Project 21

Kim Sharpe

10-27-2009 5:39AM

I just read the following and think it's so applicable to the journey we've been on and remain on in Project 21. It spoke to me and I hope it does to you, also.

I heard a story once about two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who traveled with a group that was going around the world. As they were visiting in Korea, they saw by the side of the road, a field in which a boy was pulling a crude plow and an old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene. He turned to the missionary, who served as their interpreter and guide, and he said, "That’s a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor." The guide replied, "Yes, that is the family of Chi Noue. When the place of worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money, so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring, they are pulling the plow themselves."

The men were silent for several moments, then the businessman replied, "That must have been a real sacrifice."

The guide said, "They do not call it that. They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."

Rachel

10-19-2009 5:01PM

God has been leading all of us on such an exciting journey as we've walked through Project 21! It's been so encouraging to see how God is working and moving. I've been seeing Him drawing us all together in prayer--it's been SO awesome to join with you all in prayer. And it seems like as we step out in Faith, He's reminding us that He is the Creator of all things, faithful, trustworthy and good. He's so REAL, with His own Will, purposes, plans, and choices.

I've also been so reminded lately of how much we all love one another. The prayer walk was such a good example of this--so many people, lifting each other up in intercession. We are a family, and we are a body. What an amazing thing...

I'm also super excited about the vision we have been seeing thru Project 21 to reach out to the world even more. We're going to be helping with such important work--The International Justice Mission, who sets slaves free, and Opportunity International, and supporting the church here in Fort Collins. I don't know about you, but I am thrilled thrilled thrilled that we are thinking about loving the world in these ways. HOORAY!

God is so good, and He's so at work in ECC!!!!

Diane

10-09-2009 7:04PM

When Bert asked us to join the journey, I eagerly said yes! We’ve talked about Project 21 for so long I was excited to finally get going. So, I went to the Lord, and not wanting to waste any time, I went straight for the bottom line. How much do you want us Borden’s to give?” I prayed. When after a few minutes I didn’t have any clarity, I went straight to our check book and carefully prayed through our finances. “Lord, how can we give more than we do already?” I asked.

The next day I began the devotional. I did the first one with my children. It was great to focus on thankfulness together. I was amazed, and well, thankful to hear all of the ways even my kids could see God’s provision for our family. As we closed our time together I prayed with my children through the list on the devotional cover of what we were being asked to do as a part of the journey. Even then, as I prayed “Lord how would you have me in this?” I was expecting a dollar amount. And well, I still am.

Although, Mike and I still do not know what financial commitment we will make on the 25th, God has responded to my question of “What would you have of me?”. Not with my finances, but with my heart. I never like to be confronted with my sin, but in these last few weeks of reading the scriptures and doing the exercises in the Project 21 Devotional I have been able to receive His wisdom and to be able to respond to it in obedience. As I’ve engaged with the Lord, He has pressed hard in on me to deal with a couple of different situations in my life. As I have surrendered and sought His help, He has shown Himself to me in miraculous ways.

Project 21 hasn’t been an easy journey for me so far, but I wouldn’t change how the Lord has met me during this season for anything! With weeks 5 and 6 still to go I am expecting God to continue to respond to me as I ask this question of “Lord how would you have me in this?”

Justin and Alisha Koehn

10-01-2009 8:54AM

Looking back at our last year, it is incredible to see how God has answered prayer in very powerful ways. We had prayed a lot about finding a 'home church' and ECC (Evangelical Covenant Church) in Ft. Collins definitely is now our home. We have dozens of friends and family that go there and have just blessed our lives indescribably over the last year. We also got to spend a lot of wonderful time with our family there in Ft. Collins. We had no idea how big of a blessing it would be to live there and to see how well Alisha got to know my family. We thank God for you all and pray His continued provision over you. We are so excited for the direction ECC is going - even if we are hearing about it from afar! - with the home churches. We are already longing to be done with our degrees and come back to live in Ft. Collins for a time before we go off to the 'Places where the wild things live!' :)

Greg Anderson

09-27-2009 1:08PM

It has been evident that God has been stirring us up here @ ECC through Project 21. Attending the various events and meetings talking about the Vision of our church has been so energizing. I've heard it said that when people see that there is a vision they will get on board. This has been true just this week as we have had several folks ask how they might become involved on a committee for Project 21.

Also, just this week, at a gathering of folks talking about Project 21, there was a question raised about what the financial goal was for this journey. Obviously, our goal would be to completely eliminate the $2.1 million debt so that we would be free to make a greater impact in our world, by adequately supporting our church programs, local outreaches, staff, and larger projects of outreach in the world, i.e. Covenant World Relief, Compassion International, International Justice Mission. Do I think eliminating the entire debt is realistic for us? I don't know, but I do know that I don't want to place limits on what I think God can do by coming up with a "realistic" number in my own mind. Also, I know, however, that more importantly than any financial goal, is how we might be drawn closer to God and each other than ever before.

Finally, as each of us seek God's direction in this journey, there will be stories to tell of how some of us will discover the undeniable joy of turning our finances and giving over to Him. There are over 2500 verses in the Bible regarding money. I pray that each one of us would take the time to look up just 2; Proverbs 3:9,10, and then trust and watch God follow through on His promise!

Brian Frable

09-24-2009 11:52PM

We are just in the beginning of this faith venture. There has been so much running through my mind. I, with the media team, have spent many, many, many hours working on the brochure, devotional, website and videos to present in the very best way possible ECC's vision and hopes for the future. At this juncture I have been hearing the Lord speak to me 3 things. 1) pray 2) wait 3)celebrate God's love. This has been powerful for me as God's joy is being renewed in me and I'm appreciating so very much the many gifted loving people within our congregation. I am blown away by how deep and broad God has resourced our congregation to shine bright the love, compassion and truth of Christ. I can't wait to hear what others are hearing and experiencing from God. Be blessed!