GlocalNet

Guest Blogger - Brian Hook
Pastor of Church Planting- NorthWood Church
Regional Catalyst - Vision360

The following story is from Kevin Cox, Founding Pastor of Vista Church, a church plant of NorthWood located in Crandall, Texas - a community south of Dallas. Vista has planted five churches in their young 4-year existence as they also engage in Nigeria mobilizing church members to reach the Fulani people.

“Recently I came across a statement that sums up where we are at Vista Church:  “It’s not what you believe that counts; it’s what you believe enough to do.”  We believe in being the church and displaying the kingdom!  We believe in the transformation of people’s lives as well as whole communities and people groups.  That is why we start cell groups where people are built up and encouraged in their faith.  That is why we sent 21 students to a pre-teen camp and four of them made first-time commitments to Christ.  That is why we have eight block parties scheduled in our community over the next 4 months.  That is why we have collaborated with our community association to begin a Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to help the elderly and single mothers of our community.  That is why we partner with Still Waters, a crisis pregnancy center, to encourage teenage mothers who have chosen to keep their babies.  That is why we are looking at partnering with 3-4 church planters next year to help them plant their churches that will see their communities transformed by the love of Christ.  That is why we have scheduled two trips this year to Egbe and Ejiba, Nigeria to engage the Fulani and Hausa-speaking peoples of those cities in order to develop an on-going relationship where we can mutually learn from one another.  In only two trips, trust is being built as evidenced by the photo of two Muslim chiefs with arms around one wet, Christian pastor…me.  We are compelled by the royal law of Jesus, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It is our prayer that each time we leave Nigeria, our new friends will have been loved with the love of Christ.”