Was back at Hope Church of Waldheim tonight for a men’s gathering. Heather & I moved to Covington in 2001, to be a part of starting a church in the community of Waldheim. So many great memories in this community. And so many hard lessons. Church planting in Waldheim brought me to the end of myself many times, as church planting will usually do. Wrote about the journey in the post Overheard as a North American Church Planter.

Timeline: Started in October 2001 as a Home Bible Study. Began weekly worship gatherings in October 2002. Worshipped in an unairconditioned Fire Station for 2 years. Moved into a former cafe/truck stop in 2005. Survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 55 baptisms in first five years. 1,000’s came on volunteer missions trips from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky,  Mississippi, & South Carolina to serve this community through Hope Church between 2002 & 2008. Grateful to have been a small part of the story of this church that will hopefully be a light to the unchurched in the Waldheim community & beyond for generations to come.

Found an old partner presentation to share with the men’s group: