This fired me up. I pray that there will be other crazies who will join our team that is heading west as God calls each of them (and some of you) in a way only God can. We have several who are interested and at least 1 commitment so far!
We will be having meetings soon for those interested in hearing more about this opportunity. And who knows, maybe there are a few non-New Hoper’s who read this blog that will catch the vision and join the team…only God!
Check this post from fellow multi-site church planter turned 2nd time church planter who moved across the country to do something crazy:
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FIRST: Person In Vegas
We will be having meetings soon for those interested in hearing more about this opportunity. And who knows, maybe there are a few non-New Hoper’s who read this blog that will catch the vision and join the team…only God!
Check this post from fellow multi-site church planter turned 2nd time church planter who moved across the country to do something crazy:
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FIRST: Person In Vegas
A little over a year ago I was asked to do a blog. I said yes, but thought, “Why am I doing this? It will be a waste of time, no one will read it…” I was also asked to write a book, and I said yes, but thought, “Why am I doing this? It will be a waste of time, no one will read it.”
Well, the blog and the book have become more popular than I would have imagined, but even if they hadn’t, I think maybe the main reason God led me to do them was David and Jennifer Tobey.
The Tobeys are from Austin, Texas and somehow became readers of my blog and book. When they learned on my blog that we were moving to Vegas to start a new church on the Strip, they felt like God was telling them to go and be a part of it. Now this was obviously crazy, they’d have to leave their jobs, home, family, and move to start a church with people they don’t know and where they’d have to raise their two boys in Vegas. Crazy. But they know God calls His followers to do crazy things. So not only did they say yes, but they were actually the first people to move to Vegas!
Thanks David and Jennifer, for being crazy.
I wish God was saying it to me….but I just don’t think he is!
Evidently you don’t want anyone to question whether or not you are taking focus off of New Hope in pursuit of your new venture. Based on my last comment not being posted.
thanks Peter!and i did publish it thad…not sure how I am taking the focus off of NH…we have had a change in leadership and I am here to focus on the future of NH and the future of God’s call in our families lives.if you were there this past weekend…then you know where my passion stands.i just don’t have time to engage in things that point both NH and our future backwards. we all are moving forward through this time where we are excited for the call, but saddened by us being called away from our family, friends and church we love.we are pressing onward and so is NH…and both of us will see amazing things that are YET TO COME in JESUS NAME!
The fact that you say you don’t think this is any harder on NH than it is on you and your family, indicates the focus being back on yourself once again. You say making the Utah a mulitsite is not our vision because it would be across state lines and culture differences would be too great? What is China? You only have to listen to your message on Sunday you’ll hear how much is dedicated to NH compared to your new venture. Some things just don’t add up in all of this and I’m not convinced, nor alone in my belief that it’s not all of God. Anyone can come up with most any vision and claim it’s of God. By the way, thanks for finally posting the comments, although I am aware that not all comments are posted.
I am really sorry “Thad”, I really don’t need to defend my calling from God, nor do I have the time to be honest.You are free to doubt the vision and calling. Doubt away, that is your right and opinion. Many doubted when we started NH…glad they were wrong too as many have been welcomed into the Kingdom.But don’t take away from the call of God in mine and others lives who are risking so much, just as we did when we started New Hope.And why am I not “focused on NH in my sermons and blog?”Because I was for 6-1/2 years when I was the lead pastor and now I am not. My focus now is PRAYER for NH and it’s leadership and the people of God.I am not the one to decide the future of NH any longer, so why would I dedicate time on my blog or my sermon to dictate their future…that would be wrong of me. I can only decide what I am in charge of, and that is our families call of obedience from God.Many doubted the disciples and others through the ages. I am glad God has spoken to us and we are being obedient.That’s all we can say as a family. There is nothing more, no other agenda. For pete’s sake, I don’t even have a paycheck in 8 weeks, so that’s faith enough in the fact we are trusting God and not some secret agenda.And I will say this now to all of the “anonymous commenters” who comment under different fake names and are probably the same person or 2…I really don’t have time to defend myself. God is our defender, so I want it to be known that I won’t be responding to each comment, nor posting derogatory comments that steer people away from the mission any longer.blessings, peace and HIS grace.
You said……”Many doubted when we started NH…glad they were wrong too”So now you are boldly stating I (or anyone that merely questions you) is wrong. In essence you are saying we are questioning God if we question your vision. Humility in this calling?You said……”And why am I not “focused on NH in my sermons and blog?”Yet earlier today you said….”I am here to focus on the future of NH”?Just be on guard against attempting to build your own kingdom while defiantly defending that it’s God’s.
Dear Thad, brother in Christ. I am done defending myself. If you have nothing other than arguments with my writings then since I cannot e-mail to a profile that is anonymous, I will no longer publish comments from you or any other anonymous blogger comments.I am not sure why you are hell bent on trying to tear us down, but I will not allow that to happen any longer. I have posted every one of your comments, but will no longer if this continues.I am sorry that you think I am building my “own kingdom” that is quite a claim to make, but you can make it. Leaders have been accused for centuries and I will get on with furthering His kingdom.Thanks for the dialogue, but I will not respond any more at all, nor publish comments from anonymous, non-public profiles.Blessings in your journey.
Dear Charles Hill,It’s crazy how someone has questions about your vision and they are labeled as being argumentative, “hell bent” and “trying to tear you down”.I never said you were building your own kingdom, I merely said to be on guard against that?Thanks for engaging this conversation, I’m sorry we don’t agree.Grace and Peace to you!
thanks so much! it might be because you have never had anything positive to say
i can handle argument any day. but constant negativity is draining. it’s through questioning everything that we got where we were. but there must be a positive element as well from time to time.so not sure how the comments were made to build us up 
but you do win in the comments threads. thanks for being the most consistent commenter.i have no issues with someone’s opinion, but have issue that it doesn’t build up the body once in awhile.
God hasn’t called me to build you up, rather to raise questions for to think about. There are many who will build you up but that is not what I’m being called to do.If you need me to build you up I leave you with this….I wish you well in your new venture.:)
Thad,I just got finished catching up on the comments on this blog. It looks like you have alot of negative things to say. You question whether his call is from God or not and say you doubt that it is. Let me question your “calling” to be a constant thorn in his side. I can’t think of any biblical basis for this calling, so I have to doubt this alleged calling. What do you make of Ephesians 4:29? Are you imparting grace to the hearer (reader) with your constant negative words? Plus, if you have such a personal issue with what he’s saying and doing, you really should be contacting him privately. Matthew 18 is pretty clear about how disagreements should be handled. Heck, I’d come to you if I had any idea who you were or how to contact you, but you make yourself inaccessible. You clearly know Charles, so why aren’t you contacting him in private? The church’s website gives you his address: charles@newhopewired.tv. You can e-mail me if you want to discuss it. I don’t mind. Here’s my e-mail address: the.reaper.cowbell@gmail.comCharles,I don’t find your new direction distracting at all. It’s comforting to know that you are doing what you have asked us to do since I’ve been coming to New Hope. I hope I have enough faith to follow God like you are doing.Don’t fear the reaper. Just give me more cowbell.
I’m just reading all of this and thinking of James 3. This is how we distinguish whether or not God called us to offer our “wisdom,” and in what fashion it should be offered.7 For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and lie in defiance of the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Praying for you and Tiffany. Oh, and the kids, of course, since I’m the children’s pastor here. I will really miss your whole family when this happens. Sarah and I were talking about how sad it was after we left your house last night.
ThadI’ve spent many hours crafting my comments to you, because I wanted to be certain my words would not be filled with the sin of judgment that was my knee-jerk reaction. After much prayer, the Spirit convinced me that what you need most are my prayers.I cannot imagine what you must have suffered through which would cause you to so publicly question the heart, calling or motives of a brother in Christ. The bitterness and anger your posts project indicate you are in great pain. I whole-heartedly agree with the posts which remind you to resolve grievances in a biblical manner-privately and directly; then if that fails invite another brother to join you, and so on.The nature of your communications implies that has not occurred. It should. If your relationship with Pastor Charles is not close enough for that to happen, I would suggest that you do not know him or his heart well enough to be raising any of these questions at all. I would pray you seek out another pastor, elder or wise counselor who could help you heal your hurts and pain in a Godly way. My heart hurts and I am truly praying for you.I am also burdened and deeply saddened at the thought that others reading your posts will believe you represent the body of New Hope, when nothing could be further from the truth. This ministry is based on Christ’s love for all sinners and his command to us to love one another. While we are far from perfect, I pray that as a body, and individuals within it, we keep our love for one another at the forefront of all we do and say. And – as others have done, my e-mail address is vicki@newhopewired.tv . Please feel free to communicate with me directly, as I pray Charles is true to his word and refuses to approve any additional posts which only serve to inflame and divide, and therefore detrimental to all who read them.Vicki Twining