When starting a new church it is very important to offer activities to the community that not only meet the needs of the community but help to raise the visibility of the new church. Along those lines I had been reflecting on what type of non-threatening ministry Field of Grace could offer to the community in order to start to build relationships with folks who live in this area. One of my thoughts had been to offer some type of financial program that was from a Christian perspective. Well today I was speaking to a friend of mine and he told me about the Financial Peace University (first part of the blessing). It sounded like a great program and one that would be a good thing for our church to offer. I went to the website and was very impressed by what I read. Then came the shocker: The cost for the kit to offer the 13-week training was $299. After I caught my breath, I knew that I would have to decide between paying for the kit myself or getting the bank information from our treasurer in order to pay for the program. (they do not accept credit cards because their whole premise revolves around helping people to make sound financial decisions.) I decided to wait on the program and gave them a call to find out if they had bilingual material. In the course of the conversation, the very nice rep on the other end told me that because we are a new church start and the company understands the financial restraints of small and new churches, he would sign Field of Grace for the program and we would not have to pay the $299. for the facilitator's kit!!!! (second part of the blessing). We would just need to try to sign up at least five families to take part in the course. Field of Grace is registered and we will offer the course starting in September. The timing could not be more perfect: Next week is our first week at the Wilkes-Barre farmer's Market where we will have a table to distribute information and survey folks about what they would like to see a church offer to the community. The rep has sent me the promotional materials and next week we can start promoting the event to those at the Market. After the conversation, I was overjoyed and almost moved to tears of joy as I just kept thanking God for responding in such a way to our need to offer something to the community. Our God is absolutely amazing and always faithful! Today I was also blessed with meeting a woman who runs a Christian T-shirt store called "3:16 Athletic Wear." I was thinking about ordering a green shirt with the Field of Grace name and our tag line, "The church as God intended it to be." I wanted something to wear while at the Farmer's Market and to wear around town. She had a t-shirt of a nice shade of green and said that she could create the t-shirt in just a few minutes while I waited. We googled the sunflower graphic that I have been using and in a few minutes I had a really nice t-shirt with our name and a logo on the front and our tag line on the back. It looks really great! Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened, often with God providing beyond what one is seeking. Thank God for unexpected blessings! Hasta Luego