S.E.E.D. Church Planting Initiative

www.seednet.visionohio.org

October 13th

Hear the stories of how God brought us to SEEDnet. The Gospel was proclaimed from sincere followers of Christ and people found real hope, lives were transformed, and communities greatly improved. May the Lord continue His work!

September 19th

Dr. Tony Webb explains S.E.E.D. Net vision to NEO ministerium.

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September 12, 2011

Praise God for cockroaches.   (Yes, you heard me right.)

Hank called me a “cockroach” last month.  
 
… And I’ve never felt more honored!
 
Hank came to know Christ a few months ago. And he jokingly reminds us that like the cockroaches in his apartment, he couldn’t get rid of us, despite his best efforts (Did you know that cockroaches can even live through a nuclear bomb?!)! Yes, at his apartment complex, we hung around a lot. We offered the gospel of Jesus Christ to Hank and some others again and again, … again and again … and now we praise God that no one can exterminate the Holy Spirit when He decided to invade!
 
Yes, Hank and some others finally gave in and whole-heartedly asked Christ to infest their souls (couldn’t resist the wording). And now … praise God that Hank and a small group of others have become cockroaches too! Yes! These new followers of Jesus are multiplying!  And their neighbors can’t get rid of them either!
 
See, Hank and his neighbors who live in the low-income apartment complex with him, know about cockroaches. They all live in, and are a part of what we call “S.E.E.D.” areas. They are oppressed people, living in oppressed situations, in oppressed areas of town. How oppressed? They are daily oppressed Spiritually, Economically, Emotionally, Developmentally (S.E.E.D. – get it?!). They aren’t just surviving hard times, their lives are oppressed. They are oppressed by their own blatant sin, by fear, godlessness, brokenness, sadness, anger, poverty, addiction . . . .
 
These words and more describe the people and the atmosphere of the two low-income apartment complexes in Ashland and Mansfield Ohio, where we’ve planted churches in the last 5 years.The apartment complexes are filled with oppressed people who are in desperate need. And Christ is meeting them there … there the soil is ripe and the need is great to bring the gospel and plant churches among them that will nurture their souls, and give them a spiritual community in which to thrive and grow. Their walk with Christ is tender and precious. They need the gospel and they need a church.
 
Andy was a drug dealer and gang leader. Four years ago he came to Christ and now he’s called to plant a church in the same area he used to deal drugs. Howard was a rough, skeptical man who kept his distance from religious people and did maintenance at his apartment complex. Five years ago he trusted Christ and is now loving, leading and helping with spiritual maintenance in the church-plant he helped take root.  Kim was a single mother of two and addicted to pills. Two years ago she put her faith in Jesus and now she’s clean inside and out, and also a loving wife and mother who has already led two others to Christ.
 
Stories like this are just the tip of the iceberg. God has poured healing and love onto broken people in broken areas throughout Ohio. Just as Jesus had compassion for the harassed, helpless and shepherd-less in Matt. 9:35,36, we have been burdened for the people in these S.E.E.D. areas … these Spiritually, Economically, Emotionally, and Developmentally oppressed people.  
 
S.E.E.D.net is a church planting movement and a project of VisionOhio that seeks to plant Grace Brethren churches in these S.E.E.D. oppressed areas of Ohio. In fact, the opportunity is so wide open that we have already been approached and asked to plant churches in 208 apartment complexes throughout Ohio! A great blessing of God! And yes, that’s way beyond our abilities to do it alone! We know that God will finish what He’s starting and He will build His church, but we wanted to share with you this amazing opportunity and see if God’s leading anyone else out there to be involved with S.E.E.D.net. How? Well here’s a few ideas:

• Tell us if you know someone who God may want to use as a S.E.E.D church planter or apprentice
• Pray for S.E.E.D. churches, church planters, apprentices and their families
• Promote S.E.E.D. church planting to your church or to your missions board
• Participate in a S.E.E.D. church plant
• Provide resources for S.E.E.D churches, church planters, and full-time apprentices

 
Please keep praying for us at S.E.E.D.net! The enemy has strongholds in these S.E.E.D. areas, but with Christ is victory and we are seeing strongholds broken and lives reborn! Praise God! And thanks for your powerful prayers. We couldn’t do anything apart from the prayers of the saints. Thanks.
 
We would love to hear from you too! Please let me know if the Lord wants you to partner with S.E.E.D.net in some way! You can reach me through the VisionOhio website, or call me at 419-908-8181. Also keep checking the VisionOhio website for continued news and updates about S.E.E.D.net. Thanks for prayerfully considering any role God has for you … and for passing on the opportunity and challenge that we have before us!
 
May God multiply His Church!
 
Your Fellow Cockroach In Christ,
Pastor Nathan Wells
Ashland, Ohio

nwells@visionohio.org

Reggie McNeal experiences apartment living and has a few thoughts for us.