We raised $450!!

We raised $450 from our game night which we will send to the Mercy House. Praise God!

Final Round!!

Kenneth was 1st place and the reigning champion. Laura came close to winning 1st. She said that she barely plays. Garrett just wanted to take the picture with them.

Luke and Sommer put on a pancake breakfast at their apartment...

Where in Dallas can someone serve others and offer friendship? How about next door? Luke and Sommer understand the power of being a blessing within one's own sphere of influence. In partnership with Koine and Apartment Life, they have committed themselves to putting on events where they can serve their neighbors, so they can begin to build relationships and community. What I love about their efforts is that they have also taken ownership of the kingdom work. Instead of waiting for the "professionals" to step up and reach their community, Luke and Sommer decided to do it themselves. That is the Koine Way.

This picture was taken about 20 minutes into the event. A bunch of people showed up after. I couldn't make enough pancakes. Nearly 40 showed up during the two hours. I met several residents. It was a diverse crowd. Several in their 20's. Some teenagers. Some older folk. I met a guy from Italy. A couple from Mexico, and a girl from Colombia. A couple in their 70's was also there. The husband's name was Ide, (he serves on the board of Probe ministries). I forgot the wife's name. A lot of good people who expressed a desire to connect with more people (probably why they showed up!).

Special Koine Vision Newsletter "We Envision"

Welcome Koine @ Maple Terrace

We are excited to present to everyone Koine @ Maple Terrace. Situated at the border of downtown and uptown, Koine @ Maple Terrace officially launched September of this year. Led by Patrick Howard, this faith community represents the business professional and artist enthusiast of the downtown area. Pray for this group as they begin their own ministry and efforts in reaching their corner of the harvest.

What does a Koine Pastor look like?

This is an excerpt from Christianity Today:

Remember that political ad in which the White House phone rings at 3 a.m. and someone has to answer? I know the experience. Sort of.
My phone call came late one afternoon. The caller, a church attendee I knew only casually, said he was at the hospital where his wife, Josie, was dying of cancer and might not last the night. Could I come right away?
Even though this call came many years ago, I'm still embarrassed when I remember that my first thought was something like: Where is our pastoral care staff person? I don't do hospitals. I'm the one who preaches, who leads, who casts vision. Oh, and I'm the one always telling people (from the pulpit) that I love them and care for them.
The caller said his dying wife was terrified. Despite the sedatives she'd been given, she was almost violent and could hardly be restrained. "Perhaps you can say something to her that will help her to relax and go to sleep," he said.
The hospital was a 20-minute drive. As I arrived, a family friend met me and escorted me to the room. On the way she described how Josie was thrashing about in fear. Occasionally she would scream. No one, the friend said, knew what to do. Even the doctors and nurses seemed stymied.
I took a deep breath and entered the room. There were maybe eight people around the bed: a doctor or two, nurses, Josie's husband and a daughter. Then I saw Josie in the bed.
"Josie!" I said as I approached. I said her name firmly, as if to establish my presence with some authority.
"Pastor Mac!" she responded. The circle broke as everyone stepped back to make room for me.
Frankly, I wasn't sure what was appropriate for the moment. It's awkward when even the physicians relinquish their space at the bedside to me. All I can remember is that something inside of me said, "Take charge; be a pastor!"
"Josie," I said, "this is a terrible moment for you, isn't it? You must be very frightened."
"Yes, Pastor Mac," Josie replied her eyes darting toward her husband and her daughter. "I don't know what to do. I can't leave them. I have to get better." Then she repeated, "I don't know what to do."
What she really wanted to do was sit up and get out of that bed. I sensed she was about to become agitated again, so I put my hands on her emaciated shoulders and, as gently as I could, pressed her back into the pillow. I remember the powerful silence in the room as everyone else looked on. No one objected to what I'd done so far. Perhaps they thought I knew exactly what I was doing.
I no longer believe the biblical title of pastor applies if it takes someone three weeks to get an appointment.
An idea came to me. I leaned closer so my face dominated Josie's line of sight, and said: "Josie, listen to me. Look into my eyes. I have a thought for you."
"Yes, Pastor Mac?"
"I want you to listen to some words from God. Just listen! Okay?"
"Okay."...Read the rest here:


http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/thepastor/pastorsrole/the3amphonecall.html?start=1

My facebook account...

If you want to keep up with me personally:

http://www.facebook.com/kevmcgill

- Kevin

Deb and Ramon Commissioned to minority language people group

The Church is to take the message of the gospel to all corners of the world. Deb and Ramon have taken this call very seriously. In the Fall of 2009, they are leaving to commit the next 15 years of their life to a minority language people group. We had a commissioning service for them on Wednesday. Here is an excerpt from the invitation:

"Church @ Exall has come to love Deb and Ramon like family. Personally, this is a time of mixed emotions. On one hand, I am thrilled to see my brother and sister in Christ live out their dreams by translating the Bible into the original language of a minority people group. But on the other hand, I will lose the presence of family members dear to me. That is why I look forward to all of us sharing our gratitude and love for them next week.
If you have been a part of Deb and Ramon's story in Dallas, please join us in celebrating this incredible occasion."

The Commissioning Service:

We laid hands on and prayed for them...

Macon led us in worship:

I then said to everyone, "I believe that we all should be up here to be commissioned as servants of the gospel at one point or another - seriously." We all have a latent, missionary potential. No matter if God has called one to raise babies, teach at an elementary school, or translate the Bible into their language, the Spirit has commissioned and anointed all of us to do His work. In the Old Testament, it was only a select few (Num 27:19) including kings and prophets who were anointed. But then Acts 2:17 and 1 Jn 2:20-27 reminds us that the anointing has been poured out on us all. We are all given the gift of commission. What would it look like if millions of Christians accepted this gift?

Went out for a little Pokeyo's celebration afterward.

Blessed are the poor...

We all know that the kingdom of God is built on the compassion of fellow men. Therefore, Church @ Exall has taken a percentage of its tithes, and put together care packages for those we meet on street corners and sidewalks as we drive through the city. We believe that in a small way, we are building God's kingdom.

Our very own Calvin Pitts helped us coordinate and buy all the material.

The kids in our children's ministry put the packages together and passed them out to the congregation members.

Worship in the NEW House!

Our April Worship in the House was pretty exciting. We were in a new place. There were kids running between our feet. Friend's parents visited to support their new church, and we saw some old friends visited that we hadn't seen in awhile.

And then, food!!

Why 3605 Bryan St?

The town home is situated at the edge of a pretty well-known park and community. We believe that Exall Park is the most strategic location for our mission. There are 15,000 residents in a 1 mile radius, and 80,000 residents in a 2 mile radius. The average age is 29, and there is a booming population in the surrounding neighborhood. Most people see this part of downtown as one of the best places to meet other people their age and build a career. They also appreciate the demographically eclectic, and artistic edge. Exall Park is bulls-eye for the people we want to reach.

The townhome itself is perfect for meeting space. It has a wide-open living room, balcony, and rooftop patio. Below is a picture of the church grubbing out on the rooftop patio, and a view to the park below.

Moving day...

Now that we have a core group, it is time to look outward and plan our next phase in reaching the city of Dallas. Therefore, on April 4th, we moved to 3605 Bryan St. Like gypsies, we rounded up 4 trucks and a trailer, and moved all of the guy's furniture and belonging to the new digs:

Home, sweet home...