Church Planting can be an extremely painful experience on a wife and family. Because of that, Christine Hoover has written an incredible book called "The Church Planting Wife" as a way of encouraging wives through the journey of planting a church. I highly recommend this book to those who are in ministry or looking to plant churches.
In addition, Christine has encouraged us husbands to write a love letter to our brides, reminding them how vital they are to our lives and ministries. Below is my letter to my best friend, partner in crime and the love of my life.
Dear Bugsy,
Growing up in a broken home where truelove and sacrificial love within marriage was never modeled, I could never have imagined experiencing the joy that the Lord has given me through our relationship. Now obviously, our relationship has not been a cakewalk. We have endeavored many ups and downs, wins and losses, trials and victories; but in the end, if the Lord's main purpose for us is to glorify Himself by sanctifying us, then it is easy for me to think, "Oh, how great and awesome is our God."
Since the moment I saw you in college I knew my life would be changed forever. I can remember it like it's yesterday, watching you walk into the cafeteria. The first thing I noticed was your big beautiful eyes. I love your eyes. The only thing left to do in that moment was figure out how to get you to be mine. Little did we know that within weeks, the Lord would save me and then providentially bring us together.
Through 2 1/2 years of dating and going on 10 years of marriage, none has been as strenuous and trying on our relationship than setting out to plant Netcast in 2011. Sure all of the church planting books and friends in the ministry would tell us how difficult it would be, but I don't think we believed it. However, looking back it has been definitely the most difficult thing we've ever endured together. That said, similar to the cross, Jesus never wastes our difficult moments. This process of church planting has been by far the most sanctifying thing we have ever experienced.
Over the last two years I have watched with my own eyes, Jesus transform you from a young Christian into an incredibly godly young woman. This transformation has not been easy for us and quite frankly there has been moments of great pain; But seeing Christ in you has become one of my most cherished possessions. I love watching you spend time with other women and pouring your life into them. I love to see you growing in your ability to be transparent and vulnerable even when it's extremely uncomfortable. I love how you're able to point people to Jesus and not simply tend to their emotional needs. There is an incredible joy that comes over me as you share all the things that Jesus is doing in your heart.
Beth, you are truly my best friend. God has used you in my life to grow me in ways that I could never thank you enough. Because of our relationship and because of your commitment to the Lord, today I am more of a man of God. You have been my lover, my helper, my conscience in weak moments, a safe haven for my thoughts, my rock when everything else seems to be falling apart and even my shepherd at times.
I love you more than words can describe. I love the grace that you extended me and the God who lives in your heart. I love the mother you have become and the father you are helping me to be.
I love you, I love you, I love you. Today, tomorrow and for all of eternity.
- Matt
Showing posts with label Beth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beth. Show all posts
We're Officially an Acts 29 Church Plant
Netcast Church Beverly, MA
Matt Chewning
Feb 23, 2011
Series: Church Profiles
Categories: Church Planting Articles
Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church.
I started serving in youth ministry at Daystar Christian Fellowship in Greensboro NC in 2005. At the time, we had just hired a new associate pastor who had a big vision for the youth of our city. We gutted a church building and turned it into a youth facility where Jesus would be made much of. Within 1 year we went from about 30 students to almost 500. Because of the growth, it opened up a ton of opportunities to disciple young people, preach, teach, and shephard students. During that time, God began to plant in my heart the desire to move back to Greater Boston to plant. He did this through dreams at first and then began to confirm it through my wife. Because I was very young (24 years old) I knew I was not ready to proceed. So, I submitted the calling to 4 of my pastors and asked them to release us when they felt my family was mature enough to pursue this. About a year later all 4 men came to Beth and I indepedant of eachother and encouraged us to pursue the calling. From there we wanted to connect with a Network and submit to a process that would clarify the call or kill the call. We honestly were a little undecided about whether we wanted to do this. At the time, I was climbing the corporate ladder and was living the "American Dream" with a new house, new cars, 4 kids, and a well paying job. That is when we connected with the Acts 29 Network. The Network and assessment team did an incredible job seeing areas of immaturity, pride and a lacking in understanding the gospel outside of salvation. However, they said that they did see a calling on our family so assigned conditions for us to fulfill over the next year before moving to plant. We left our church, I quit my job, and began fundraising and interning at an Acts 29 Church Plant in Winston Salem NC called 1.21 Church. God was so gracious to our family during that time.
How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage?
We started to engage our demographic and culture through Q&A video's online. Since we were still living in NC and hadn't moved yet, we wanted to somehow connect with the area we would eventually move to. So, we connected with a college missions team and had them gather some of the biggest questions and issues that people had towards evangelicalism. Then I began to answer some of the questions via video, and post them all over the web via twitter/facebook specific to our demographic. This created a buzz that was unexpected. Before we even moved, I had already made a ton of connections with our area using social media. So, then as we moved and started getting settled, I was able to meet with these people in person. Some were believers, others weren't. This was key to both gathering a core and getting an understanding of what my culture believed about Christianity, Jesus and the church. From there, I connected with a guy online who runs all of th e local city facebook pages and has about 180,000 followers. He isn't a Christian but we became friends and he is now on our core team (Still not a believer, but Christ is wooing him). By God's grace he gave me access to all of his pages (again, access to 180,000 local people) and allowed me to plug Jesus and the church plant whenever I wanted. This opened up incredible opportunities from meeting with people, to getting in local magazines, to gathering a core.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)?
The biggest challanges to us was the instability and change of schedule. Because being a church planter is who I am and not what I do, it was very hard for me to balance my life, family and the church plant. I would either feel like I was working too much or not working enough. I knew that my family was priority so I would at times feel that I was neglecting the church in order to be available to the family. Other times, I would feel like I was neglecting the family to tend to the church plant. It took a while to feel like I had a balance and I am still learning how to do this. Also, before we moved, I never really believed in a sabbath. It took about 2 weeks for me to realize the necessity of rest. I struggled with emotional highs, lows and occasional depression until I realized how important rest is.
How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network?
My involvement with Acts 29 started with Driscoll. I started to listen to him years before I felt called to plant. Then as I studied reformed theology I got more fimiliar with the influencers of the Network. So, when we began to feel called to church planting, it was only natural to pursue a relationship with Acts 29. I trusted them. The biggest benefits that the Network has had for us has been in the brotherhood, coaching and assessment. Had I not connected with Acts 29, I would have no pursuit of humility (I am not a humble man), no understanding of the Gospel, and all about building a Sunday show so people would come and hear me speak about a moral lesson from the bible. By God's grace, the Network has helped me love Jesus and understand the gospel in ways I never though possible before.
What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant?
1. Make sure you are called.
2. Assessment is necessary. Humble yourself to a process.
3. Trust your wife. She sees things you don't.
4. Do not let fear dictate your decisions.
5. Seek older Godly wisdom from men who have told you "No" before.
What's the most important thing you'd want to share with a new church planter?
I would say; be patient. When God calls you to something, it very rarely means "NOW". Recognize that Jesus is more interested in your sanctification than he is in your church plant. Humble yourself to the process that God puts before you and don't rush anything. Christ will build his church and you may be one of those men whom he uses to do it. However, if you under-estimate the work of Christ in the process and only focus on the end goal, than you will miss what Christ desires to do in your heart, your family and your sanctification.
How do you pastor your family?
I am still learning this. Pastoring my family is much different than pastoring the church. I don't preach to my wife and kids, I don't have constant spiritual conversations with them, we don't do a formal bible study or have a consistant family worship time. I take Pauls words serious when he says, "Follow me as I follow Christ." I pastor my family by loving and following Christ. I use teachable opportunities to teach my wife and kids about our sin the cross, God's grace, love, and His sovereignty, etc. I pastor my family by modeling repentance to my wife and kids by being quick to appologize and turn from sin when I sin against them. I pastor my family by modeling a love for the bible by loving the scriptures. I pastor my family by serving my wife and kids.
Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?
Either Planting Missional Churches by Stetzer or The Reason For God by Keller.
Church Profile: Netcast Church
Launch Date: January 2011
Mission, Vision, Values of Church
Mission: Encouraging the world with the hope of Jesus.
Vision: A diverse community pursuing intimacy with Christ and influence in the city.
Core Values:
1. Diverse.
2. Community.
3. Intimacy.
4. Influence.
Our desire for Netcast Church is to be a Jesus worshipping, sent people (Matthew 28:16-20); Empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); living in diverse community with each other (Acts 2:42-47). We believe that doing this will help us fulfill our mission of seeing people transformed by the gospel and equipped to live missionally in their worlds
What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church?
How God used 1.21 Church and Daystar to give us a good balance of being missional and yet not unattractive. How God provided every financial need at just the right time. How God has built an incredible team at Netcast in just a few months. How God has used Acts 29 in my sanctification and the sanctification of my bride.
How can we pray for you?
Pray for wisdom as I am in way over my head right now.
Matt Chewning
Feb 23, 2011
Series: Church Profiles
Categories: Church Planting Articles
Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church.
I started serving in youth ministry at Daystar Christian Fellowship in Greensboro NC in 2005. At the time, we had just hired a new associate pastor who had a big vision for the youth of our city. We gutted a church building and turned it into a youth facility where Jesus would be made much of. Within 1 year we went from about 30 students to almost 500. Because of the growth, it opened up a ton of opportunities to disciple young people, preach, teach, and shephard students. During that time, God began to plant in my heart the desire to move back to Greater Boston to plant. He did this through dreams at first and then began to confirm it through my wife. Because I was very young (24 years old) I knew I was not ready to proceed. So, I submitted the calling to 4 of my pastors and asked them to release us when they felt my family was mature enough to pursue this. About a year later all 4 men came to Beth and I indepedant of eachother and encouraged us to pursue the calling. From there we wanted to connect with a Network and submit to a process that would clarify the call or kill the call. We honestly were a little undecided about whether we wanted to do this. At the time, I was climbing the corporate ladder and was living the "American Dream" with a new house, new cars, 4 kids, and a well paying job. That is when we connected with the Acts 29 Network. The Network and assessment team did an incredible job seeing areas of immaturity, pride and a lacking in understanding the gospel outside of salvation. However, they said that they did see a calling on our family so assigned conditions for us to fulfill over the next year before moving to plant. We left our church, I quit my job, and began fundraising and interning at an Acts 29 Church Plant in Winston Salem NC called 1.21 Church. God was so gracious to our family during that time.
How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage?
We started to engage our demographic and culture through Q&A video's online. Since we were still living in NC and hadn't moved yet, we wanted to somehow connect with the area we would eventually move to. So, we connected with a college missions team and had them gather some of the biggest questions and issues that people had towards evangelicalism. Then I began to answer some of the questions via video, and post them all over the web via twitter/facebook specific to our demographic. This created a buzz that was unexpected. Before we even moved, I had already made a ton of connections with our area using social media. So, then as we moved and started getting settled, I was able to meet with these people in person. Some were believers, others weren't. This was key to both gathering a core and getting an understanding of what my culture believed about Christianity, Jesus and the church. From there, I connected with a guy online who runs all of th e local city facebook pages and has about 180,000 followers. He isn't a Christian but we became friends and he is now on our core team (Still not a believer, but Christ is wooing him). By God's grace he gave me access to all of his pages (again, access to 180,000 local people) and allowed me to plug Jesus and the church plant whenever I wanted. This opened up incredible opportunities from meeting with people, to getting in local magazines, to gathering a core.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)?
The biggest challanges to us was the instability and change of schedule. Because being a church planter is who I am and not what I do, it was very hard for me to balance my life, family and the church plant. I would either feel like I was working too much or not working enough. I knew that my family was priority so I would at times feel that I was neglecting the church in order to be available to the family. Other times, I would feel like I was neglecting the family to tend to the church plant. It took a while to feel like I had a balance and I am still learning how to do this. Also, before we moved, I never really believed in a sabbath. It took about 2 weeks for me to realize the necessity of rest. I struggled with emotional highs, lows and occasional depression until I realized how important rest is.
How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network?
My involvement with Acts 29 started with Driscoll. I started to listen to him years before I felt called to plant. Then as I studied reformed theology I got more fimiliar with the influencers of the Network. So, when we began to feel called to church planting, it was only natural to pursue a relationship with Acts 29. I trusted them. The biggest benefits that the Network has had for us has been in the brotherhood, coaching and assessment. Had I not connected with Acts 29, I would have no pursuit of humility (I am not a humble man), no understanding of the Gospel, and all about building a Sunday show so people would come and hear me speak about a moral lesson from the bible. By God's grace, the Network has helped me love Jesus and understand the gospel in ways I never though possible before.
What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant?
1. Make sure you are called.
2. Assessment is necessary. Humble yourself to a process.
3. Trust your wife. She sees things you don't.
4. Do not let fear dictate your decisions.
5. Seek older Godly wisdom from men who have told you "No" before.
What's the most important thing you'd want to share with a new church planter?
I would say; be patient. When God calls you to something, it very rarely means "NOW". Recognize that Jesus is more interested in your sanctification than he is in your church plant. Humble yourself to the process that God puts before you and don't rush anything. Christ will build his church and you may be one of those men whom he uses to do it. However, if you under-estimate the work of Christ in the process and only focus on the end goal, than you will miss what Christ desires to do in your heart, your family and your sanctification.
How do you pastor your family?
I am still learning this. Pastoring my family is much different than pastoring the church. I don't preach to my wife and kids, I don't have constant spiritual conversations with them, we don't do a formal bible study or have a consistant family worship time. I take Pauls words serious when he says, "Follow me as I follow Christ." I pastor my family by loving and following Christ. I use teachable opportunities to teach my wife and kids about our sin the cross, God's grace, love, and His sovereignty, etc. I pastor my family by modeling repentance to my wife and kids by being quick to appologize and turn from sin when I sin against them. I pastor my family by modeling a love for the bible by loving the scriptures. I pastor my family by serving my wife and kids.
Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?
Either Planting Missional Churches by Stetzer or The Reason For God by Keller.
Church Profile: Netcast Church
Launch Date: January 2011
Mission, Vision, Values of Church
Mission: Encouraging the world with the hope of Jesus.
Vision: A diverse community pursuing intimacy with Christ and influence in the city.
Core Values:
1. Diverse.
2. Community.
3. Intimacy.
4. Influence.
Our desire for Netcast Church is to be a Jesus worshipping, sent people (Matthew 28:16-20); Empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); living in diverse community with each other (Acts 2:42-47). We believe that doing this will help us fulfill our mission of seeing people transformed by the gospel and equipped to live missionally in their worlds
What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church?
How God used 1.21 Church and Daystar to give us a good balance of being missional and yet not unattractive. How God provided every financial need at just the right time. How God has built an incredible team at Netcast in just a few months. How God has used Acts 29 in my sanctification and the sanctification of my bride.
How can we pray for you?
Pray for wisdom as I am in way over my head right now.
Netcast Church "Launch Day" Pictures
Click the photo to enlarge it.
A big thanks to Amber Shomo at http://www.forevercandid.com/ for her awesome pictures.
A big thanks to Amber Shomo at http://www.forevercandid.com/ for her awesome pictures.
Valentines Day with Beth and Why I love her !!!
It is unusual for Beth and I to not do something big for Valentines Day. This year would be no different. Since this is our first year on a really tight budget we were able to get pretty creative with our night. To start we got all dresses up. When Beth came downstairs, I had our living room in a new design. We had a fire in the fireplace, with a table for 2 set up. rather than going out for dinner, I made some steaks with a potato and green beans. There was also bread with the meal. It was like eating out, only better because it was less than 1/2 the price and we didn't have to worry about other people being around. Then we set the couch up right in front of our new TV and watched Couples Retreat.Here are some Pics.
Beth,
This is what I love about you. The way you stand by my side. How you always find a new way to "WOW" me. When I'm sad, you take the pain away with a joke or by calling me a Fag (I know, it’s a term of Endearment). How you always look deep into my eyes. How you can make my heart melt with your big soft lips. The way you hold my hand so tight. How you always watch out for me. They way you make sure I have everything I need. How you always know what to say. How you say the cutest things over and over and never gets old.
I love the way you stare at me as if I am the most handsome guy in the world! The smile you give after I'm done kissing you The way you act like a dork but make me laugh. The way your still embarrassed to say or do things in front of me. How you can just defend me and not be scared. How you lift your hands during worship. They way you walk when you get sad!! For how you think every cough, fall, bump, cut, scratch, short nail, bug bite, choke, or scream may lead to a fatality of you or one of the kids. The way you sing to be all cheesy even though you have a great voice. How you always finish my sentences. How it is so easy to see evidences of Gods grace in you. How your the only one who thinks I’m NOT weird (sometimes). How you teach our kids the bible.
Its funny but, I love the way we play stupid games w/ stupid incentives, and your stupid butt usually wins. How you tell me long stories that have no meaning, but you know I'll listen anyway, but if I don’t listen, you’ll still tell the story, and then ask me what you just said. How you always want to teach me about what God is showing you after a women's study or time with a friend. How your mind can be thinking of 100 things at 1 time. How you forgive me when I do wrong. How we like to match our PJ’s. How you can just speak your mind. How you’re not afraid to tell me your feelings. How you can cry in front of me. How you make me feel when I think I'm nothing. The way you inspire me with your thoughts and emotions!!!! How when you pray it is always from the heart and not a show.
And of course…….The way you encourage me with the Gospel to be every bit of a man, husband, and father that God wants me to be.
I love you more than I could ever explain. God has been so gracious to me.
Matty
We know what we're having (Boy or Girl ???) Read and find out!!
What an awesome time. On Saturday Beth went out all day and left me home with the 3 kiddos. Now normally I don't like spending my entire Saturday away from my wife and alone with the kids (sometimes its hard work) however, Beth let me into a lil secret. She told me that she had a fun night planned for us.Turns out that my in-laws came by at 6:30 to spend the night and Beth and I were going to spend the night out at a hotel (ou-la-la). When she came home from being out, she mad me hide in a closet so I didn’t see her because she got her hair cut that day. Eventually it was time to leave; the woman was stunning. Oh yeah baby. Hot!!! AND that was just the beginning.
It turns out that she has a night of challenges for me. Here's how this worked:
She had massive amounts of envelopes. She has written a poem and broke the poem down into like 10 pieces. Each was in its own envelope. However for me to get more of the poem, I had to get the challenges correct until the entire poem was revealed. In other envelopes she has like 10 challenges. Pretty creative stuff. The challenges were like; "what would I order for an appetizer?" or "What is the total amount on the bill and you have to be within $1.00?"; another was "Tell me why you love me!" It was fun. So after each challenge, I would get to open up more of the poem. Eventually the poem revealed something to me and I was given a prize.
So after a night of that, eating at Carabbas, going to see a movie ("Marley and Me") btw, if you’re a dude, don’t go see it because your dude status will go down. Not because he movie is bad or too girly; but it will make you cry over a freakin dog. Also, we went to see my boy JonJo play at "The Bistro" in Oak Ridge. Fun stuff. Had a Seasonal Sammy A (yummy) and cheesecake.
Then we ended up at a hotel for the grand sha-band (not sexual). There was a bag with a box in it. Part of what I learned in the poem was that Beth went to "Tiny Toes" which is a (for fun) ultrasound place where they do 3D videos, pictures, tell you the sex, and all kind of cool stuff. Inside the box was an outfit for the baby. Blue - Boy / Pink - Girl. Can you believe that chic put pink tissue paper in that box. That’s crap. I nearly kicked her. BLUE it is!!!!! A boy.
I am very excited about having another "Mighty Man of God" in my house. That’s what Daniel and I call ourselves. Kind of arrogant but its all good.
So, please join me in welcoming Jacob Matthew Chewning to our family.
Bugsy, you did a great job this weekend. U really surprised me. You’re an awesome wifie. Love you boo boo.
"How Close?" read and have a Good Laugh!!
My beautiful bride loves games; we play things like Phase 10, UNO, Scrabble, Yatzee, and many more. One game in particular that she loves to play is "How Close" Now I will stop all of you freaks out there and let you know right off the bat that this is no sexual game...although it is almost as much fun.The game goes like this, First you fill up your gas tank on Sunday or Monday. Then you drive around town all week taking the kids to school, running to the grocery store, Target, across town to the in-laws, etc. Usually by Wednesday or Thursday the Empty light comes on in the dashboard.
"Let the games Begin!!!"
"How close can you come to running out of gas; without running out of gas?
On Wednesday Beth hit her record and I doubt that she will ever be able to top it. We were coming home from taking the kids to see Santa at the local mall (by the way, Santa at this mall is a Christian and shares the gospel with every kid that comes through the line; how cool is that.) Anyway, so far we have had the Empty light on all day and have probably driven about 20 miles so far. Beth was looking for a cheap gas station, $1.54 was too much because we knew that some of the stations had gas for $1.53. Why waste the penny? Plus now the game was getting suspenseful. We made it all the way to the mall, now it was time to head home. We passed two $1.54 stations but we knew just 1 mile ahead there was the almighty penny-saving Hess. We pull into the complex where the station is and all of the sudden; Chaos! Lights on the dash come on, power steering goes off, the car literally is in cardiac arrest. Luckily we hit a downward hill. We make a right turn into the gas station rolling the entire way; all of the pumps are taken except for the 1st one in which we rolled right up to. 100 yards without any gas and we made it to the finish line without having to push at all.
Beth Wins!!!! Game Over!!! It's not worth playing anymore because I think it'd be impossible to beat the High Score. 
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