Snow!

We knew it wouldn't be long before our team experienced its first Utah snow, but we had no idea it would hit as soon as September!!!

We were in awe just seeing snow in the mountains...
We sure didn't expect it to  hit us in the foothills!

Helton kids NOT missing Texas
 (only kidding-Utah loves Texas, too! )

We lovingly refer to these as "our mountains",
the mountains of Herriman where copper is mined.

Snowy foothills behind neighborhood ward

Doesn't even look real, does it?!

It has been SUCH a fun week for our team here in Herriman. God has blessed us with our first snow and even MORE opportunities to tell His good news! The Helton family was excited to be invited to a block party- where they were the only Christian family present. Their hosts and the other families in attendance were super friendly- Ben, Kristen, and the kiddos were all able to begin new friendships. We trust that in time, God will use these friendships to demonstrate His love to our neighbors. We continue to meet new people everywhere who are open to the gospel. Just yesterday, Kristen and I were at Wal Mart shopping for supplies for Kid's Life and the teenage girl who checked us out agreed to join us for Sunday's service!

Continue to pray that God opens doors for us to share his love and goodness. We could not be more thrilled that He has chosen us to be a part of the great harvest here in Herriman, Utah. Our big launch has been re-set for Sunday, October 6th. Pray that our team is diligent and efficient as we finish gathering equipment, updating our webpage, and working out any kinks in our Sunday service...and at the same time that our eyes are AWLAYS open to any opportunities for new relationships and sharing the Good News!

Grace and Peace

Hey yall!

Hope all is well in Texas.. or wherever you may be reading this from. As Paul would write, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!" I always thought that was just a fancy, religious-sounding greeting Paul used as a standard phrase to open letters he wrote to the New Testament churches. This past Sunday, during our first worship service at the rec center here in Herriman, Utah, Pastor Ben Helton let us in on the significance of Paul's favorite greeting. Ben reminded us that "grace" is God's unmerited favor, and the "peace" Paul refers to is the peace we feel when we are confident in where we stand with God because we are His children. Ben explained that Paul was reminding his new church plants that God had given them a gift-a gift that was undeserved, and the peace that comes along with accepting that gift.  Ben went on to share and explain to us the purpose of our new church: To Reach Herriman with the GRACE and PEACE of Jesus at any cost! So far, God has begun a beautiful work here. There were 23 souls present Sunday at the first public Christian church service ever in Herriman, and we are trusting that each of those souls will be won to Christ.. and that He will continue to add to His new work here. 

I leave you with the gospel-drenched greeting from Paul's letter to the Church in Corinth found in 1 Corinthians 1:2-3. 

"To the Church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Rachel's Story

Praise God! We will be meeting at the Rec Center in just a little over a week! (More details about this awesome facility are on the previous post.) Until then, we'll continue to gather as a launch team and pray for our community, update the website, gather equipment, and do all we can to prepare for this exciting step in our church plant! 

God is also continuing to put people in our paths who we feel led to befriend and minister to! We've made friends with many non-believers who are open to hear the Good News as well as some believers in search of a Christian church to be part of. Each new contact we make is a reminder of why we moved here. This community is in desperate need of a local Christian church; they are in desperate need of Jesus.   

Check out this video with Pastor Ben's daughter, Rachel, as she gives her perspective on this new adventure!