Last night we had our Santa Cruz church plant meeting. It was a special time.











First, someone new joined our team and her name is Alana. She has been feeling God’s tug to join up and finally did. She is a great woman of God. At Yaks (our coffee shop) on Monday nights we give all college students 50% off on everything and it’s a chance to meet people. Alana has been coming down and closing with us, but all she does is wash dishes. She washes dishes from 6 to 10pm; most people would complain. We all volunteer at Yaks, but Alana inspires us all. Alana wants to start a church (Ukraine?); we want to equip and send her with a team from our SC church.











It was Laben’s birthday last night. He’s 24, but he’s also 1. We bought him his own German Chocolate cake with a 1 candle on it. He’s been walking with Jesus and walking with me in a discipleship friendship for 1 year. He’s grown. We all took turns telling Laben what things we admired about him and what we see God doing in his life. It was awesome. Most people never experience this within their physical family; most people believe the church isn’t a family. We are the church and we're family.










I shared with Laben what it has been like for me to have him as a spiritual son. It was special because my spiritual father was there, pastor Mike. It was also special because Paul, who is now following Jesus because of Laben, was there too. Four generations of disciples. Four generations of “sons.”

We love each other and couldn’t imagine doing life without one another. We are not hirelings. We are a family and we’re growing: people, who love Jesus and his church. We are the hope of the world.