West St. Tammany Mission Update by Lane Corley

A Church for West St. Tammany P.O. Box 1336, Madisonville, LA 70447, 985.373.2748

June 2009

Hello Friends! In October 2008, our family began a new journey as we answered God’s call to start a new church in West St. Tammany Parish. Starting a new church is one of those things that you say, “I’ll never do that again,” but after 7 years in planting Hope Church of Waldheim we answered God’s call to do it again. Since October, we have been meeting on Sunday nights at Bedico Baptist Church and at our local YMCA for worship, Bible Study, and team building. We have also ministered to our community through benevolence, direct evangelism, and given over $5,000 to missions causes. We have a great team coming together and I’m looking forward to see what God will do in the coming months. In August, we are planning to launch weekly services in West St. Tammany Parish. This summer we will be hosting Mission teams from Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana to help us meet the real needs of people in South Louisiana and build momentum for the launch of a brand new church for the glory of God. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you or your church would like to partner with us as a strategic prayer partner, financial partner, or visit our area for a national mission trip, please contact us – 985.373.2748 or lane@bridgenorthshore.com.

“Don’t go to start a church, go to serve a city…” Steve Sjogren, Church Planter and Author

The need for new churches has often been justified with demographics. A growing population must mean we need a new church. However, I think the need for new churches should be tied to the needs of the community. Where is this community in need of transformation? Where do we need a faith family who will plant the Gospel and bring salt and light? This is the question we have started with as the West St. Tammany Mission team. Our team, without having our own building, weekly worship services, or a huge crowd has begun bringing transformation to two particular places in West St. Tammany: The St. Tammany Parish Jail and the Oak Villa Mobile Home Park. In January, we began a Bible Study at the Jail that has resulted in 15 salvations, 60+ of the 1,300 inmates being involved in Celebrate Recovery, and 25+ female inmates now working toward their GED. In February, we found the Crockett family at the Oak Villa Mobile Home Park. They were in poor health and in terrible living conditions. Today their trailer has a new floor, a new handicap ramp, and more. This Summer we hope to rebuild their kitchen and lay tiling over the new floor. Planting new churches is a great way to get salt and light into unreached communities. If your church would like to help us with projects like these, please give us a call – 985.373.2748.

How can I get involved? 1. Be a prayer partner and ask for our church plant to be added to your churches regular prayer list. 2. Be a financial partner with a one time gift or on a monthly basis, helping the new church with staff salaries, facility rental, outreach events, etc. 3. Purchase a box of Bibles ($85 for case of 24) or a box of New Testaments ($50 for case of 100) 4. Purchase an Outreach Packet that will be placed on a door in West St. Tammany. Packets include the Invitation CD, a New Testament, and information about our new church. Total cost of the packet is $2. Invest in 10 doors with a $20 gift. 5. Make a trip to help with Church Planting Outreach events or prayer walk the community. Call about specific dates this summer or in the fall.

How to Pray for Missionaries: PRAY FOR OPEN DOORS “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains” (Colossians 4:2–3, NIV).

6 Steps to Starting a Church from Scratch How do you start a church from scratch? For our mission of planting a new church for West St. Tammany Parish we’ve outlined six steps and two are already complete!  Step 1: A Sponsor/Mother Church with a Vision for Evangelism & Off-Campus Multiplication. Bedico Baptist has committed to sponsor and is sending out members to be a part of the Bridge Church team.  Step 2: A God-Called Church Planter/Pastor. In Oct 2008, Lane & Heather Corley joined the effort and began recruiting for the team.  Step 3: Cultivating the Field & Building the Team. We have been working to meet needs and grow a launch team for the past 8 months.  Step 4: Launching Public Worship Services. In August 2009, we will begin weekly worship gatherings.  Step 5: Building Church Life. Developing ministries that will transform our community, assimilate & disciple new members, & develop leaders for extended fruitfulness.  Step 6: A Vision for Evangelism & Off-Campus Multiplication. Began preparing to repeat the process & multiply a healthy, evangelistic church in a neighboring community in need of the Gospel.

Pray for the Corley’s Lane, Heather, Jackson, & Hudson

PRAY FOR BOLDNESS IN WITNESS “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19, NIV).

PRAY THAT GOD’S WORD WILL SPREAD “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes.…” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, NLT)

PRAY FOR PROTECTION “Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 3:2, NLT).

PRAY FOR THEIR MINISTRY “Pray first that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes. . .” (2 Thesslaonians 3:1, NLT)

PRAY FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE “So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, and we ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom” (Colossians 1:9, NLT).

PRAY FOR REFRESHMENT “We also pray that you will be strengthened with His glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy” (Colossians 1:11, NLT).

Church Planting in Southeast Louisiana West St. Tammany Mission/Bridge Church P.O. Box 1336 Madisonville, LA 70447 985.373.2748 lane@bridgenorthshore.com heatherjcorley@gmail.com On the web at lanecorley.wordpress.com or twitter.com/lanecorley