January news

Dear Ministry Partners and Friends:

“Lift on three – one, two, three! Aaahh!!!,” we grunted as we snow-covered, novice snowmobilers from Cornerstone lifted yet another buried machine out of the deep snow near Yellowstone. High-fives, laughs, and hallelujahs abounded as we “accidentally” hit trees, raced one another, and buried snowmobiles – all without injury on our first ever men’s retreat last weekend. 

About half of the Cornerstone guys rallied with pastor Jim Otto and a handful of men from Teton Valley Bible Church (our sister church just over the border in Driggs, Idaho) for a great retreat near West Yellowstone.  The mornings and evenings were spent around the word of God with a focus on growing as men of God. One young husband said, “I have never seen anything like this: a bunch of men getting together to focus on Jesus…” Another guy considering Jesus commented, “I really want to grow.”

And so growth comes in many forms.  Here’s a fly-by of ministry happenings in this winter wonderland:

Our leadership board (the steering committee) is prayerfully trying to narrow in on making disciple-making disciples our ministry focus. We have been working on this since we arrived, and now that God seems to be establishing a committed body, we want to ensure we are equipping every believer to be a disciple-maker. Along those lines, we have begun to experience the blessing of spiritual reproduction. Other brothers and sisters are beginning to own various ministries within the church; formally and informally. It is exciting to see other believers, not a part of the original planting team, practicing the “one-anothers” and reaching out to the body. Some are taking on ministry privileges from organizing food ministries to media, children’s ministries and so on. This is a huge praise in our efforts to equip the saints to be disciple-makers.

Similarly, in an effort to better shepherd and care for the flock, we will be putting our first round of small groups into action. Groups will begin meeting together next week.

Our attempt at an evangelistic Christmas Eve service was humbling, disappointing, and joyful all at the same time. On one account, we praise God for the push some made to reach out to our neighbors. A handful of us went door-to-door in Wilson inviting neighbors to the service. In God’s good sovereignty, we were disappointed at the showing, but we also learned that we cannot expect the world to show up to our events. We must be goers and tellers of Christ. We were humbled, seeing we have much growth needed in our own diligence and maturity as we realized how much it takes to pull off a large service well.
God has been using church-planting as a great means to reveal our need to grow in all the fruit of the Spirit. But that’s the point, isn’t it? Coming into this missionary endeavor, we anticipated being used for the transformation of others into Christlikeness. While this has been true, God is also doing something marvelous in us. At a small, grass-roots church plant, we do not have the luxury of showing up to an pre-existing, well-oiled ministry. Therefore, God is pressing us all in his good sovereignty. He is necessarily surfacing areas of growth needed in all of our lives. Part of the reason he called us to this church-plant was not just to grow others, but to grow us. How wise he is to accomplish his goal of increasing Christlikeness in all of us using so many different means.

So please link arms with us as we come before the King of heaven to ask for His mercy and grace:

• God has been faithful to challenge all of us to grow in Christ-likeness. Please thank Him with us for that, for growth is God’s will for us as his children and means of great joy (John 15:1-11, Romans 8:29,12:2).
• Plead with God to continue to grow us all in a deeper understanding of, love for, and application of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. Ask Him to give us the ability and eagerness to see how the gospel connects to every aspect of our lives and to live that out (Colossians 1:28, Hebrews 10:19-25).
• Thank God for the great lessons he has been teaching the leadership. Beseech Him to give us grace to respond by repentance and transformation as God continues to show us areas in which we must grow. Pray that the leadership would grow to be imitate-able examples in all areas of Christ-likeness (1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Peter 5:3).
• Thank God that he has been providing the physical needs for the church, and humbly ask Him to continue to do so (Psalm 34:10).
• Ask God to continue strengthening the marriages and families at Cornerstone. Pray that husbands and wives grow in their respective callings toward one another (Ephesians 5:22-33). Pray for wisdom for parents in raising their children.
• Thank God for healthy twins (Adelyn and Anabel) born to Matt and Sera Mumma on Dec. 23!
• Pray that all of the Cornerstone regulars would joyfully commit themselves to the new small group ministry. Ask God to grant wisdom, compassion, and love among the small group leaders for the flock. Beg God to use small groups as a means for major growth in Christ for all of us and for furthering the gospel (Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:19-25).
• Request that God give the leadership wisdom in more effectively equipping the church for the work of ministry and to grow in disciple-making (Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 4:11-13).
• Christ-like unity among God’s people is not an option. Neither is it something we can assume will happen. We must work and pray for it. Please beg God for increased unity among us all (John 17:22-23).
• Pray for all of Cornerstone to grow in joyful, Christ-like humility (Philippians 2:3-8, 1 Peter 5:5).

We want to extend a huge thank you to so many of you who are sending us gifts in the form of encouragement letters, finances, and care packages. We have not been as diligent as we would like in sending our thanks, but please know that your sacrifices are being used of God to fill our sails with the winds of heaven. Thank you! If you are led to team up with us financially, please make checks out to “Cornerstone Church.” All of your offerings are tax-deductible. Checks may be mailed to: Cornerstone Church, P.O. Box 980, Wilson, Wyoming, 83014.

For the increase of the gospel,
Eric, on behalf of the Jackson Hole church plant team

Travis (TVBC), Josh (TVBC), Rolland, Steve (TVBC), Beau (TVBC), Nick, Andrew, Bryan, Dan, Eric

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