Its Official....I'm in Ministry

Its official, I am a full-time church planter and fundraiser. Monday was my first day on the job and I will admit that it wasn't what I expected. When I got into the office that C3 Church in Greensboro is letting me use, I sat down, looked around, and said to myself "Now What?" There was all this hype about taking the leap of faith, but where do you even start? There's just so much to do.

By the grace of God, my main focus right now is to hear God and pursue Christ everyday. My secondary focuses are planning, fund-raising, and moving. We only have about 2 more months of income left in the bank, but we trust that we heard correctly and the Lord will continue to provide as we share our vision with people. As terrified as I am, I am also so excited and humbled because I know that I will see the Lord provide for us and build His Church.

This past Saturday I was honored to be ordained by the Elders of our church (Daystar Christian Fellowship) It actually came exactly 9 years and 1 day after Christ regenerated my heart, the Holy Spirit came to live in me, and I received salvation. A lot has gone on since then; I've moved around, met my bride, had a lot of babies, met a lot of people and when I look back I can see God's gracious work in me. I have not arrived; actually many days I think I am more jacked up now than I was back then. However, just like Nehemiah says in chapter 2, I can look back and be confident that "the gracious hand of God has been upon me."

Please do not be surprised if you receive a phone call from me. I am spending much of my time prayerfully seeking support and partners. I love you guys and am grateful that Christ has sovereignly allowed us to be un contact with each other.

By the way, praise God. I a typing on a donated laptop. Amazing.

Matt

A few things to be praying for:

1. Please pay for the hearts of the people in Greater Boston. They are the least likely to pray, go to church, or read their bibles. Only 4% consider themselves Christians. God has given me a huge heart to reach these people for Christ by his leading and power.

2. That I would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5). Everyday is a challenge to fight the urge to take the pastoral position and make it an administrative role. Pray that I am lead by Christ and not by "Matt". He must increase and I must decrease.

3. As I mentioned previous, please pray about partnering with us financially. We have a local businessman who is willing to give $10,000 if we can raise $20,000 by at least 20 people. Every penny is matched 50% up to $1000 per person/organization. All checks can be made out to our sending chuch "Daystar Christian Fellowship" and sent to 4604 Ridgefall Rd, Greensboro NC 27410.

4. Is God calling you to reach Boston? You may be saying "it's not possible....but anything is possible with God." If God wants you to move, are you will to go? Isaiah 6 "I will go, send me."

-------------------------
Matt Chewning
Pastor / Church Planter
www.netcastchurch.org
matt@netcastchurch.org
336-362-5662

Nehemiah 2:20 "The God of heaven will give us success."

What is success? It can't be money, health, prosperity, or understanding. If it were, John the Baptist would have been a failure and we know from what Jesus says, that there was no man greater. I am fully convinced that success is doing the will of Jesus and allowing his sovereignty define the outcome. "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all else will be given to you."

My Ordination

I know its last minute for many of you, but I thought I would send this out as an invitation. Tonight I will be ordained as a Pastor by the elders at Daystar Christian Fellowship. I would love for you to be at the service if you have the ability. I totally understand that it may not be possible on such a short notice, however, I will put the details below. The ordination will be a part of our "Leadership Summit" held quarterly at our church. These events are typically lots of fun.

Daystar CF

www.daystarcf.org

908 Westover Terrance, Greensboro NC

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Matt

336-362-5226

Netcast Needs. Will you help?

Starting September 25th, I will stop receiving my income from the company I have worked for over the past 4 years. On that same day, I will begin living fully on faith as a church planter and full time fundraiser. I can honestly say that I do not have a great plan, nor do I have a backup plan. Between now and the end of September, I hope to have those things in place. However this is what I do have; It's found in Deuteronomy 8 and then later proceeds out of Jesus' mouth in Matthew 4.

Deuteronomy 8:1-7
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land

The idea is that God is still speaking today. As a man who claims to be a follower of Christ, I can choose to listen and obey as God speaks or instead follow my own personal plan. God will stir peoples hearts to support us as missionaries so that we can fulfill what we believe God is calling us to do. Specifically, Transform and Empower people for the glory of Christ in the Greater Boston area. He will provide through people just like you.

We are looking for financial support and prayer support. If you're willing to be on our prayer team or financial support team, please let me know. To request our budget, please reply to this email or go to http://www.netcastchurch.org/

Our 3 biggest needs today are:

1. Expenses. Every penny that is given will be matched 50% by a local businessman up to $1000. We're relying on both individual and corporate donations. All gifts are tax deductible and any checks can be made out to Daystar Christian Fellowship, which is our sponsor / sending church.

2. Computer. We are looking for a laptop to be donated for all church work to be done on. This is tax deductible if donated.

3. Prayer. We need to build a prayer team specific for praying for Netcast Church and it's needs. Because of the decision to do this; spiritual warefare is very close. I need a team willing to interceed for our needs, spiritual protection, and safety for our family. This team will be given specific needs through email and asked to interceed for us as needed.

Thanks for your time in listening.

Matt Chewning
Lead Pastor - Netcast Church
http://www.netcastchurch.org/
336.362.5662

mailing address:
4604 Ridgefal Rd
Greensboro, NC 27410

I QUIT

I wanted to reach out and share that I have submitted my resignation with the company I work for and my last day will be September 25th. As many of you know, for the past 3 years, I have felt a strong calling to ministry, specifically planting a new church in Boston. I have recently informed my boss that I will be resigning from my position as an Account Manager effective September 25th. This decision was the most difficult decision that I have made in the past 6 years. Over the past few years I have received a great income which has allowed us to really reduce our living expenses and debt. To be totally honest, I really do not have much of a plan nor do I have a good idea of what our future holds. This is a scary thing for me as the sole provider for my large family; however, I do not want fear to dictate my decisions.

I am to the point in my life, that the risky direction that God is pulling me outweighs the security and opportunity that Corporate America has provided me. Beginning September 25th, I will become a full time church planting fundraiser. At that time, we will begin to put our house on the market and look to transition to Boston where we plan to plant Netcast Church. http://www.netcastchurch.org/

If you'd be willing, please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers as we make this transition.

Matt

Warfare (Netcast Church Update)

Hi guys,

Here's where I'm at.

Be Strong and Courageous, don't be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Before I formed you in your mothers womb, I set you apart and appointed you. Have no fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine. The enemy prowls around like a lion seeking to devour you. He has come to steal, kill and destroy you. Stand firm, and after you stood for as long as you can, keep standing. Jesus has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

I have yet to understand why Christianity is predominately female and full of limp wristed men who consider themselves good guys because they open doors, don't curse, don't get angry, stay clean and are polite in public. That is not the tone of scripture. Read those words above again. We are in a violent battle for our lives and it will take fearless strength to win the good fight. God has already set us apart by his grace and has called us to this. Don't get me wrong, this is not some masculinity chant. There is nothing like a powerful spirit filled women of God, I married one. However, the men are called to lead the way in this reckless pursuit of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the past month, our family has felt the fierce attack of Satan on our lives. There have been lies told about us, a suit threatened against us, and we've had friends turn their backs on us. I personally have been tempted to take the easy, risk-free road that could avoid many challenges but also deny me of the joy that only brokenness and a tough God honoring road can bring. However, God is faithful through it all.

When I first started this journey of planting Netcast Church, I really did think it would be a walk in the park. I thought that the call of God was so strong on my life that I would breeze right through it. Today, I am more confident than ever that this will never be the case. However, me and my family are up for the fight. I have recently heard the voice of the Lord and will soon be taking the biggest risk of my life. However, that's the call, its the thing that I preach and although the center of God's will is never the safest place to be, it is always the greatest place to be.

Money is low but God is High. I am scared but the Spirit of God in me is fearless. I feel unqualified, but God calls unqualified men. I worry about not being able to provide for my family, but Christ loves my family more than I do. I am not typically a risk taker, but Christianity is risky business. I feel like nothing, but my Heavenly Father says I am a son of the living God.

Please be praying for our needs. Maybe some of you who will read this, God will plant a seed in your heart to be generous to our call to plant a church in Greater Boston. Then again, he may not. Boston is the most lost area of the country, and we are on a suicide mission, but so was every other great man of God in scripture.

1. We are currently asking for help to raise $20,000 in order for us to receive the full matching donation from a local businessman. Every single penny gets us closer to our goal, Please consider giving. I commit to giving my life for this ministry and I am asking that you give some of your resource. I know it is a huge ask, but please consider it. The money needs to be in by 10/31.

2. We are currently looking for a free laptop for me to be able to do all of my work on. I need a place to store my files, connect to the net, email, and travel with. We currently have only one computer and we need another one specific for the church plant. If you have a connection, please let us know. New, Used, Referb....we don't care.

3. We are still looking for a worship leader. If you know of anyone who has a desire to lead people into worship of the transcendent God of the universe who's name is Jesus and is either on the Boston North Shore or interested, let me know. We already have a great team full of incredible musicians, but no leader yet.

4. Please be praying for me personally as I lead this endeavor by the power or the Holy Spirit. Pray for my humility, safety, purity, and sensitivity to Jesus' voice. I want to live with the centrality of the the Gospel being evident in my life. A life full of repentance, growth, and love.

I cannot express my love for all who read this email. You are a part of God's plan even if you pray for his favor over us only one time. I praise God that you are in my life. Check out www.netcastchurch.org and www.chewningjourney.blogspot.com

Matt Chewning

Any gifts can be sent to 4604 Ridgefall Rd, Greensboro NC 27410. Make any checks out to Daystar Christian Fellowship.