"There's No Place Like Home..."

Ember jet-setting to her other home.

I've personally never owned (let alone worn) a pair of red, sparkly pumps. But, after a blissful summer in our native South Carolina (with an all-too-short, but meaningful stop over in Washington, DC), I couldn't agree with Dorothy more.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (the movie from which that quote comes) came out in 1939. Little has changed in the intervening almost-century. It's still true that home is where the (proverbial) heart is. It is equally true that we can only really understand that if we've been to Oz. That is to say, when you're far enough away, for long enough of time, you learn to truly become grateful for the familiar faces, sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of home.

Home. It's a powerful force. There are few things in human experience that can overcome its draw. But, as we re-find our groove here in Frankfurt, we are reminded that purpose is a clear challenger. Last year, we focused on adjusting to our new "Oz" and building teams in the church we're here to help establish. This year, we feel an energy from the Holy Spirit to train locals to take over those teams. By the time next summer rolls around, we will have worked ourselves out of a job. That, of course means, we'll be available for whatever God has next - wherever that is!

As we hand more of our responsibilities over to the next group of leaders, we look forward to using more of our time, 1) to help develop a network through which new churches can be planted in Germany and beyond and, 2) to evangelize.

Our good friends and pastors, Brian & Janine Weaver, started the work in Frankfurt with a vision to plant a church that plants churches. Over the past few years, they've steadily taken in a stream of interns from a nearby theology school. Now, the first round of those interns are graduating, and, inspired by their example, are going out to start churches of their own. To that end, God has really given Brian a strategy for a relational network that will make it easy to help each other stay connected and grow the Kingdom across Europe. Now that we have all 4 kids in school (can I hear an amen?), Ashley is taking a lead role in conceiving and organizing this budding endeavor and we can't wait to share more as it comes together!

Also, as we begin the fall season, the team here at New Life Church, Frankfurt, can feel the Holy Spirit blowing us out the door and into the streets. It's time to share the Good News! In His perfect sense of timing, God has sent an amazing outreach coordinator to help create opportunities to get the Gospel into the city. I'm especially stoked to put the creative arts teams at her disposal and see what God does with the extraordinary talent He's gifted our community.

God continues to give our kids an amazing amount of grace as they go to school... in 3 languages! Our oldest, Camera, even started a Chinese class this year! Some days I feel like I'm hanging out on the Tower of Babel construction site. And yes, true to stereotype, I whistle when Ashley walks by. I really can't say thanks enough to you, our tremendous friends. Your prayer and financial support are a life-line - a tether from home for us here in Oz. We may not be in Kansas anymore (metaphorically speaking), but we feel the connection to our families at Destiny Praise Center and Holy Comforter in Sumter, SC, to Capital City Church and Holy Trinity Church in the Washington, DC area, and to the dozens of friends all around the States (and beyond). You guys are the best.

Until we meet again, please enjoy this amazing film our kids and their cousins made this summer: