"Wait" Versus "Go"

During my week in the hospital in mid-February, I was struck by the thought of how easily we take our health for granted. I thought and prayed, "If only I could become healthy again, I would be able to do so much for God. I would seize the day."

The idea of standing on the sidelines has always seemed especially absurd to me, and yet I suddenly felt as though I could have, or should have, done more.

TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM

I guess I have always been a "take the world by storm" kind of guy and being incapacitated only intensifies the natural desire in me to risk it all for Jesus.

The biggest, most important steps I have take in my life have been steps of faith following Jesus into the unknown; leaving a full-time, well-paying corporate position to pursue ministry; moving our family to Helena, Montana, what seemed like the "ends of the earth" at the time; announcing our desire to follow God on an adventure to plant a new non-traditional church in a place where traditional churches thrive.

SEEKING THE NEW ADVENTURE

So now I look in retrospect at the last eight months since we closed the doors of Encounter Church. Andrea and I were sure God would open specific doors quickly and whisk our family away to another part of the country. The first couple of weeks we visited an amazing ministry, a new church plant in South Jordan, Utah, and we were sure we would plug-in there. I Skyped extensively with church planters and ministry leaders in Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Virginia, and California (not to mention several opportunities right here in Montana). In three separate trips, I met with a number of church planters doing amazing work for the Kingdom in Seattle.

• Met with ministry leaders and led worship at One Community Church in South Jordan, Utah — a unique ministry in a stronghold of the Mormon faith.
• Talked with Healing Place Church doing amazing ministry in El Paso, Texas.
• Considered moving to Springfield, Missouri with another church planting friend.
• Made an East-coast connection with Sovereign Grace Church in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Was considered for Area 10 Faith Community in Richmond, Virginia.
• Considered an inner-city ministry at The Pathway in Tacoma, Washington.
• Talked extensively and led worship for Emmaus Church in Bothell, Washington.
• Met with and talked about joining two other different ministries in Auburn, Washington.
• Been invited to be a part of starting a new church in Omaha, Nebraska with a friend right here in Montana.
• Made a connection with River City Church, another new church plant in Missoula, Montana.
• Began discussion with a church planter, planting Element Church in North Phoenix.

HURRY UP AND WAIT

From all these connections and more, we've felt a desire to go forward — but not yet a call. The pieces are just not coming together financially, geographically, or socially to facilitate that big step in to our new life adventure. Leaning on my passion and experience, I have been seeking to connect in some area of worship arts, and yet I have been offered positions in missions, youth, and discipleship. The cost of living has been an impediment in some areas, as well as the abundance of non-paying ministry opportunities. We've had to weigh a quality of life working full-time secular work and burning the candle in order to squeeze in some ministry. Is this what God has planned for us?

For eight months, we have been ready to "go." We have been ready to immediately follow His call. And yet God's response has been "wait."

How does a man of action wait? And why is it so difficult? I recently heard Charles Stanley explain that "waiting on the Lord" often means "trusting in the Lord" and vice versa. The natural man in me, the experience in me, the entrepreneur, the risk-taker, the adventurer, the barbarian in me says "GO NOW." But it even troubles me now that my spirit says "WAIT" — His Spirit says "WAIT."

A CROSSROADS OF TRANSITION

So here we are. Helena, Montana has become a crossroads for us where we've experienced much joy and pain. Like the apostle Paul, we are held back from moving forward. And as we long to leave, we have also become obedient to God's will at this time. We continue to ask Him for the grace to trust Him much more that we already do, to stay somewhat planted when we desire to soar like eagles.

So for now, I continue in my job in the Copy & Print Center at Staples here in Helena. I am interviewing for both graphics and ministry positions over the phone and on Skype. I am making new connections with ministry leaders and church planters in places like Missoula, Omaha, and Phoenix. If you know of a ministry needing an experienced worship arts, former lead pastor, passionate team builder, and disciple maker — be sure and let me know. It may be the opportunity that God is orchestrating so that He can allow us to go.

But for now, we trust and wait.

MINISTRY LINKS

Profile & Resume (Ministry)
www.esomething.org/ecpowell

LinkedIn Profile (Ministry)
www.linkedin.com/in/ecpowell

Encounter Church (Ministry)
www.encounterhelena.org

GRAPHICS LINKS

LinkedIn Profile (Graphics)
www.linkedin.com/in/ericcpowell

Indeed Resume (Graphics)
www.indeed.com/me/ericcpowell

Portfolio (Graphics)
www.deviantart.com/ecpowell/gallery

Miracles & Healing

For many in our local sphere of connections, you probably already know the challenges we've faced since mid-February — specifically, my health setback. At this point things are much better, so I am able to share with a positive outlook.

In mid-February, between working at Staples, applying for jobs, and investigating ministry opportunities, a seemingly small bump formed at the top of my back near my neck line.

I was checking out a friend's church plant here in Helena on that Sunday, visiting my physician on Wednesday, and landing in the emergency room and finally the hospital by that Saturday. That small bump had grown to become a painful 6-inch oval area threatening to unleash infection into my bloodstream. It had become a staph infection.

I was admitted to the local hospital here in Helena and immediately treated on heavy duty intravenous antibiotics. By Monday, MIRSA was thankfully ruled out and it was decided that the best course of action (although not my favorite) was to physically remove the infected tissue by surgery.

Within days, the infection was better and I was discharged by Thursday with large wound in my back/neck that was 7-inch-wide by 1-inch-deep. For three weeks at home, I received daily nurse visits to pack and treat my wound.

During my home hospice, I was unable to return to work and our family began to face a number of financial challenges for medication and insurance, as well as our daily needs.

We had immediate prescription costs of $600, our furnace stopped working needing $300 of repairs, one of Andrea's teeth had become infected and she required a $1000 root canal.

It was all too much. Both Andrea and I broke emotionally. As God often does through our brokenness, He was gracious to us through our friends, ministry connections, and a couple local congregations.

We were humbled and brought to tears by gifts we can never repay. And while we are still struggling, God continued to provided for us through some means we could never have anticipated.

After being out of work for nearly four weeks, my wound was beginning to heal. I was strong enough to return to the Copy & Print Center at Staples and begin paying back what may be about $12K in medical bills. At this point, we are still not sure what we will owe when all is done, but we are grateful that my Aetna insurance through Staples became effective just the Sunday before I was admitted into the hospital.

Now in mid-April, I am coming up on nine weeks since I first visited my family physician regarding the bump. Last Saturday was the first day that we did not pack and dress the wound and the gaping hole in my back that seemed like it could never heal has amazingly grown closed and is beginning to scar over. It feels like a miracle.

But perhaps the miracle is this — that God loves us, you an me both, to care for and sustain us regardless of our failures. He does this not only in times of hardship, but in every moment, through every heartbeat, and every breath.

2012 Will Be A Year Of Change!

It seems like a simple and innocent word and yet we naturally cringe at the idea of "change." No matter what state our life is in, we prefer the comfort of the familiar to the unknown elements of change.

Regardless of what they say, people seldom change unless the pain of NOT CHANGING outweighs the perceived pain of embracing the unknown.

You may or may not agree, because experience shows that people LIKE hearing about change and they LIKE talking about change. It tickles their ears, and yet, they are SELDOM MOTIVATED to it. Oddly enough, we were created to change. Every living organism must grow in order to continue – and growth is change. If we stop growing, we cease to live.

I am pleased to look back on 2011 to see constant change and much growth in those with whom we've connected in the Helena community. As we closed the doors on the adventure called Encounter Church we saw the end of some opportunities, but now new possibilities are beginning to show. We've been calling this time of regrouping since August a "transitionary period" for the Powells, but we know that 2012 will most certainly be a year of change.

Having been "released from Montana" and our ministry here, we know 2012 will be the year God guides us to a new place we can call "home." As part of that new place, God will guide us to a vibrant, progressive, and missional ministry that values worship, community, and life discipleship. It is this hope that is fueling us for now.

Make no mistake, change has been difficult for us. The opportunities to thrive in Helena for Graphic Design professionals are limited, for an experienced Worship Professional and Church Planter are nonexistant, and I've found myself work my lowest pay since college. Our search for our new "home" has yielded many possibilities, but all the pieces are not yet falling into place. It's taken much longer than we anticipated.

And so here we are at the beginning of a new and wondrous year. While we know it is not true, we feel a bit abandoned by God. And yet, know that this transition is a time of change, a time of evaluation, and a time of growth. So for now, we kneel at the feet of an awesome God, awaiting His orchestration in our lives, knowing that 2012 will be a year of change!

Relevant Worship

As seek out the place God wants us during this transitionary period, Andrea have been considering putting together a worship set like these guys. You know how much we feel it's important to stay relevant to the culture around us.

New Adventures For The Powells!

As you may have recently read, we've been in the process of bringing Encounter Church to a close.

We've been encouraging and helping our friends get involved with other churches in Helena, and at the same time, completing the administrative tasks needed to legally dissolve Encounter Church.

But what about the Powells, you may ask! We've been busy as well. I've been networking with fellow church planters all over the nation. From Boston and Virginia, to Texas, California, Utah, and Seattle. That means a lot of phone calls, Skype video chats, and a few trips here and there.

A NEW ADVENTURE

With our recent experience leading a new church plant, we have a unique perspective and experience to join in with a new church planting team or vibrant ministries. I am are seeking out the new adventures that God has for us, and playing to my strengths in worship, arts, and media — but also adding in my experience in leadership, spiritual formation, and community outreach.

RECENT CONNECTIONS WE'RE EXPLORING

In early August, we visited One Community Church in South Jordan, Utah. Just about 25 miles South of Salt Lake City, these guys have planted and will be planting more churches in a place where no one wants to plant a church. We enjoyed leading worship there and offer a "shout out" to Charles, Tony, and Josh!

In the middle of September, we met with three different church plants in the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington. God is doing some amazing things through these people.

Bobby and Kelli are making a difference in an inner-city, high poverty area of Tacoma through The Pathway. Keith and Kristine are doing a similar thing just north of Seattle at Epic Life Church.

Finally, Gary and Molly are leading a church plant that is reaching the suburban area of Woodinville and Bothell through Emmaus Church in North East Seattle.

We've also been busy here in Montana in October. We led worship at meeting for pastors and missionaries two weeks ago. Last Sunday, we led worship at a new church plant in Bozeman called Crossroads Church. View the video below if you want. Sean and Lydia are just having their first preview services. We are also helping out with worship at Big Sky Fellowship on Sunday, October 23. Big Sky was our church sponsor for Encounter, if you remember.

IS GOD POINTING TOWARD THE EAST COAST?

There is also a great church in ... better sit down for this one ... Richmond, Virginia area that we have also just started the beginning steps of being considered for the Worship Pastor position. At this time, I cannot yet share the name of the church, but I have personal friends that have attended this church – actually friends of friends. Here is what one friend said...

"It is the most creative bunch of people truly living out the Gospel. They have a heart for the city, and are in an artsy, VCU area of the city... AMAZING talent in worship, all heartfelt. I couldn't recommend a place more highly."

LEADING IN SEATTLE THIS SUNDAY

For now, we are excited to visit the Seattle area again. Andrik and I are driving out to Emmaus Church and I will be leading worship this Sunday.

We would appreciate your prayers for safety, but also for connection and clarity.

We've been pursuing this position in Bothell, but there are some things we feel God need to bring together regarding the cost of housing and acquiring a second job.

CONTINUED PRAYER NEEDED

So while we seem to have a number of opportunities available, we are looking for the one that God has planned for us. It needs to be a fit for our personalities and gifts, how we are most effective in ministry, and for us to achieve a balance between family life and ministry.

Please be praying for us.

View the video above or on YouTube here.

A New Post? Amazing!

So after nearly three years focusing our attention and effort on the Encounter Helena blog, that effort is coming to a close. And with the big life changes going on with the Powells, we will be posting here again on the e|Something blog.

So along with new posts, we are in the middle of overhauling the entire look and feel. We're adding some integration with social network like Facebook and Twitter. You will also find some links to my worship profile and the Encounter website as I look for the next adventure God has in store. We hope you like it.

Oh yeah, if you received this update via email, we would like to know. Please send a quick reply.