Leander NCD

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T17:37:00.005-06:00

We decided a full Texas experience was necessary when moving to the Lone Star state, so we got cowboy hats, and moved to a ranch! This fall we birthed a calf, learned to sing, “Home on the Range,” and are saying, “Merry Christmas, Y'all.”

Well, some of that is true anyway – the cowboy attire is from Whit's birthday party (he turned 5 in November), and we did not actually “birth” the calf. However, we do live on a ranch (while we are searching for a new house) and we did notice a new calf in the field one morning. The kids named her Brownie – we'll let you guess why.

Our family is starting to settle into the Austin area. We are making new friends, enjoying all that this community has to offer, and loving a winter with sunshine. Since our house in Michigan sold, we have been excited to find a new home here so that we can really establish ourselves in a neighborhood. The transition has taken a while, our stuff is still in storage, and we are ready to feel at home. Please pray that we will settle into the perfect house for our family and ministry in the first few weeks of the new year.

The church plant – LiveOak – is gaining momentum. Our core team has really come together in the last few weeks. We will start meeting weekly as a community group in January and our first services (monthly preview services) will begin in April. Right now we are promoting like crazy. We were able to pass out magnet picture frames to families who had their picture taken with Santa at a huge community event. Right now, our magnet is on the fridge of hundreds of families in the area! Pray that we are able to connect with families through the countless events, promotions, and the relational ministry we are doing. Be sure to check out the church's new website to see how things are taking shape – www.liveoak-church.org.

Your support for our family and our new church has been amazing. Any transition is tough and starting a new church has it's own set of challenges, but knowing we have so many friends praying for us, resourcing us, and encouraging us has given us the energy we need to thrive. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for God's Kingdom.

Merry Christmas,
Caz, Camie, Whit, & Nealie

the Launch Team Info Packet

2009-11-01T21:54:00.003-06:00

The packet we passed out at our launch team meeting includes mission, vision, values and an outline of our gameplan for launching LiveOak Church...

If you don't see the document above, you can see it by clicking this link.

Our First Launch Team Meeting

2009-11-01T19:08:00.002-06:00

We have been here just over 2 months now and it already seems like an eternity. We can't wait to see things START. However, we have had to take the time to really the community, do church plant training, establish some structure and build relationships. Tonight that relationship-building work really paid off. We held our first official meeting! Since we came to Texas not really knowing anyone, we have been praying that God would send us 10 people who are interested in starting a new church with us. Instead 15 people came and at least 5 others were hoping to attend but could not because of their schedule. It has really been something that God orchestrated - bringing people together from different places in life, all around a common mission. Now, they might not all decide to commit to this adventure, but most were really excited. As I looked around at the group, I was amazed at the strong leadership that was present - each with specific and important gifts. Tonight we are just thanking God - LiveOak Church is beginning to take shape.

Pray for our team, we need to multiply from 15 to 30 or 40 before we will be ready to launch. We also have a lot of work ahead of us, pulling together the core ministries that it takes to be a healthy church.

Our new church has a name

2009-10-13T15:27:00.007-05:00

A few things were really important to us in establishing our name:

Regional Scope - Live Oak trees are everywhere in this part of Texas. Local neighborhoods, community organizations and regional companies incorporate them into their logos; while developers build around them. Yet, the name Live Oak does not limit the church to one town (like Leander, or Cedar Park). Instead, it is a name that communicates value to anyone in this part of metro-Austin.

the Story - As Christians, we are a community identified by our story. This story starts with a tree - God plants the tree of life in the center of the garden in Genesis 2. As humans, our brokenness also involves a tree (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). The amazing thing is that there is a tree at the center of our hope as well. Then, at the end of the book, in Rev. 22, we see that the tree, the one from the beginning, is still there - this time in the middle of the New City (the world redeemed by God, or the kingdom of God). If we follow the trees in scripture, we tell the whole story.

a History - Even though this is a brand new church, it is rooted in a long story. In the 1850's some of the earliest settlers in this community, the Mason family, helped plant a Presbyterian church. For years the family gathered under some large Live Oak trees on their homestead for family celebrations and to share meals together. These very trees are on the land that has been donated for our new church. The Live Oak name reminds us of the deep roots we have in the faith.

a Positive Impression - A large part of our mission is to people who are not familiar with "church" as well as people who left the church because of a negative or irrelevant experience. Because of this, we needed to choose a name that everyone would be able to identify with. While I like the name 3rd Ebeneezer Presbyterian Church, it might not have such a positive impression for everyone.

We hope the name gives you a picture for how this new church is forming. Please pray for Live Oak Church: a Presbyterian Congregation - right now, its just a seed.

Greetings From Texas

2009-09-21T16:59:00.005-05:00

Greetings from Texas! We are here and things are moving f-a-s-t: we've settled into temporary housing, begun to "exegete" the area (understand the community, it's people, character, and needs), establish a working office, develop key relationships, and started the process of gathering launch team members. Caz and I are busy - and excited - as we live out this calling to plant a new church. The enthusiasm is spreading and people are eager to know more when we tell them why we are here. We are working diligently on our marketing so that we will soon have business cards, the website running, signage, etc. This way we can point others in the right direction as word spreads of our purpose.

Recently some of the resources from the Hill Country Bible Church's church planting network have been opened to us. We are taking part in their "Missional Church Planting Essentials" (The art and science of planting a missional, gospel centered church) where several planters from the Austin area gather to receive training and coaching from leading church plant experts. This is a great opportunity to learn from key leaders who have accomplished what we are setting out to do. (Hill Country, with a wide vision for Austin has planted 19 churches in the area and seeks to even support people, like us, who are outside of their network but share the same passion.)

So to you we say, "Thank you." Thank you for supporting us through your networks, prayers, and financially. As a community of friends and believers from a from all over the country, together, we are going to make a difference. Thank you for committing to be a part of something bigger than you-the chance to reach into this broken world with the Good News in a place where there is great need. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we reach into the community of Cedar Park-Leander with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Please continue to pray for: discernment in church decisions, a worship band, good friends, financial support of the plant, and for the sale of our MI home

*** Stay tuned for the BIG REVEAL of the church name, and website, coming soon . . . . !***

* On a lighter note, someone told Camie that there are scorpions in Texas - click here to see her get attacked.

(Caz has a new cell number and our mailing address has changed. Our email remains the same, so email us or check facebook if you would like our new information)

How to Donate to the New Church

2009-08-14T15:20:00.011-05:00

People have been asking us if they can help plant this church by making a donation to get things started. The answer is YES - we need your help.

Right now we are raising $10,000 in start-up costs to cover: relocation expenses, laptop computer, smart phone (think of it as a mobile office), church website, organizational and marketing software, training and travel to model church plants.

You can donate 2 different ways.

Tax deductible donation made by check:

Simply download this form (http://www.tiny.cc/DonateCheck), fill it out and mail it in with a check to Hope Presbyterian Church (an established church administrating our finances for us). 11512 Olson Drive, Austin, TX 78750-2606. Please note Leander NCD in the memo line. All donations made this way are tax deductible and will be used exclusively for this church plant.

Non-tax deductible donation made online:

We are also accepting donations online through PayPal (where you can use a credit card). These online donations are NOT tax deductible, however any money donated will be used exclusively for this church plant. Please click the button below to donate online... (if you cannot see the button below, you can link directly to our paypal page at http://tiny.cc/DonatePayPal)

Selling Our House - a prayer request

2009-07-25T09:53:00.003-05:00

25 days & counting until we move across country!

We are so excited to begin such a worthy cause: starting a church where there is great need.

Prayer Request ~ Today we need prayer for the sale of our home. We have drastically reduced the price in hopes for a quick sale. On July 26th we have our 3rd open house.

Please pray:

1. that our home sells immediately.

2. that the sale is something good not only for us, but for the people who purchase it.

3. that everything with the paperwork moves quickly and without a hitch.

The home selling is the last loose end we have in MI. Everything else has fallen into place and we are grateful for that. Caz and I are asking that everyone pray for our home sale throughout the week, especially during tomorrow's open house – Sunday, July 26, 1-3pm EST.

We know this could never happen without the prayers, networking, and financial support of people like you. Thank you for the many ways each of you continue to support us.

Nealie explains what is happening with our family

2009-07-07T13:30:00.001-05:00

Camie took a minute to interview Nealie (who is 2 and a half years old) about where our family is going and what we will be doing there. I'm sure you will notice, she is clear and to the point.

Financial Support and Resources Already in Place

2009-07-07T11:53:00.010-05:00

In order for a church to launch into a strong and healthy ministry, there must be a great foundation of resources in place. We are inviting you to be part of that by giving financially, helping us network, and sharing any resources that you have which can further the church. We want to give you some insight into the larger picture to see how strong a foundation you will be helping to build. Many key resources are already in place - an answer to prayer and testimony to God's ability to provide.

Land:

A donation of 10 acres of prime land has been made. A generous family who believed the church should be reaching out to new people moving into the area donated land with great frontage on a major thruway. The value of this land is extraordinary as we develop a church in the center of this burgeoning new community.

Resources:

Three churches from nearby communities have already offered their support with use of facilities and volunteer help. At the same time, many of our friends have already sent us names of people who live in the area, enabling us to build connections before we even arrive in Texas.

Funding:

To bring together a team and launch a thriving church in this community will require some significant fundraising over the next few years. However, a strong financial foundation is already in place. This includes:

Mission Presbytery is supporting this New Church Development with $50,000.

A generous private donation has already been made for another $50,000.

Three supporting churches have promised $36,000 over the next three years.

This totals $136,000 already in place over the next three years.

In the future, we will be applying for a grant from the General Assembly of the PCUSA which could provide as much as $90,000 over a three year period.

Immediate Need:

We need your help with an immediate need - securing finances to cover $10,000 in start-up expenses. This includes: relocation expenses, laptop computer, smart phone (think of it as a mobile office), church website, organizational and marketing software, training and travel to model church plants. All donations made by check through Hope Presbyterian Church (an established congregation administrating our finances) are tax deductible. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Leander NCD. Please download this form and send it in with your donations. We are also able to accept donations online through PayPal, however, at this time the online donations are NOT tax deductible. Please click here to make an online donation.

Great congregations start with big dreams.

2009-07-01T23:16:00.001-05:00

imagine with us, a church ...

That exists for the community around it - focused on those outside its own doors. Call it externally focused, call it missional; all we know is that the Good News is "good news" for everybody.

Where grace is the foundation of the culture. Relationships can be authentic and healing can happen when we realize that Jesus came for broken people like us.

Where lives are transformed by the God who is at work in our world. Where worship and community are approached knowing that God will use them to turn the world upside-down.

That knows God redeems families - no matter what form or shape they are in. Here, parents are equipped for ministry and children are valued as God's own daughters and sons.

Grounded in the mysteries of an ancient faith while it seeks new and creative ways to live out the journey in our lives today.

Where everyone is called - to the arts, to relationships, to their work. Ministry is something that we live out in every area and corner of this city and the world.

a Church Plant in metro-Austin, TX

2009-07-01T21:00:00.005-05:00

Several churches in Mission Presbytery (PCUSA) around Austin have been watching the towns of Leander and Cedar Park grow into large, thriving suburbs almost overnight. Young couples are moving into the area by the thousands to work in the technology (among other) industries and begin their families. However, very few churches are reaching out to these families.

Statistics
Leander: As of the census of 2000, there were 7,596 people, residing in the city. However, by 2003, that number had nearly doubled to 13,846. Now, in 2009 the city is reporting a population of nearly 30,000. An April 2009 demographics study projects a 29.3% growth over the next 5 years (check out the executive summary here).

Cedar Park: A slightly larger, and more developed town which sits between Leander and the city of Austin has sustained similar growth. It has grown from 5,161 in 1990 to 26, 049 in 2,000 to well over 50,000 today. (Click here for a demographic snapshot.)

the School System: One of the most telling signs of community growth with young families is the school system. Leander Independent School District (which includes Leander, Cedar Park and surrounding towns) is one of the fastest growing districts in the country. Over the next 9 years, they are building 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools. This article from the Community Impact Newspaper gives a little insight into the growth.

Something had to be done. A church member with vision for the Kingdom donated a prime piece of land, several churches pooled resources and key community leaders began to dream. They formed a committee to bring in a pastor to plant a church. God brought us together and that is where this journey begins.

the Minters

2009-07-01T21:00:00.003-05:00

Looking back over the last 10 years, it seems like God has been preparing us for this church plant all along. We started our relationship doing ministry together at ICC in England. From there we headed to New Jersey where both of us finished our MDiv degree. Princeton Alliance Church gave us an education in what it means to be outreach minded. In Kingwood, we honed more specific skills - Camie developed discipleship for each life stage as well as a dynamic children's ministry. Caz had the opportunity to lead a thriving, contemporary worship service where he preached each week. Recently, at Community Church in Mt Pleasant, MI, Caz's role as assistant pastor gave him a unique perspective on the operations and structure of a fast-growing church with highly effective ministries to young couples, those with no church experience, and the poor. At the same time, Camie has worked with ministry to moms - even writing curriculum for them.

Over the past few months, we began to explore the possibility of taking the huge and risky step of planting a brand new church. Though it seems a little daunting, we have a very clear sense that God has called us to this adventure.

Our Timeline

2009-06-30T23:13:00.001-05:00

July 1 - Aug 15: transition out of ministry in Mt. Pleasant, sell our house, and pack the family to move across the country.
Aug 16th: Caz will preach his last sermon at MPCC and say goodbye to our church family in Michigan.
Aug 17 - 31: move to Texas, set-up a home and an office.
Sept - Dec: establish community relationships, train for church planting, raise funds.
*As we put together our launch team, we will set a more definite launch schedule. A very aggressive schedule could see...

Dec - April: run monthly pre-view services, develop a launch team, secure a facility and equipment for the launch.
Easter: launch weekly services.