NEW EYES It's a cool, sunny Texas afternoon. I sit safely in Starbucks, watching the La Vista streetlight turn red. I have looked out the same window since W. Bush's first term, since 9/11, since my first semester at DTS. While the window hasn't changed, my eyes have. For years, all I saw were traffic lights and dog-walkers and Starbucks patrons racing in and out to get their fill-in-the-blank latte. Having just graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary, I was sitting at Starbucks, journaling and praying about where God might use me to raise up a new church. Later that afternoon, I shared a cup of coffee with a good buddy of mine and young professor at Southern Methodist University. Admittedly, he was agnostic, and admittedly, he didn't want to be. He wanted to know the God of heaven as I did. At that moment, God gave me new eyes.

The young, de-churched, displaced, urban, multicultural, generation of downtown Dallas desperately need the love of Jesus.

A NEW CHURCH On September 1st, Jenny and I and 25 other people (those in the picture above) committed ourselves to raise up a new Church in downtown Dallas. As a church, our vision is to proclaim the love of Jesus and lead others to passionately seek after Him, in the context of a life-giving community. Today, the streets of downtown Dallas teem with people who desperately need God. Many of these souls aren't much older than I. In case you are not aware, Dallas has the second fastest growing young adult population in the United States. Despite the weak economy, Dallas intends to add another 10,000+ residents to the downtown area in the next couple of years. In the next ten years, Dallas' goal is to be the youngest city in the nation. Even now, lofts and condos continue to rise up in order to compensate for the flood of young families and singles. Much like the SMU professor, I have met many who are displaced, empty, and lost. I believe iGod has called this core group to start a church for such a time as this.

OUR PART Though we are at a challenging stage of the church plant (while we are a church, we do not have a worship service or paid staff), our members are still committed to sacrificing their time and resources to build the church because they see a generation in Dallas who needs the love of Jesus. Steve is 24, works in corporate America, but spends hours gathering children's toys, books and cribs to coordinate our children's ministry during our Wednesday night meetings. Matthew, Kristen, Ramon and Deb, all in their twenties, give up their evenings to lead weekly bible studies and build friendships with those in the neighborhood. Melody, in her early 50's and self-employed, helps us coordinate food for all of our events. Honestly, it is one of the most exciting times to start a church.(read more about us www.koinechurchplant.blogspot.com)
 
YOUR PART When you look up from this email, what do you see? If you see a vital need to raise up a church to reach a lost generation, then you see what we see. Jenny and I are seeking partners who want to make an eternal impact on this generation. Will you join us?
 
PARTNERSHIP  Much work must be accomplished between now and our first worship service on June 7th. Like any start-up organization or business, the needs far outweigh the resources. The core group has diligently sacrificed their time and money, but our core group will not be able to meet the budget of a church for the first 24 months. Your partnership is vital to this new work. You can help in two ways:

1. Join our prayer team. Our core group has been called to the front lines of our faith. We need a group of brothers and sisters who will pray continually for our protection. Would you consider joining our prayer team?

2. Become a financial partner. We are looking for friends and family who are willing to stand in the gap financially for the next 24 months, until we become self-sufficient. The start up costs will be $6700 a month for the first year. Prayerfully consider financially partnering with us to fill this gap.

BECOME A MINISTRY PARTNER

 THE CORE GROUP'S MILESTONES
Raise: $6700 per month for the next 24 months.
Raise 50% of our goal by January 1st.
Launch our weekly worship service: June 7th.

PRAYER TEAM

FINANCIAL PARTNER

MONTHLY PLEDGE
Consider pledging a monthly amount as a financial partner. We have several immediate start-up costs, estimated to be $6700 per month. This will help us greatly as we prepare for our first worship service on June 7th and meet our church's financial needs for the first 24 months.
 
ONE-TIME GIFT
For others, we invite you to give a one-time gift. This gift will help us meet the initial financial challenges for the church in the coming months.


WHERE DO I GIVE?

GIVE ONLINE
If you enjoy the convenience of online giving, you can give to Koine Church online through Easy Tithe. To give, visit our website, www.koinechurch.org, and click, "give online" at the center of the page.

Unsure about online giving? Click here to learn more.

GIVE BY CHECK
        Checks Payable to:
                    Koiné Church of Dallas
                     
         Address to:
                    Koiné Church of Dallas                        
                    4835 Swiss Ave
                    Dallas, TX  75204
 
 
OUR PART
Tax Receipt: You will be provided a tax receipt for all charitable donations.
Our Own Financial Contributions:  The members of Koiné are also financially partnering with the church.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT KOINE DALLAS

Contact Kevin
Email:    kevin@koinéchurch.org
Cell:       214-606-7067
Website: http://www.koinechurchplant.blogspot.com/
Sincerely,
Jenny and Kevin McGill

I forgot to post this video from Myanmar that my friend Katie Rowland made!

 

One day in northern Myanmar we left our hotel (in the valley) early, around 7 am, to go out and do ministry in a town about an hour away up on the mountainside. When we arrived back around 4 pm, the entire town was under three to four feet of water--and it hadn't even been raining in the valley! All the rain washed down from the mountains into the valley, so the town flooded, as it was an open and level plain with lots of rice paddy-water to begin with.

 

So here's an activity that commenced...sorry if I appear irritable. I think I was feeling a bit suffocated since I had not left the island/ hotel in two days.

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. proverbs 15:33

 

 

 

 

 

God knows how to speak to me. He knows exactly what goes straight to my heart. Lately He has called me into humility. The only place where I can serve him fully and no longer rely on myself, humility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In a recent prayer session, a couple of my race family member, (girls on my squad), prayed for more humility for me. I remember Crystal looking into my eyes and reminding me what comes with asking the Lord to be humbled. I am sure stripping me of pride that I have lived with my whole life comes with a price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 So, being aware of the people and circumstances that God is using to humble me I am seeing trials, internal battles, and tough relationships in a different light.  Yesterday, we had the opportunity to go into St. Aldens. It is a cute little English town near Harpenden, which is where we are staying until we move to downtown London on Monday morning.

 

In the early afternoon, we went searching for one of the oldest cathedrals in the UK. We never found it. But we did find another beautiful cathedral. What is interesting is that I was more interested in the prayer wall inside. I was humbled by all of the requests and desperate cries. I was humbled by all the prayers of thanksgiving. I am humbled in realizing that people walk around with all of these burning questions, requests, and prayers. I just wanted to share a very few of them with you.

I also wanted to give you the opportunity to put your requests on my wall. Instead of a comment just write to God. present your thoughts to Him. Then take a second to reflect on the others. Feel free to lift someone in prayer.