Prayers please - job and church stuff

[Brandon Bowers]

Hey folks,

I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week. They decided to promote from within. They did offer me the open position though. The benefits are great, but it's a $6000 a year pay cut (which is my daughter's daycare). I have a few days to make that decision.

Shellie still hasn't found a job in Winchester, although she's hunting like crazy for one.

So if I take this job, we'll have to live in a tiny apartment (income based), and putting stuff in storage (which costs a lot) or live in the ghetto (not safe, won't do it.)

So it looks like this leap of faith in starting Renovate Church is going to be huge. I'll have to pick up another job part time unless Shellie finds a really good paying job. I may be able to find an adjunct teaching job, but those are hard to come by. "Would you like fries with that??"

We'd like to keep my daughter in daycare, but that probably won't happen now. We have free baby-sitting with my mom, but it's not the same as being in school.

So please pray that our faith holds strong. I know God has called us to Winchester to plant this church, but I'm frustrated now. I didn't earn a master's degree (and those loans are due for payback in June) to take a pay cut and demotion, but it's the only open door for a job. My other option is to keep my family separated indefinitely, and I can't be doing that. My wife and daughter are staying with my parents to job hunt there, while I work here in Tampa.

I'm not sure if my current employer will allow me to take my job with me until they find my replacement. I hope and pray they will. If they do, then it gives us a little buffer for a few months. I can do this job when I'm not at the other very easily from a distance.

I'm trying not to take a salary from the church until we get closer to launching Sunday services in Fall 2010. I want to save that money if at all possible. I may have to take a small salary (if the funds come in) just to survive though.. So we'll see.

So here's our prayer needs (in no specific order):

1. Finances
2. Ever-increasing faith
3. Job(s)
4. Funding for Renovate Church. - Please pray about supporting us!
5. Housing
6. The people of Winchester that we're called to reach

Dont' forget to check out the church website at www.renovate540.com

[rjc]

praying

[MacUser]

Praying for direction and provision.

Remember this order.
God. Family and then the Church.

Take care of that family. They are your primary responsibility.

[scooter]

Keep us posted!

[Brandon Bowers]

I'm going to take the job. After talking with friends, family, and our church planting coach, as well as a ton of prayer, we feel it's the right door to walk through. We'll have to make some financial cuts until my wife starts working, but hopefully, that won't be long.