First Post by Tony; God’s Great Wonders

Well not only is this my first blog on this website, but I do believe it could be my first blog ever… or at least 6 years. Let me start of by tell you all a little about myself and my wife Susan. We were both raised in Christian, Bible teaching and believing homes and accepted Christ at an early age. Once we got to our college years we both decided to attend Liberty University where we met and eventually got married. Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree in general studies with concentrations in Science, English and Family and Consumer Sciences. I graduated with my Bachelors degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Music and Religion. During our time at Liberty, we began talking with Scott and Jamie about their dream of a church plant. I mentioned my belief that God had called me to lead music in a church so if they needed a music director, feel free to call me. Little did I know that this was exactly what God had in mind. Jamie and Scott sent me the ideas and beliefs they had for the church and the beliefs matched mine and Susan’s perfectly. We began moving towards the goal of joining with them in this church plant. We were married in June of 2009 and by October had found a house in Ohio that we loved. We still had a few months left on the apartment contract we signed so on a cold winter day in February we moved out to Ohio, leaving behind our friends and our local church family we had come to know and love at Redeeming Grace Baptist Church. Once here in Hilliard, God continued to show His love and provision. Susan and I both found jobs with Sears immediately after moving here (and by immediately I mean Susan started working the day we started looking and I was hired 3 days later).  Soon after we began earnestly reaching out to our community by having 2 barbeque’s at ours and the Hambrick’s house. Here again God provided in miraculous ways that we were not expecting. 2 days after the BBQ, I received a mission gift from Redeeming Grace for almost the exact amount we had spent on both BBQ’s. Susan and I were able to return to Lynchburg, VA and personally thank our church family for their generous gift and inform them just how wonderful God’s provision truly is.

God is truly working His wonders here in Hilliard daily. Please continue to pray for us just as we pray for you, even if we do not know who you are or what you need. We pray that God will work His good and perfect will in your lives, and that His peace will reign on your hearts always.

With great love and affection I end this blog

Tony Williams

Sunday Service #1

After originally planning on a 10:30 start, we switched to a 5:00pm service time after talking to some people who were interested in coming, but were currently at other churches (no, we’re not trying to steal people), and talking to several local Pastors.  This would also allow us to go to and meet with other Pastors on Sunday after their services.

Tony led our music with Amazing Grace (I’m forcing him to learn guitar and play).  He did a great job.  His hard work during the week shows in learning a new instrument.  After singing, Heather took the kids and did a bible lesson with them.  I taught (we’re in a bible study format currently) about the book of Philippians and led a study on an overview of the book.  I enjoyed teaching about the book and enjoyed the discussion with those present.  Next week, the 1st, I’ll teach on Philippians 1:1-2. 

This week we increased our attendance by 200%.  Last week it was just Heather and I (which is why this is titled #1), and this week we were joined by Tony and Susan and our neighbors.

Soli Deo Gloria

Thursday Launch Team Meeting #1

This past Thursday, July 22nd, we had our first “official” launch team meeting.  It was Tony, Susan, Heather and I.  We studied Hebrews 10:24-25 to begin.  I taught about the importance of the cohesiveness of this group in spuring one another on in the faith as well as making our meeting times on Thursdays and Sundays a priority.  I know their will be discouraging times when we are tempted to stop or skip meeting together, but we must give priority to being together to study God’s Word and planning for the plant.  

After our study of Hebrews, we discussed some planning items.  The biggest thing was to contact the state and get details on incorporating as a church so we can get an EIN and register as a 503c with the feds.  Tony took on the responsibility for this and we’ll follow up next week.

We ended our time discussing several things raised in the, Trellis and the Vine, by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.  I can’t say enough about this book and the issues, perspectives, and challenges it raises about church ministries and Ministry.  We focused on being “vine-workers” in our homes and in our community.  The third piece was the congregation,but we don’t have that . . . yet.  We had some honest sharing out how we minister our spouses and children and those we live in community with.  Beyond the principles, we discussed some practical things that happen and should happen if we are faithful vine-workers. 

It was a time of God’s Word, growth, and grace.

Genesis part 2 (don’t bother looking, there’s no blog title “Part 1″)

So after being here about a year, getting a job, buying a house, having our second son and having Tony and Susan move out here, we felt it was time to start moving on the church plant. 

God has been so faithful in providing and blessing us.  In a job market that is bad and getting worse, God gave me a great job allowing Heather and I to officially move to Hilliard.  He led us to an awesome home in a fantastic neighborhood where we’ve been able to build relationships with the awesome people on our street.  He blessed us with another son in December, Josiah Samuel Hambrick (12/30, yay for the tax deduction).  In February, he moved Tony and Susan to Hilliard so they can be a part of the plant.  All in all, an awesome year.

Now that we’re settled, we felt God’s leading to begin moving on the plant (officially).  This past weekend, we had a cookout at Tony and Susan’s home and our home.  Combined, we had about 50 people and got to meet a lot of new neighbors.  We began a few weeks ago by creating an invitation and passing them out to our neighborhood.  In all, we gave out about 80 invitations.  Our hope was to connect with our neighbors so we can begin to build relationships with them.  Even for those who didn’t come, we at least met them when going door to door with our invitations and can invite them over another time.  At the cookout, we shared about little about ourselves, including our reason for coming which is the church plant.  We made gift bags to send home with people (or as I call them, “to go” bags).  In the bags, we gave some treats along with a magnet for the church and a connect card with our meeting times and locations. 

We will begin meeting on Thursdays at our house for a “know about the church” time and on Sundays at the Williams’ house for a bible study. 

I’ve learned a lot over the past year about trusting God, His faithfulness, and my lack of faith.  The thing I’ve learned most is to listen to God.  I’ve learned and am still learning how important it is to talk to God and listen to Him.  I don’t mean in an audible sense, but to be aware of how he is working and who he puts in our lives.  It has been through circumstance and conviction that God told us it’s time to start on the plant. 

This is the beginning of a new step.

By the way, we meet on Thursdays at 7:00pm @

5586 Bluegrass Way, Hilliard  OH

and Sundays at 10:30am @

2980 Honeysuckle Ln., Hilliard OH

We are Here!

Well, Heather and I are now official Ohio residents.  We’ve been here for a couple weeks and got our Ohio licenses yesterday.  We’re living in West Liberty, OH, with Heather’s Mom and Stepdad (Ginny and Conrad).  I personally appreciate their hospitality and willingness to house us.  Over the years, Heather and I housed several families and committed our home to the Lord’s use.  I appreciate Ginny and Conrad having the same approach.  I also consider their hospitality a service to the church because without them, we wouldn’t be here in Ohio yet. 

I’m still looking for a job (teaching or otherwise).  I’m starting to make network connections, only to hear there are no jobs.  The market is non-existant.  Sounds like a great time for God to do His thing, it’s time for the impossible.  Heather and I eagerly await what God will do next yet wrestle with patience.  I’ve learned to let go of  my temporal security and hold on tightly to my eternal security.  I’m looking at several temporary employment opportunities, like substitute teaching, so we can at least have some form of income.  We learned that because we won’t be making any money, we’ll qualify for an Ohio program for health care so we will all be covered, AMEN!  I’m going to meet with several  Pastors over the next couple weeks, which I’m excited about. 

Please pray for us.  Pray for patience, flexibility, and faith.  Please pray that we could soon land in the Hilliard area and begin establishing relationships with the community for the church.  Pray that the Mcbrides would be able to make progress on their house in the midst of some small setbacks.  Most importantly, pray that we all would seek to glorify God first above else.

Scott

Update – June 09

Sorry that it has been so long since we have had a post.  It has been a busy time over the past few months.  Here is an update on some of our progress.

• Scott and Heather have sold their house and moved out of it.  They will be moving to Ohio this week.  Our prayer is that they will get established in Columbus and provide us with a beachhead.  Scott does not have a job yet so pray for opportunities.
• We have been painting our house and making repairs.  Some of the repairs are turning into bigger issues than I care to deal with.  I may end up needing to replace one of our bath tubs.  We are praying that God will work a miracle with the sale of our house in the near future.
• Our church, Occoquan Bible Church, held a special offering for us on Easter Sunday.  We received over $10,000 from that offering.  We are grateful for the generous hearts of our church family.

Moving On

Well, God has done some awesome things (duh).  Recently, Heather and I put our house on the market with the hopes we would be able to sell it by the time we finished school in  June.  In a matter of a week, we have had four offers and have accepted one for our asking price.  Praise God!  We ratified our contract on Friday and as long as all the contengencies hold up, we should be going to closing in May.  The McBrides are getting closer to putting their house on the market so we continue to pray for them.  They may also need some help in the form of hands at some point in the near future.  As I look back, it has been awesome to see God work and I continue to look forward to how He directs our path.  Please pray for both the McBrides and us as we work through more church planning and prepare ourselves and homes for a move.  The time is quickly approaching in which we will be making the move to Ohio. 

This weekend, we traveled out to Ohio for a wedding.  It was very nice . . . and short.  We didn’t really have time to meet with people since we weren’t even out there for 48 hours.  But, we long to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are already ministering here in Ohio.  In prayer, please lift up: Pastor Nick Nye and Veritas Community Church, Pastor Lee Davis and Northpointe Baptist Church, Pastor Justin Erickson, and Grace Chapel Church, as well as all the other pastors and churches in the greater metro Columbus area. 

Most importantly pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached with courage and boldness, that God would be glorified through His local bodies.

The Wall Street Journal on church planting

Justin Taylor had a link to a commentary by Fred Barnes in the Wall Street Journal about church planting.  It is heartening to know that more churches are getting the vision for church planting.  Not just planting outside “our area”, but even in their own backyard.

Here is the link to the article.

Another Ohio Trip

Pray for us this weekend.  We will be making a quick trip to Ohio.  Our main reason for the trip is that Heather’s sister Kyla will be getting married.  We also are hoping to make some more relationships with churches in the area.

Update on our progress 4/17

Scott and Heather have been diligently working on getting their house ready to put on the market.  It should be listed this Friday.  Please pray that the Lord would work through this process.

My wife and children have been packing up and getting rid of 16 years of belongings.  We have made numerous trips to the dump and probably have a few more to go.  We will hopefully be able to continue working on fixing things in the house.  We have a fairly long list of items we need to update.  It will be a few more weeks before we are ready.

We have continued to meet during this time.  We have been drafting job descriptions for the first three positions we will have.  We have also been working out the practical work relationships for lay and vocational elders, deacons, and councils.  I know for me it has been mentally stimulating to work through these issues.

Two Sundays ago we had our pastor and his wife, Kyle & Lori Austin, over for a question and answer time.  Kyle has many years in full-time ministry and we wanted to take advantage of his experience.  I know for me personally, it was a great time to learn from someone who has helped shape my ministry and my relationship with Christ.  We are hoping to meet with several other pastors before we leave.

I have been reading a lot over the past three weeks.  I am usually an avid reader, but I have been digesting more books than normal lately.  Currently I am reading Elders and Leaders by Gene Getz.  I would like to be done with it by the end of the week and am looking for my next book to read.