God is up to something here...

Don't forget to go to our other site-http://web.mac.com/rupps or go to the right side of my blog where it says "Family & Friends" and click on "Church Plant Update" for a weekly update on our church plant!! There you will find a blog that Chris writes, prayer requests, pictures, videos and more. I wanted to post on here what Chris wrote this week on his blog...

So, here we are, post-launch!! Even though the build up to launch is over, the excitement is just beginning. We held steady this past week (April 19) at 150 people, and even better, more and more people are getting involved. This week I have TWO people coming to shadow our tech guys in order to become tech volunteers! One will be doing lights and one will be doing video! Also, I have two guys who are going to be auditioning for the band! One is a vocalist and one is a guitarist/keyboardist. Super exciting!! Our band is REALLY coming together, and it’s s much fun to be a part of! Our Fuel Groups are exploding, and we will be starting TWO new Fuel Groups fairly soon. Scott has also talked with a few people about giving their lives to Christ. God is good!

Jessica and I are one week from closing on our house! We will be moving in on Friday, May 1. We have lots of help, which is good because Jessica is not allowed to lift anything! She’ll be the “pointer” for where all the boxes go in the house.

One thing that has continued to amaze me is the way that God is working all over Cleveland in different ways. The amazing thing is how much all of the new church leaders all over the city are networking. This can be attributed mostly to the work of NEO360, and amazing organization that works to be a “catalyst for a city-reaching movement”. They are truly succeeding. At least FOUR new churches are in the works for Greater Cleveland in Fall 2009 and 2010, with two of them being in the city limits, one of them being in one of the worst parts of the city. God is up to something here!

Personally, I have a new opportunity that you all could be praying about. I have the opportunity to begin working with InterVarsity Faith Fellowship leading a Bible study group at John Carroll University in University Heights, just south of South Euclid. JCU is a primarily Catholic University, but people come from all over the country and world to study in the areas of medicine, law, and business. This is a great opportunity to reach out the college community. IVFF is the ONLY non-Catholic group on campus with a grand total of...ready?....FIVE members. That’s right. Five. In fact, there were NO Protestant groups for several years until 2006 when IVFF started back up at JCU. IVFF has a strong presence at Cleveland State and Case Western, so there could eventually opportunities for me at those places as well. Please pray with me about this. Jessica and I have a heart for college students, and we are waiting to see what God has in store.

God is up to something here...