This is no April 26th’s fools. And I am not too proud to ask for some help right now.

AND HEAR ME CLEAR: I am writing this not to bash anyone. I am writing it in desperation that God will have his way and move in the hearts of his people. This happened 19 days ago, and I and our family and team who moved here have sat on this to make sure I wrote out of a pure heart and with proper motives. [And no, I won't release the name of the group who did this...sorry!]

So yes, a very-long 19 days ago I lost $280K in funding [that's most of our funding to this point...we just sent out our individual support packets this week...] for doing our Beer and Bible ministry [bible study and 2 beer...3.2% at that...limit] and for actually sipping on 1/2 of a beer. There is no other back-story. I did nothing wrong. It was not my 3rd strike. It wasn’t even my first strike. I have been a good planter with a clean record. Part of that funding was also for THE STICKS [the ministry we engage in to those in small towns and hard to reach places.]

We simply went to where the people were and shared His Word. I was given permission by my boss to do this ministry [his hands were tied as they took all power from him in this he explained to me...], that is why we are dumbfounded over this. And yes, I did drink 1/2 of a beer [3.2 beer at that], which seemed to be the “seal the deal” reason for termination.

As many of you know, I don’t even like to drink much at all, so this is very ironic to those who know me well. I even sent a letter of apology for not recognizing that this would be an issue, asked for forgiveness and said I would not drink again if that would suffice, and I meant it. And again, I had permission to engage in this.

Not that I believe drinking per se is “wrong” but I was not going to die on that hill [and if that was such a strong issue for them, I would easily comply]. No way is that something for me to fight the status quo about since I could care less about having regular drinks [my father was an alcoholic pre-Christ, so I am already on edge with the issue]. If I was told that I could not go back into this pub and do ministry, that would have been a different issue.

The worst part is that I have not received 1 phone call, 1 e-mail, 1 letter from the decision making group, whomever that was, outside of my boss who delivered the news. They read the national article on our ministry, and then within a matter of about 3 days of back door conversations and e-mails, I was fired. The letter of apology fell on deaf ears it seems without any conversation.

The other sad part is that I had to use my contract wording or I would have been in deep trouble as the contract states they have to give me 60 days notice of separation. So yes, in about 6 weeks, without us both finding miracle jobs, we are in a world of hurt.

So yes, I, our family, and the families that moved across country were just going to be dumped high and dry, had it not been for that provision. Our family and team feels as if we were stranded in the middle of Utah 5 months pre-launch, because…well…we were.

Some have asked me to clarify that this group did not move us to Utah. I was recruited to this new group after we were already here on the ground. But this group is and was our main source of support once we joined their team. My boss recruited me out of another denomination, which was our teams decision, and this new group became our lifeblood.

So why do I say all of this? It’s pretty simple. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT desperately.

Would you help us make connections to those who want to reach 25 cities without 1 church in them? We have to make up some serious funding in the next 5 months or we will not be launching. Not to mention that in 6 weeks I have no salary at all and making up my salary in the costly west region we are in is pretty tough.

Might I come to your church and present the desperate need for church planting in Utah? Do you have connections with donors? Do you have other pastors friends and leaders you might contact on our behalf to help fund this mission or allow myself to come and present the need?

I am making a plea to the body of Christ to rise up and to help us answer the call to the 25 cities without light in this place that we have grown to love with all of our hearts. Ministry here is so tough, so rocky, so other-worldly, that it in itself is a full-time challenge. But losing all of your funding is a completely different assault from the pit of hell itself. Satan is ticked that we are here. The battle is full-on, and this is only a small part of the story that has led us here.

Thank you for your prayers and your action. Words can’t express my thanks in advance for how many of you will step up for us. Satan will not win, our GOD REIGNS!

I post a picture of my family just so you know that we are a real family with real needs. We were called as a family, and we are in this to win it, and we won’t give up. We will fight as a family and as a team to the bitter end.

And YES, your e-mails, tweets, and calls of support will be greatly appreciated…but we need everyone to step up in a big way with their resources and influence as well…so thank you for taking action in a tangible way.

25 cities without 1 non-LDS church [and btw: we love our LDS friends and neighbors, so no offense to them with that comment] need the love of Jesus.  Our family and our team who moved to Utah left everything in obedience to move here and accomplish this mission. We hold our heads high and push on in victory!

My contact info: [chazzdaddy17@gmail.com]  and go to: www.missionwest.tv to donate.

Charles, Tiffany, Christian, Grace and Joi.

Dang…we need to wake up and read our Bibles. And yes, I am calling rebuke down, no matter your age, your degree, your position, or your experience.

Read this clip below [full story HERE] at least 3 times:

The five major complaints that LifeWay Christian Resources found among the unchurched that it had interviewed previously included Christians treating other Christians poorly; Christians having “holier-than-thou” attitudes; believers talking more than they listen; Christians refusing to get involved in the lives of the unchurched; and Christians saying they believe but do not attend church.

“The unchurched really want to see a Christian live incarnationally,” commented Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

And BTW, if that fires you up…it’s old news. Jesus preached this 2,000+ years ago and the Bible says it way better than this news report. Have YOU [we] [I] read the Bible lately? If so, why in the [HELL] are we not living it out?

Am I mad at something you ask? Yes, somewhat [I am human too...] but mainly I am disappointed that the above is being lived out time and time again.

And I am also mad at myself for doing the same while the world around me goes to HELL while I make “proper leadership decisions” instead of acting and living like Jesus.

I believe that God has called each of us to a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific reason. Are you being obedient?

I don’t say that because we uprooted our family and moved to Utah away from our church, all of our family and all of our friends. I say that because OBEDIENCE must trump COMFORT. And I am certainly not obedient in every area, so hold your Amen’s.

If our love of Jesus isn’t more than family, friends, and geography, we are destined to fail. It has been one huge struggle after another for us in our move, but we KNOW God has called us here…to live and move and have our being.

And of course we are big fans of GOING WHERE NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO GO. That’s why we created and gather for THE STICKS. Read this:

^“26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17.26-28 [niv]

Are you living where you should be living? Are you comfortable? Or are you scared to step out in faith?

_____________________________

[thanks to an intercessor on my prayer team for sending me this passage in faith.]

At least that is what Satan is whispering to you and the lie that you are beginning to believe. Statistics indicate as few as 10% of those in ministry will finish well.

Are you facing adversity right now? I know I am [more to come on that later]. It’s been a year+ of horrible adversity for myself and our family.

But this one thing keeps me going time and time again:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” [2 Timothy 4.7.nlt]

I want to appear before God with this tattooed on my heart. Jesus finished well, and I am still not up on a cross after a tremendous beat-down having to keep the faith. I am still not having to hide like my parents and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in China and other parts of the world for their faith.

Ministry/following Christ is harder than anything YOU WILL EVER DO [including waging war daily as an inner-city Police Officer like I did back in the day...that was a cake walk]…SO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!

But many of you will believe the lie.

If you are there right now, call me: I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU.

419-496-1192 [my personal cell]

Jesus Model:       CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1

So, if this was Jesus model, and most of us agree that the BEST way to pour into people’s lives is through 1 on 1 pouring/discipleship [see last week], whatever you want to call it…why do we not do it?

Who are you 1 on 1 with right now?

What does your church have in place for 1 on 1 discipleship?

Do we really care about the one? Jesus did, but I know there have been times where I say I care about the 1, and I do, but not as much as the bigger.

This past Easter weekend when you had record crowds [I pray], would you be content if you did all of that “work,” prayer and ministry and when you asked for people to trust Christ, only 1 person responded?

I know the last Easter that we celebrated with New Hope in 2008, we had over 1,300 at our original campus alone. Had 1 hand went up, I would have been devastated.

But in Heaven there would have been a party.

Do we really get that, and if so, what are we doing it about it, 1 life at a time? In our bigger is better church world [and yes, 3,000 saved in 1 day is still a dream I have], we have lost beauty of the ONE.

The base level is 1 on 1…and we have to re-gain this. Where are you on this?

It might be debateable, but these have to be up there high on our lists…after all, these 3 little words secured our eternity:

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19.30]

Yep…and the same power that went on to conquer the grave 3 days later lives in ME and YOU! [All authority on heaven and on earth is given to YOU...now GO!...]