Wrapping up a great week of ministry. A few things I’m grateful for:

• Incarnation: Bridge Church’s first building was a mobile home in St Tammany’s largest mobile home park. It is a residential home and the residents are simply asked to live out the gospel and build relationships with residents that will lead to reproduction of disciples, leaders, and churches. Our second residents, Mauricio and Rebecca Hance moved in this weekend. Glad to have them on our team. Thanks to Brandon Bosarge for his 10 months of work in the park. He now passes the baton to the Hance’s. Just this week we were able to provide pastoral care for three families in the park facing crisis and two residents gave their lives to Christ at our weekly block party in the park. Incarnation is more than a fancy word on a Christmas card. For us, it’s about moving in to stay, being close and responsive to the needs of others. Hoping that our work at Oak Villa is multiplied many times across our region.
• Transformation: Home Works of America had their summer session in Covington last week and repaired 4 homes in the area. I was blessed to be able to spend some time working with Home Works on a home in the West 30’s owned by a disabled single mom. Her home suffered from storm damage, a house fire, and disrepair. Great to see the before and after transformation with a new roof, fresh paint. Still work to be done on the inside. 60 homes have been identified as substandard in the 8 block area known as the West 30’s. Much opportunity for transformation in this area. Next Home Works session will be October 8-9.
• Multiplication: Prepping for and experiencing the power of multiplication in several areas of life and ministry right now. After much work, our summer garden is finally to the point of overflowing and we’re experiencing the joy of plenty and of giving away. This can work for us in life as well. Our church has a small group that’s turning into a core group for a potential new church. Multiplication is just more fun. We’re also prepping for our fall training and network events for Church Multiplication on the Northshore. Two events I’m especially looking forward to: 1) September 8-10, Church Planter Basic Training at Woodland Park Baptist in Hammond. 2) Greenhouse w/Church Multiplication Associates, October 21-22 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Check out our Northshore Baptist Association Church Planting page for more info and other noteworthy dates.