and natural to me – like, “so, what’s the big deal?” However, after thinking through it I realized how unique and POWERFUL this really is because of the negative view that MANY have towards women in “leadership” or “ministry” in the American Church. Anyone who sees what God is doing in this community would have a tough time arguing their opposing view-point about women not being able to be in positions of leadership/authority in the Kingdom of God.

3) It is healthy, producing NEW disciples, and releasing people to walk in their gifts (Men are being raised up to lead) – This has not been easy, and without much pain, mistakes, failures, etc. I’ve seen and been a part of communities with “strategies for multiplication”, and others who are complacent; both are dangerous. The strategic ones bring death to relationship for the sake of sticking to a formula, and the others never see the beautiful power of the Gospel working in the lives of new people. This community seems to walk out a decent “balance”. They are quick to recognize when things are “off” and fix it. They hear God’s voice, and have faith to obey what He says. It’s hard to be a spectator in this community.

4) They have a deep desire to see new house churches planted all over the place, and have already seen a few planted since August! I have been in many different streams of church planting all over the world in the past few years. Nowhere have I seen twenty year-old’s who have BIRTHED and are leading new churches where new believers are being Baptized as a part of the natural DNA of how they “function and grow”. Not only that, but they are sending others out in two’s to start new “spiritual families”. They don’t have it all figured out, & are not perfect, but what God has done with them in the past year puts most “church planting strategies” I’ve seen in my life to shame. God seems to be showing off through the lives of some humble/passionate young people.

5) The power of God is present. I have also been in various environments in the past few years that seem “spiritually dead”, as well as others that are freakin’ CRAZY, which seem far from the nature and character of God. AKA: very conservative & highly charismatic. This community can be placed in neither of those camps. However, the power of God through the work of His Holy Spirit displayed through the obedience of these radical followers of Jesus is not arguable. They are seeing supernatural physical, spiritual, and emotional healing take place. They are seeing the fruit of the Spirit displayed in people’s lives (Gal. 5:22-23) as well as the power of the gifts of the Spirit on a regular basis. They are not afraid.

6) They walk in a humility & refusal to pursue personal gain/attention that is like nothing I have experienced in most of my life.

I suppose I could go on and on. I want to make it clear that I am not bragging on anything other than the miraculous work of Jesus in the lives of these people. We like to call out the Christ-like qualities of Jesus we see in people as a way to edify them, and bring glory to Jesus. We are not “puffing them up”, but recognizing the redeeming work of Jesus in their lives. Obviously, I care about these people a lot. I am so proud of the Jesus I see in them, and wanted to share them with you a bit. I hope it has encouraged your Spirit.

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Big Transition: I.G. Update – November 2010

Nov 24

Posted by admin in God is moving... | 2 Comments

We have some exciting new transitions coming up, so I’ve taken the time to record a short video to let you know what’s happening with Intentional Gatherings, and The Snow Family!



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