I saw this video on the Elevate Church Website. It was made to thank Pastor Steven for planting Elevate Church OKC. Although he probably wouldn’t post it on his personal blog, I thought it was something that everyone who supports him should see! (Cheryl Pierce)
I’m thankful and humbled. It appears the Lord literally paved each step of the way as we focused day and night since January 6, 2011 on the planting of a life-giving church in Oklahoma City. Excitement overflowed as the right leaders and financial gifts showed up at the right times. Emotional challenges have been evident too as we sacrificed financially and had friends leave the journey we committed to together. This has been the most difficult and rewarding thing we’ve done in our lives.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent significant time trying to learn how to hear the voice of God.
In I Kings 19, Elijah found himself at a spiritual low point. He needed to hear from God…just to hear his voice, to hear him say something… anything. Here’s what he experienced:
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. – I Kings 19:11-13
How can we hear the “gentle whisper”? It is possible to allow God’s soft voice to cut through the noise.
Being authentic before God has helped me hear from God. When I plan, strategize and run confidently down the road God gives me, sometimes I don’t hear from Him. When I’m broken and honest before Him, it seems I can hear His voice clearly.
This morning, I started to jump right into planning my message for this Sunday, week six of Elevate Church. I’ve wrestled with my passage of scripture and also the application from it. Before jumping in, I was reminded that I needed to spend some honest face time with Jesus. Here’s what I wrote in my journal – just three sentences, “I feel covered up and inadequate with the administrative details of doing church. I feel thankful and positive about the way everything is going. Thank You for letting me serve You.”
I turned to my scripture for the day, 2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”
As I read that verse, I’m reminded that it’s not about me. I’m involved in the work He’s doing here. I’m just one of His laborers. For today, my burden is lifted. I commit it all to Him.
Dear prayer supporters,
Thanks for praying for us over the past many months! This past Sunday, 9/18/2011, we officially launched Elevate Church.
The first public service went very well. The official count was 288. Most of those that attended were either part of our launch team or else they were people that could potentially attend weekly. 41 different prospective families filled out connection cards. 18 first time guests inquired how they could help serve and eight families expressed the desire to commit to Elevate Church. Two people made a profession of faith in Christ for the first time and three people renewed commitments to Christ.
Elevate Kids went very well. The kids seemed to have a great time.
For more info and updates, you can check out our website http://www.ElevateChurchOKC.com You can see my message here: http://vimeo.com/29413476
We’ve also started a new weekly email to the people that have expressed interest in Elevate Church. If you’re interested, I can add you to my email list. Just reply to this and let me know. We’ll be sending out once per week updates on Fridays giving previews of the Sunday message, the kids activities and whatever other things are taking place on Sunday.
Please pray for the following things:
· For me as I prepare and present my message for the second week. Now, Sunday happens weekly. Also, the stakes are a bit higher since my messages will all be online! 
· That we can follow up well so that those that God is calling to be part of our church connect well.
· That those who have made decisions for Christ are discipled.
Thank you for your prayers. They are needed and appreciated.
Consumed by the call,
Steven Earp, Pastor and Church Planter – Elevate Church
www.stevenearp.com
www.elevatechurchokc.com
www.facebook.com/raisingupleaders
Twitter @ElevateChurchOK
Youtube channel: StevenREarp
PS – There’s no way to overstate how important your prayers are for me. I greatly appreciate your commitment to Elevate Church and my personal ministry. I appreciate you.
Best way to pray for me today and tomorrow!
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. Phil 1:3-5
Dear prayer supporters,
Thanks for praying for us as we launch Elevate Church. Tomorrow the church officially launches and we become no longer a launch team with a task but a church with a mission.
Please pray today and tomorrow for the following things:
· My mind can be focused on my message and spending time with the Lord today. I’ve had many, many distractions come up including searching last minute for trailer transportation and an IRS letter erroneously requesting 13 million dollars in back tax payments. Of course it’s not accurate but it’s distracting still.
· That the people that come tomorrow will hear what they need to hear. Pray for Spirit filled singing, teaching and listening.
· That the weather is good.
· That every team leader does well and is “elevated” and encouraged in the position the Lord has placed them in.
How else can you help?
* If you’re available to attend, we’d love to have you. If you’re willing to serve in some way, let us know and we’ll definitely take you up on that.
Thank you for your prayers. They are needed and appreciated.
Consumed by the call,http://www.stevenearp.com
http://www.elevatechurchokc.com
http://www.facebook.com/raisingupleaders
http://www.twitter.com/elevatechurchok
http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenREarp
PS – It’s estimated that 80% of new church plants fail within the first five years. (By these studies, “success” is defined by a church that still exists in any form after five years.) We launch tomorrow. Our strategy is to have a huge launch. We’re confident in our efforts and God’s leading for our strategy. However, with an 80% failure rate, can you see why we need your prayers?
Elevate Church Prayer Partners!
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. Phil 1:3-5Dear prayer supporters,
Thanks for praying for us as we launch Elevate Church. Things are really moving along now.
Here are some brief updates:
· Our website, still a work in progress, is up. If you’d like, check it out and give us some feedback for typos or anything else. www.elevatechurchokc.com There are samples of our music and my teaching there.
· Several guests from the Preview Service committed to being part of Elevate Church.
· Today, we enjoyed a worship time with our launch team. Between 75 and 85 attended, excitement is high.
· Billboards are now up, tens of thousands of mailers have hit homes in the area and we’re starting to get some feedback from people.
Please Pray for the following requests:
· Our strategy is to “launch large”. Because of this, we’ve intentionally put all our eggs into one basket with our time and finances. Our goal is to launch with a huge crowd. Rather than spending money on salaries, building leases, land or other expenses, we’ve invested our time and money into two major areas: a quality Sunday morning experience for kids and adults and marketing to get the word out.
Pray that our launch this Sunday is huge. We’ve worked non-stop for nine months for this goal. Pray for fruitful marketing and inviting efforts, good weather and prepared hearts and minds in attendance.
· Pray for our leaders this week as we prepare to launch weekly services.
· Pray for Elevate participants that they’ll invite friends and family.
How else can you help?
Most of you have been praying for us for months. In this time, I’ve never asked for anything but prayer. That is the most important source for us. Right now, I ask for some favors if the Lord leads you.
Here are some ways you could help us over the next seven days…
· Attend our launch service, this Sunday, 9/18/2011 at 11am at Hillsdale and help us fill the seats.
· Bring some other friends, family or supporters with you.
· Invite your Facebook friends to come to the event by clicking “invite friends” on our event page. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271000519592017
· Post the above link on your Facebook wall. Better yet, send a personal message recommending OKC friends or family that you have to come check us out.
· Volunteer some this week writing hand written notes to our prospect list.
· Hand out flyers door to door for us or post them around our area.
Let me know if you’re interested in any of the above! Our focus is getting people to come to the launch service. We’re praying for a huge harvest that can be the beginning of Elevate Church.
Consumed by the call,
Steven Earp, Pastor and Church Planter – Elevate Church
www.stevenearp.com
www.elevatechurchokc.com
www.facebook.com/raisingupleaders
Twitter @ElevateChurchOK
Youtube channel: StevenREarp
PS – It’s estimated that 80% of new church plants fail within the first five years. (By these studies, “success” is defined by a church that still exists in any form after five years.) We launch this week. Our strategy is to have a huge launch. We’re confident in our efforts and God’s leading for our strategy. However, with an 80% failure rate, can you see why we need your prayers?
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. Phil 1:3-5
Many great things have been happening with the planting of Elevate Church. Here are just a few updates:
· Our launch team has grown to approximately 90 people.
· We held our preview service last Sunday night. 325 total attendance: 90 launch team, 80-100 friends, pastors and other “well wishers”, 125-150 prospects and unchurched.
· Three adults accepted Christ at the preview service. Generous offering came is as well.
· After a week of following up, we have a significant number of people that are interested in possibly becoming part of Elevate Church.
· Overall, I’m totally humbled and overwhelmed by what the Lord has done this summer.
Please pray for the following prayer requests:
· Chrysty’s health (she has MS) – Heat and stress both increase her symptoms. Until this past week, she’d been blessed with fully functional health even with the summer temperature and the stress of church planting. Currently, she’s struggling physically and very weak.
· This week, we’re going to a retreat center to eat, sleep and hear from God. Please pray that we do all three!
· Pray that I can steward the clear and plain momentum that the Lord has put in place.
Thanks for your prayers, thanks for your support.
Appreciate you,
Steven Earp, Elevate Church – Lead Pastor and Planter
Does prayer change things? My life has been transformed by prayer over the months that some of you have been praying for me on the journey to plant Elevate Church in OKC. Thank you for keeping up with us. Thank you for your prayers.
“I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I’m able to do it.” – John Wesley
Jeremiah 33:2-3
Some brief updates:
The past week, we worked out a more detailed and researched plan for marketing our launch. One of our team members designed and printed invite cards for our preview service. At my house, we had a tech team meeting, we hosted a college group that comes over weekly, we had leaders gather at various and random times of day and night. In all, we shared 46 meals with people in our home. I had meetings with five key leaders one on one and ate with 23 different people that we were able to share the vision of Elevate Church with.
Some from our launch team visited Harrah Church this morning! Thanks Kevin Daniels and Harrah Church for your hospitality!
Preview Service – Aug 14th, Sunday, 5pm. Full nursery, kids, greeting and worship experience. Can you worship with us that day? Please come help us improve.
Locust Grove Church and Jacob Myers today started a drive to resource our children’s ministry during VBS. I’m so thankful for them! Let me or Jacob know if you’d like to participate.
Some prayer requests…
Pray for clarity of priorities. There are dozens of details that need to be handled. Since I’m not a naturally detailed guy, many times these are less simple for me to prioritize.
Pray for our “dry run” practice service this week. One evening this week our entire launch team will gather to practice some things before our preview service.
Pray for the hearts of those far from God. There are many that need to know Him in our area.
Great things are happening. Please don’t forget to pray for us.
Consumed by the call,
Steven Earp, Pastor and Church Planter, Elevate Church
405-820-0155
www.stevenearp.com
Facebook – Elevate Church in OKC
PS –I personally encounter people that are far from God every single day. I’m overwhelmed by the spiritual needs in Oklahoma City. Please pray that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those that need Him. Will you join me in this compelling quest for connecting the hearts of men to the heart of God?
This is just a sample showing how excited everyone is as we move forward to plant Elevate Church OKC. Please feel free to share your thoughts or comments. We look forward to hearing from everyone!
Thanks so much for praying for us. Things are happening so quickly now. It’s like an exciting roller coaster of new people committing to be involved and then a few lows of spiritual attacks. My personal spiritual life has deepened significantly while working towards the planting of Elevate Church in OKC. There is no way to over state how important your prayers are and have been for me.
“I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I’m able to do it.” – John Wesley
Jeremiah 33:2-3
Some brief updates:
The past week, we laid out our website plans and pulled the trigger. We met personally with 11 prospective people and/or families. Hosted our launch team meeting. Connected individually with 10 launch team leaders to take steps towards the future, mostly to give away bigger pieces of the responsibility. (I always thought I was a decent leader and delegator but I still tend to be a leadership bottleneck at times! I need to give more away!) We laid out the flow and order of our first few services. Had two new leaders step up to serve as preschool director and as admin for our database. Also spent several hours and meetings tweaking and working on our launch and marketing strategy.
New SWAT team members (servants willing and temporary) commit weekly. Who do you know that would come help us for 90 days in this mission project? For 30 days? To intern with us and learn how to plant a church?
Preview Service – Aug 14th, Sunday, 5pm. Full nursery, kids, greeting and worship experience. Can you worship with us that day? Please come help us improve.
Locust Grove Church and Jacob Myers today started a drive to resource our children’s ministry during VBS. I’m so thankful for them! Let me or Jacob know if you’d like to participate.
Some prayer requests…
Pray for the people I meet with this week. That the right people commit to serve and attend. Several from last week are far from God but seeking.
Pray as I prepare my messages for the Preview Service, Launch service and the series that follows! I need Spirit filled listening during my prep time.
Fundraising- With a donor’s generous matching grant available, we can raise $30,000 more right now and have it doubled. Our launch team is giving sacrificially. All our leaders are volunteer and I still work to supplement income and save money for this project. Please pray for this matching grant opportunity.
Great things are happening. Please don’t forget to pray for us.
Consumed by the call,
Steven Earp, Pastor and Church Planter, Elevate Church
405-820-0155
Elevate Church in OKC – stevenearp.com
www.facebook.com/raisingupleaders
PS -Why plant new churches in Oklahoma? Just in the past week, because of our web presence, I’ve been approached by a number of spiritual seekers, dechurched and spiritually unresolved. In my life, I’ve never been approached by people on such a broad basis. Why are they contacting us? It’s because they may not have found what they are looking for, but with a new church comes a new opportunity to be a part of forming something. This is just part of the reason that statistically, the newer a church is, the more people find Christ there (per capita).
CONTACT US:
OKC Church Plant
2323 SW 44th
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma 73119
Add us to your address
Are you curious about the newest church in OKC? Elevate Church OKC will be having their first service soon. And you’ll love it. Check out some of our plans. And feel free to join us on Facebook…we’d love to hear your comments. http://www.facebook.com/RaisingUpLeaders