This video would be good to check out for any of you who didn't see it. It is a video that tracks God's work at Grace Bible Church, but it also introduces you to an individual who, along with a pastoral team, has led our church exceptionally.
We thank God for our leaders at Grace Bible Church!
Organizational Meetings
Earlier this month we began our first step toward organizating a core group to be sent from Grace Bible Church of the NE to the neighborhood of Wissinoming to become a team of church planters.
We gathered together to discuss the plan and timeframe of the church plant. Lordwilling we hope to begin core group meetings January 27th. The core group meeting will meet on Sunday nights every other week until the end of February when we will transition to more formal gathering in preparation for our neighborhood launch on Easter Sunday, March 31st.
In the mean time we are going to enjoy the holiday season, celebrating God's mercy upon his people in the sending his one, unique Son. We will also be getting ready for a church building clean up in mid January. The building is in significant need of cleaning and we would appreciate your prayers as we, Grace Bible Church of the NE, attempt to clean up the clutter.
We gathered together to discuss the plan and timeframe of the church plant. Lordwilling we hope to begin core group meetings January 27th. The core group meeting will meet on Sunday nights every other week until the end of February when we will transition to more formal gathering in preparation for our neighborhood launch on Easter Sunday, March 31st.
In the mean time we are going to enjoy the holiday season, celebrating God's mercy upon his people in the sending his one, unique Son. We will also be getting ready for a church building clean up in mid January. The building is in significant need of cleaning and we would appreciate your prayers as we, Grace Bible Church of the NE, attempt to clean up the clutter.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This past year has been full of God's blessing and provision!
This time last year Jodi, the kids and I were living in Gaithersburg, Maryland enjoying our time at the Sovereign Grace Pastor's College. It was a joy to build new relationships with individuals who are now some of our closest friends. We spent time learning together, growing together, crying together, praying together and of course having tons of fun. It was a special time of experiencing God's blessing of relational unity amidst challenging times in Sovereign Grace.
We give thanks to God and to many of you who sacrificially gave to make that experience possible. And it is that experience that has led to much of what we are now involved with in Philadelphia.
In June we returned to Philadelphia to begin the process of planting a church in the Wissinoming neighborhood of NE Philadelphia. As the Pastor's College came to a close we had heard that a church in NE Philadelphia was interested in giving away their building to an existing ministry. Just recently, God provided us with that building! He has provided a building to begin a new local church - Grace Bible Church of Wissinoming!
He has given us a building, but more importantly, he has given a great sending church - Grace Bible Church of the NE. This church has poured into us in multiple ways. They have supported us and counseled us in this venture and they are presently serving us in various ways to ensure the planting of a new local church in Wissinoming. They are even sending a motley crew (ie core group) of servants and dear friends to become church planters with us. God has certainly provided above and beyond! (Check out other posts and check back for more updates on what God is doing to plant his church in Wissinoming.)
In the mean time, we as a family have been enjoying being back in Philadelphia. Trinity turned four years old this past November. She is enjoying Hello Kitty and anything to do with princesses. She is certainly our little girl. And Judson is not. He is our little 17 month old MAN-child. He enjoys wrestling and playing swords with anyone who is willing to challenge him to a duel. Nonetheless, we have many opportunities to see gospel truths represented in the dreamworlds of our little children. Christ has come to bring peace, and he will one day come wielding a sword of justice and calling a princess, a bride to join him at the table of his marriage feast. We look forward to that day!
Jodi and I have been again and again challenged by God's faithfulness to his people. He calls us to tasks that are filled with excitement and joy, but they go far beyond any strength or ability that we have in ourselves. So we are left repenting of our self-sufficiency and looking again to the person and work of Christ. We call upon him to demonstrate himself as we seek to embrace his plan for his people.
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
[2] as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
[3] When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
[4] From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
[5] You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
those who remember you in your ways.
(Isaiah 64:1-5a ESV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dan, Jodi, Trinity and Judson
This time last year Jodi, the kids and I were living in Gaithersburg, Maryland enjoying our time at the Sovereign Grace Pastor's College. It was a joy to build new relationships with individuals who are now some of our closest friends. We spent time learning together, growing together, crying together, praying together and of course having tons of fun. It was a special time of experiencing God's blessing of relational unity amidst challenging times in Sovereign Grace. We give thanks to God and to many of you who sacrificially gave to make that experience possible. And it is that experience that has led to much of what we are now involved with in Philadelphia.
In June we returned to Philadelphia to begin the process of planting a church in the Wissinoming neighborhood of NE Philadelphia. As the Pastor's College came to a close we had heard that a church in NE Philadelphia was interested in giving away their building to an existing ministry. Just recently, God provided us with that building! He has provided a building to begin a new local church - Grace Bible Church of Wissinoming!
He has given us a building, but more importantly, he has given a great sending church - Grace Bible Church of the NE. This church has poured into us in multiple ways. They have supported us and counseled us in this venture and they are presently serving us in various ways to ensure the planting of a new local church in Wissinoming. They are even sending a motley crew (ie core group) of servants and dear friends to become church planters with us. God has certainly provided above and beyond! (Check out other posts and check back for more updates on what God is doing to plant his church in Wissinoming.)
In the mean time, we as a family have been enjoying being back in Philadelphia. Trinity turned four years old this past November. She is enjoying Hello Kitty and anything to do with princesses. She is certainly our little girl. And Judson is not. He is our little 17 month old MAN-child. He enjoys wrestling and playing swords with anyone who is willing to challenge him to a duel. Nonetheless, we have many opportunities to see gospel truths represented in the dreamworlds of our little children. Christ has come to bring peace, and he will one day come wielding a sword of justice and calling a princess, a bride to join him at the table of his marriage feast. We look forward to that day!
Jodi and I have been again and again challenged by God's faithfulness to his people. He calls us to tasks that are filled with excitement and joy, but they go far beyond any strength or ability that we have in ourselves. So we are left repenting of our self-sufficiency and looking again to the person and work of Christ. We call upon him to demonstrate himself as we seek to embrace his plan for his people.
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
[2] as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
[3] When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
[4] From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
[5] You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
those who remember you in your ways.
(Isaiah 64:1-5a ESV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dan, Jodi, Trinity and Judson
God's Provision!
First Baptist Church of Wissinoming has been a gospel outpost in our neighborhood for decades. The building was built in the 1920's and its worn condition testifies to many years of gospel activity.
We have come to discover that in the 1950's, First Baptist Church of Wissinoming sent a group to the upper NE section of Philadelphia to lead occasional Vacation Bible Schools. There was such a fruitful response to these endeavors that they decided to plant Grace Bible Church of NE Philly. About seven years ago Grace Bible Church was replanted through the leadership of Ian McConnell and Tom Horton. Today Grace Bible Church is sending us to plant in the same building that once planted Grace. It is so appropriate for God to prove his promise, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail!".
While we honor the past, we look forward to God's leading for the future. Please be praying for us as we take the next steps to clean up the building and get it ready for use!
Vision and Mission
This past Sunday night our church had a family meeting and the following are excerpts from a presentation of the vision and mission of a new church plant in the neighborhood of Wissinoming.
"What about our vision for Wissinoming? The content of our vision for Wissinoming is nothing different than our vision here at Grace Bible Church. We at Grace Bible Church want to see lives transformed for the glory of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Wissinoming we want to see the same thing - a neighborhood transformed for the glory of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The way in which we might assume to recognize this transformation is by seeing gospel fruit born where there was once no gospel presence. In other words, my hope is...
"How is this going to happen? Fundamentally it is going to happen in Wissinoming just as it has happened here at Grace Bible Church. It will happen by displaying the glory of God by celebrating, proclaiming and living the gospel as a community of believers by the power of the Spirit.
So I hope we recognize that what we are doing in Wissinoming is maintaining a close relationship with Grace, embodying the same distinctive as Grace, but seeking to live out those distinctive uniquely in a neighborhood context. We want to be in the neighborhood, doing neighborhood stuff with neighborhood people which will become an ongoing opportunity to display the glory of God by celebrating, proclaiming and living the gospel as a community of believers by the power of the Spirit."
"What about our vision for Wissinoming? The content of our vision for Wissinoming is nothing different than our vision here at Grace Bible Church. We at Grace Bible Church want to see lives transformed for the glory of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Wissinoming we want to see the same thing - a neighborhood transformed for the glory of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The way in which we might assume to recognize this transformation is by seeing gospel fruit born where there was once no gospel presence. In other words, my hope is...
- to see the addicted set free because they are now in Christ,
- to see the abused at peace because they are now with Christ,
- to see the thief satisfied because he has inherited the riches of Christ,
- to see those overwhelmed with same-sex attraction embracing God's intended purposes because they are now more overwhelmed with his grace than with their feelings,
- to see men acting like godly men and not boys because they have an example and a help in the heavenly Father,
- to see marriages embraced with hope because God has embraced them with his mercy,
- to see businesses managed with a sense of responsibility to make much of God because God has done much for them in Christ,
- to see a people - a neighborhood people - loving God and loving their neighbors through the gospel and with the gospel for the glory of God."
"How is this going to happen? Fundamentally it is going to happen in Wissinoming just as it has happened here at Grace Bible Church. It will happen by displaying the glory of God by celebrating, proclaiming and living the gospel as a community of believers by the power of the Spirit.
So I hope we recognize that what we are doing in Wissinoming is maintaining a close relationship with Grace, embodying the same distinctive as Grace, but seeking to live out those distinctive uniquely in a neighborhood context. We want to be in the neighborhood, doing neighborhood stuff with neighborhood people which will become an ongoing opportunity to display the glory of God by celebrating, proclaiming and living the gospel as a community of believers by the power of the Spirit."
Church Planting and Youtube
My family and I returned to Philadelphia at the end of June after being at the Pastor's College. Since then, we have watched God accomplish amazing things in our midst as we look forward to planting a church in the Wissinoming neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Here is a glimpse into one of the stories that God has written.
My wife and I live in an apartment above a coffee shop that is owned by some close friends in our church. I tend to spend a bit of time in there doing some study and getting to know the people of the neighborhood. On this particular day I met a guy who asked about what I did for work. I mentioned to him that I am looking to start a church in Wissinoming.
This led to a flood of questions about Jesus. I asked him where he had picked up such an interested in Christ and he mentioned that a coworker back in January had told him to read the Gospel of John. Well, instead reading the Gospel of John, he youtubed 'the Gospel of John' which lead him to the movie, 'The Gospel of John'. He said that after watching this movie he knew that salvation had to be all about Jesus.
Since then we have spent a lot of time together walking through the neighborhood and talking through spiritual questions. It is evident at this point that he has been redeemed by Jesus and is seeking to live for Christ!
This past Sunday he joined me at church and after the service while standing at the front doors another first-time guest shouted out his name. It was amazing to find out that this first-time guest knew my friend. In fact, come to find out that he was the very guy who encouraged my friend to read through the book of John. They had not seen one another for several months and how kind it was of God to utilize youtube as a means to declare the person and work of his Son. And then how kind of God to redirect the paths of friends to converge so that the evidence of God's hand could be clearly seen!
As I talked with my friend last night we reveled in God's plan! Who else could orchestrate these things! My friend also mentioned that he is extremely excited for the new church start. In hearing those words God reminded me of his plan and his instrument to reach the nations - the planting of new local churches. At this point we labor to organize and strategize, and yet it is him who ultimately builds his church. What a joy to labor with the Master-Builder!!!
Here is a glimpse into one of the stories that God has written.
My wife and I live in an apartment above a coffee shop that is owned by some close friends in our church. I tend to spend a bit of time in there doing some study and getting to know the people of the neighborhood. On this particular day I met a guy who asked about what I did for work. I mentioned to him that I am looking to start a church in Wissinoming.
This led to a flood of questions about Jesus. I asked him where he had picked up such an interested in Christ and he mentioned that a coworker back in January had told him to read the Gospel of John. Well, instead reading the Gospel of John, he youtubed 'the Gospel of John' which lead him to the movie, 'The Gospel of John'. He said that after watching this movie he knew that salvation had to be all about Jesus.
Since then we have spent a lot of time together walking through the neighborhood and talking through spiritual questions. It is evident at this point that he has been redeemed by Jesus and is seeking to live for Christ!
This past Sunday he joined me at church and after the service while standing at the front doors another first-time guest shouted out his name. It was amazing to find out that this first-time guest knew my friend. In fact, come to find out that he was the very guy who encouraged my friend to read through the book of John. They had not seen one another for several months and how kind it was of God to utilize youtube as a means to declare the person and work of his Son. And then how kind of God to redirect the paths of friends to converge so that the evidence of God's hand could be clearly seen!
As I talked with my friend last night we reveled in God's plan! Who else could orchestrate these things! My friend also mentioned that he is extremely excited for the new church start. In hearing those words God reminded me of his plan and his instrument to reach the nations - the planting of new local churches. At this point we labor to organize and strategize, and yet it is him who ultimately builds his church. What a joy to labor with the Master-Builder!!!
The PC Experience
So I didn't get but one update out during our time at the PC and for that I apologize. I do want to give a post-Pastor's College update and share some of what the PC was all about. And know this, that I cannot give adequate explanation to all that God has done during this time, but here is some of the consistent blessings that we received.
When we arrived, we were immersed into relationship with 22 other men and their families. From the beginning of the year there was a unique sense of unity that was only of God, and it was maintained throughout the school year. This set a context for learning from one another and being challenged by one another. Each of these men exuded spiritual qualities that were personally challenging and such an opportunity to be significantly affected by them could only have taken place in a setting like the PC.
Also, the teaching was exceptional. Each week we had a different class in which a couple hundred pages were read and tests or projects were completely (and we had greek class every Friday!). Each week typically brought about a new teacher. Some were world-class scholars and others were experienced pastors. A few of my favorite weeks came from Mike Bullmore, Ian Duguid, Jerry Bridges and each of the classes that Jeff Purswell taught. These classes provided challenging academics that consistently maintained pastoral insights.
Most weeks we had the opportunity to gather together in our fellowship group which consisted of four other men from the PC. This gave us an opportunity to share our challenges with one another and give care when needed. These were rich times of fellowship and prayer.
There are simply too many rich blessings that the Lord allowed us the opportunity to partake of at the PC and a blogpost seems so small to summarize them. We give thanks to God for his good plans and for his good gifts along the way, both of which are anchored in the person and work of Christ that has made all of this possible. Here is video that summarizes our year at the PC.
We've arrived back in Philly excited by what God has been doing and what we believe he will continue to do. We will provide posts explaining the next steps in our journey toward a church plant here in Northeast Philadelphia as we take those steps.
Thank you so much for your prayers and contributions. Please continue to pray for God's work here in Philly!
In Christ,
Dan and Jodi Birkholz
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