We Rather Have People [500k Day 18]

We rather have people than money. If you're following our journey and sense something stirring inside of you to come out here and join us, please talk to us. 

Yes, our goal is to raise $500,000 to support us over 3 years. We have other goals as well. We want to recruit a launch team of 40 people to help us start a congregation from scratch here in Bellevue, Washington. Another goal, we have, is to launch with over 200 people at our first service. 

Yes, it takes money to launch with over 200 people. But, way more than that, it takes people. As people call us and tell us that God is stirring them to consider partnering with Kalos, we are thrilled. In fact, two churches in Michigan are planning on bringing missions trips here to help us spread the word about Kalos Church right before our launch. A girl just visited us from Maryland because she was stirred by our vision (we had never met before she flew out here). We want to reach lots of people with the Gospel and nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. Yes, we need money, but we also need children's minsters, musicians, greeters, graphic designers and people to help us with setting up. We need people to help us lead people to Christ, and make inroads with the city. 

We have a big vision, and would love to talk to you directly if you're interested in helping us advance the Kingdom of God here. 

St. Patrick [500K Day 17]

10 years ago, I wrote my Bible school senior paper on St. Patrick. Specifically, I wrote about him turning a country, deemed unreachable by the church, into a primarily Christian nation. 

The Pacific Northwest, where we live now, is the most unchurched region in America. Many people have warned us about starting a church here. Because this area hasn't been eager to receive the Gospel, the expenses are so high, and people are doing their own thing, we need not plant in this area. Our church won't be as large as it could be in the midwest or south.

These reasons are primarily why I want to be in this area--it's the most unchurched area in America. There is a need. As we're talking with people, we're seeing God open amazing doors. I'm so happy to talk to people who have no context for how beautiful the Gospel is--people just like I was. St. Patrick escaped slavery by the Irish people, and then felt God called him back to that area to spread the Gospel. So, he returned to his former enslavers and ministered the Gospel. Now, our sacrifice isn't as intense as his, but I do hope to see God move in amazing ways.

I'm so glad the Gospel was presented to me, and I can't wait to hear all the stories of people we'll reach in the future. 

Now, so this sounds like a fundraising blog, let me say that I hope we find a leprechaun's treasure. That would be golden. 

If you would like to give so that we're not depending on a leprechaun, please donate at http://www.kalos.church/give

I wish I didn't have to fundraise [500k Day 16]

Being honest, I wish I didn't have to fundraise. It's a lot of work spending time asking for money instead of building this church plant, learning this city, and reaching people here in Bellevue. 

In my mind, I try to hold unhelpful thoughts captive. 

"I wish I got the funding other church plants got right off the bat"

"What if $500,000 just falls out of the air?"

"I wonder how much my left kidney is worth"

These thoughts creep up on me, and I try to keep my "Why" in perspective. I'm doing this to serve Jesus and carry out His great commission. There is no sacrifice that outweighs my thankfulness. And, where I didn't have a lot of money before, different people are rising up and sacrificing to fund us. 

When I keep a right perspective, overall, I am thankful for this process. It's teaching me skills and perspective. The miracles of money coming at the right moments are stories I will tell my grandchildren (grandchild, back in my day...). Knowing that we worked hard to launch this church brings great ownership and empowerment. We are working hard for the great commission with so many people contributing. 

But, if someone handed me all money we needed, I would quickly take that money and use my time to work on directly reaching this city for Jesus. 

Please sign up to give $30/month at http://www.kalos.church/give

Half-Way There! [500k Day 15]

It's March 15th, the day after Pi day! That means two things: 1. We're half-way done with the Blograimge 2. Amreitha and I two different pies yesterday :)

Thought, we're halfway through the Blogrimage, I can't say we're half-way there in fundraising. We still have a long ways to go, but we're feeling positive that we'll eventually get there. 

Today, a couple of local church planting networks reached out to me and said they are interested in helping us out. That's could be an exciting win in the future. 

But we have an exciting win for today!

Another network said we were approved to be part of their team! That means, as we continue to go through their process, we get $50,000 to plant Kalos Church! Praise the LORD!

We're working hard, and we're seeing fruit along the journey!

Do you really need that much Money? [500k Day 14]

We're raising $500,000 to support planting Kalos Church over the next three years. In order to do that, we're asking people 300 people to give $30/month. If you haven't signed up to do that, please do so here: http://www.kalos.church/give :)

Upon hearing this number, some people are subtle and others not so subtle in their discomfort.

"Why do you need that much money?"

"Isn't that a bit much?"

"Oh..."

While this does seem like a lot of money, this a modest proposal. Before jumping to conclusions, consider our ministry context. One church planter, I recently became friends with, rented a movie theatre for $10,000/month. Because of the ever growing expensive real estate prices in Bellevue, this was actually a steal. He only got this deal because he knew the owner of this independent movie theatre. With 12 months in a year, he paid $120,000 for rent alone. Over 3 years, like what we're allotting our fundraising goal for, that is $360,000. Now, the movie theatre doesn't have all the equipment to setup for a service, so all that needs to be purchased. Audio Visual production equipment, trailer, and vehicle alone will cost around $100,000 if you design them for a portable service. That brings our budget to $460,000. None of this considers other ministry supplies, operation expenses, and salaries. For all these other things, with a $500,000 budget, there is only $40,000 left for all of it. That means only $13,000/year for salaries, operations, signs, graphic design, marketing, food, children's ministry, etc. 

$500,000 is a lot of money, but when you're planting in the city where Microsoft, T-Mobile, Nintendo, Expedia and other major companies are headquartered, you'll need all of that and more. 

Open Doors [500k Day 13]

Praise the Lord, we're working on a deal that is the equivalent of raising $200,000 this first year! 

Though there are many highs and lows we experience everyday, we're walking through a miracle right now--definitely a high!

Please pray that this deal works out! 

Right now, it seems like we have incredible favor with recruiting people, churches, and venues. 

Even today, Amreitha and I struck up a conversation with 4 random people in a park. One hour later, we got facebook messages asking us to hang out with their group of friends! They knew we were starting a church and said they'd be interested in checking us out! 

Church planting is very exciting!