I want to thank you for your prayers for New Life Ministries. God’s confirmation of this church plant has been very evident. It is clear that God is sovereign and deserves all the glory for New Life Ministries. As a group of believers, we believe that God desires a church downtown Kansas City and God will get His church downtown Kansas City. This calling is our opportunity to be a part of what He is doing. The following is a recorded journey to where we are today. Let it be a memorial to the greatness of our God.

“Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.” (Psalm 135:13)

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In June of 2006 the following paragraph was written for the Plan Document concerning the ideal building and location.

“In order to best facilitate a church downtown, we desire to use the talents God has given to make the best use of our time and money. We desire to compile a Christian investment group that will purchase downtown property for revitalization. Ideal property would include a large space for the sanctuary as well as space for a coffee shop/bookstore, daycare, office space, and close proximity to a parking ramp. This would provide office space during the week, and great outreach to daycare parents and coffee shop clientele. The ideal sanctuary would seat 250-350 and could double as a large conference room to be rented out throughout the week. The lease income from the above listed businesses would pay for the mortgage of the campus. The church would hold a percentage of the shares of the building.”

After looking at nearly 20 different buildings downtown throughout the summer, we came across the Scarritt Building late one August afternoon. As soon as we stepped inside and found out that it had a ballroom we began to think that this may be the building of the future.

When we contacted our realtor we found out that the building was under contract. Within a few weeks we were informed that the contract had fallen through and the building was available for sale once again. Upon hearing this news we began an investigation to find out who owned the property. One of the first of many major answers to prayer along this journey was the fact that the owner of the Scarritt building was a born-again, kingdom focused man named Charles Sharpe.

Soon after this discovery, the following prayer was sent out via e-mail:

“It is our prayer that we will find the right place to meet. We sincerely desire to know if it is God’s will for us to purchase the building owned by Charles Sharpe.”

After calling Mr. Sharpe’s office two times a day for more than two weeks, we finally made contact. During this conversation, we were informed that the building was under another contract. We wrote, “It is our prayer that the current contract will fall through by the first week in November if it is the Lord’s will for us to continue to pursue the Scarritt building.

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The following specific dates continue this story of God’s miraculous grace:

Charles Sharpe, the owner of the building we are pursuing was very receptive to our needs and made it clear that we were on the same team. He made the comment that their purpose in life is to reach souls for the kingdom. He was also very excited about the possibility of us being able to refer people with addictions over to his addiction recovery facilities in North East Missouri.

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We have found another building that is an ideal fit for our church and we believe we should put a contract on it. We are confident that God wants to build His church downtown.

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A phone call came sharing that the contract on the Scarritt Building had fallen through. This is truly a specific answer to prayer. God is awesome.

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The owner of the KC Star building (18 th and Grand) has agreed to discuss specifics on the letter of intent to purchase their building.

Psalm 115:3 says, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

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We had a great meeting with Charles Sharpe. It was a clear and direct answer to prayer. Before we went in we prayed that God would make it evident how we should proceed in regard to focusing in on the right property.

After about 30 minutes we began to talk about the business side of the meeting and Mr. Sharpe quickly shared that they would really like to see us get the building. We must continue to pray for God’s wisdom in compiling the proposal.

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We have also delivered a proposal for purchasing the building and we are praying that God will clearly lead us into His perfect will for our church home.

While in California, we met with Diversified Realty Advisors, a group of Real Estate Professionals that specialize in helping churches. After hearing the story of New Life and looking over all our information, the president is flying into town on Monday to look at the Scarritt Building and discuss the possibilities of helping us purchase the building.

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We can dream expectantly, knowing that God’s plans are “for wholeness and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

These “plans” seem to be pointing toward a relationship with a Christian real estate company that is very interested in helping us acquire a building for the church that is large enough to house an auditorium, childcare facilities, office space and coffee shop.

Right now we are seriously pursuing the Scarritt Building. Please continue to pray with us that God will reveal His perfect will regarding this very important step in the process of starting New Life Ministries downtown.

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We are sending out an updated offer on the Scarritt building today.

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Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

God is good in the good times and God is good in the bad times. Today, is a good time to celebrate His goodness.

The address for New Life Ministries is 818 Grand, 9S – Suite 25, Kansas City, MO 64106. This is the Scarritt building and we have been given an extremely generous offer from the ownership. We will be able to use the ballroom for free and the childcare and office space will be half the price of market value which basically covers the overhead of utilities, etc. This is truly the best case scenario – we do not have the hassle of owning the building, we get the exact amount of space we envisioned from the beginning and we don’t have to spend market value for rent or take on the risk of owning a very large building.

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Today we received confirmation that “Higher Grounds” a coffee shop owned by some local Christians is going to be having a new home in the Scarritt building. This will be an ideal place to meet new people and hold ministry meetings.

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We have been given a temporary office, nursery and kid’s space on the 4 th floor of the building until we are able to build out the 9 th street level.

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God has provided us with a professional decorator who is willing to help us plan and update our space on the fourth floor. Our objective is to have a safe environment that is fun and exciting for kids.

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All the curtains, sound, video, lighting, and pianos have arrived.

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From the very beginning of this church planting journey we have been impressed by our need to communicate a fresh, inviting image. We had much discussion, but no real possibilities for promotion and we were less than six months from our planned launch date. We had no logo, tag line or prospects for advertising.

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Brian Bibler of Nuance Marketing Group, who is a very gifted graphic artist, with an impressive portfolio of clients from churches to Fortune 500 companies has offered to help us create a “brand identity.” This would normally cost thousands of dollars, but God has once again supplied our needs by offering it for free.

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After spending hours and hours answering hard questions about who we are and what we are trying to accomplish, Brian has sent us a logo that is the first step in the brand identity process. He has also offered to design and produce a brochure, flier, business cards, letterhead and envelopes.

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Today an individual offered to pay for the cost of producing 10,000 4-color brochures and fliers, business cards, letterhead, envelopes and note cards.

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Brian Bibler offered to help us design and produce a website to communicate our beliefs, values and goals. This is the beginning of a very fruitful journey that will impact hundreds of people in a short period of time.

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We have all of our outreach material printed so we can begin a concerted effort to get the word out to thousands of people about the start of this church on April 8, 2007.

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The official web site of New Life Ministries www.newlifekc.org has launched. This is another testimony of God’s grace and supernatural guidance for His church downtown.

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An individual has offered to provide a billboard for New Life Ministries on I-70. Within days this will impact hundreds of thousands of cars. It is our prayer that people will check out our website and see what God is doing in this ministry.

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Another individual has agreed to pay for the boulevard signs, exterior location signs and interior banners for the ministry. These will also impact thousands of people with the message of New Life which is ultimately the message of Jesus Christ.

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We have already passed out hundreds of fliers to people downtown. Many businesses have allowed us to post them on bulletin boards and some have even offered to e-mail the message of New Life to their employees. God continues to work in ways beyond our expectation to get out the news of the new church downtown.

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An individual has offered to pay for New Life to send out a mailing to each loft and condo in the downtown area. More than 9,000 residents will be reached through this method of advertising.

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The billboard has gone up and the sign company offered to leave it up for an additional two months at no additional cost.

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Nearly 100 signs announcing the opening date of New Life have been posted throughout the downtown community.

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It has been said that the finances of a church will make it or break it. Knowing the seriousness of our call to be faithful with the funds God has blessed with, we have made it a top priority to be good stewards. It has been amazing to watch God work in individual lives to take leadership roles in the church in the area of finances. It is truly encouraging to see that the people involved take this ministry very seriously.

I Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”

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David Gibbs III an attorney with the Christian Law Association offered his services free of charge. He was very excited about the vision to start new churches in the urban centers of the world.

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A stranger from out of town, called and said that God had laid it on his heart to send us $400 - $600 per month to our ministry. He lives in Tennessee and was here for training when he heard about the church plant from one of our core group. He said that he knew for sure that the reason he came to Kansas City was so he could find out about this ministry.

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We received our articles of incorporation for the church. This was a major blessing because the only cost we incurred was a $25 state filing fee. The legal work was donated by the Christian Law Association.

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God is working miraculously to allow our ministry to be shared with a church in Brandon, Mississippi. They are considering the possibility of giving us financial support.

We have opened a checking account and begun to receive money from individuals.

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We have continued to receive donations from individuals. This is significant because from the first day we have made a point not to ask for money, but rather to let the Holy Spirit work in lives individually. He has worked!

God’s opening up opportunities for us to begin a foundation for New Life Ministries. This will allow us to receive donations of anything from cash to real estate to stocks and bonds and even merchandise to be used to promote the gospel through our ministry.

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We have been given more than $20,000 worth of office equipment for the ministry.

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God has provided us with a computer from a local non-profit company that specializes in helping churches and ministries with technology needs. In addition we were given all the software necessary to handle our immediate needs.

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God continues to provide our needs for the nursery and children’s church. We have also been given some office furniture.

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After waiting several weeks for a quote for the sound, video, lighting and curtains, we have finally received the numbers. The best way to describe them is that they are definitely God-sized. I guess my point is that He may need to sell a few of the cattle He has on a thousand hills to cover the cost.

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Please pray for God to supply our needs for advertising, curtains, audio, video, lighting, and pianos.

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God continues to provide for our needs right up to the deadlines. We are still waiting on people to help cover the cost of our curtains, lighting and audio/visual technology.

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This past week we have received $5000 toward our functional needs.

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Today we received a beautiful pulpit built specially for New Life. This will fit just right on the platform that has already been given.

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Today we received notice of an additional $11,000 promised to New Life from a generous friend.

Helen Gray the religious editor of the KC Star has agreed to run 3-4 paragraphs about our new church in the religious section.

As I wrote down these blessings I am reminded of the fact that Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20 that “our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

A verse I am claiming is Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

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Everything seems to be falling in place to start a men’s Bible study downtown through the ministry of Character that Counts and TGIW.

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We have started our Wednesday night Bible studies at the home of Tony and Sarah Totta.

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We began our TGIW Men’s Bible study at JP’s Coffee House from 6:30-7:30 a.m. I continue to hear from more people that live downtown that are excited about this church and interested in being a part of this ministry.

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Just today, I heard from four different individuals/families that are planning to visit on Easter.

The downtown Post Office non-profit mailing manager saw our brochure and became so excited she is planning to come to help us paint on

Saturday. She said, “I am 50 years old and I have seen many church brochures and this is the best I have ever seen.”

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So many people have pitched in to help transform our office and kids space on the fourth floor. It has been so much fun to see the anticipation of what God is going to do.

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Today we had a “sneak peek” service. Everything went better than expected. God gave us a sense of excitement, a spirit of unity, and spiritual focus.

It seems that many of the blessings up to this point have been financial or logistical. We believe this is because we have been laying the groundwork for our future. We believe God is on the verge of opening up many more opportunities to watch God grow people to higher levels of spirituality by fulfilling God’s will for God’s glory.

We close this chapter of a book that is still going to be written with an e-mail from a fellow Christian in England that we have never met.

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Gracious Loving Heavenly Father,

I ask your choicest blessings on this entire fellowship.

Please lead by Your Holy Spirit, and guide them in every facet of their ministry.

Give wisdom, understanding, patience, insight and love in every circumstance and situation.

Appoint and anoint those who lead with saturation of our Holy Spirit.

Please prepare the younger generation to take up positions in the church in future years until Your return.

As the fellowship reaches out to all types and conditions of people, give them a love, concern, and compassion like Yours.

May they reach the unreached, touch the untouchable, heal the sick, and see souls brought to know Christ as Saviour and Lord.

May the fellowship see as You see, hear as You Hear, feel as You feel, respond to needs as You would respond, give and go as You would.

Lord when You are lifted up, You promised to draw all people to Yourself.

May the fellowship lift high only The Name of Jesus.

Father please protect the fellowship from complacency, divisions, disruptions and gossip, and from any who would seek to exalt themselves, and not Yourself.

May humility, and service to You alone be a radiant witness in the neighborhood.

Keep their eyes fixed and sharply focused on You.

Keep their ears free from anything that would hinder Your voice from being heard clearly.

May Their mouths speak Your truths in love.

Please keep their minds centered on You day by day.

Please show each individual that they are Very Important People in Your work.

May no one feel left out, or inadequate.

Thank you that you use ordinary people to accomplish your work

Thank You for all the promises which are ours in Christ.

With eager expectancy, and reliance on You may this work prosper and multiply, and experience Your blessings in abundance.

Thank you Father for all you will accomplish.

This prayer we ask in The Almighty, powerful name of Jesus who IS the same yesterday, today, and forever

Amen and Amen.

KEEP THE SON IN YOUR EYES
With Christian greetings to all the fellowship.
In Him and For Him, David