Selah: In Your Words
May 29, 2008
I can’t tell you how encouraging it’s been to hear everyone’s response to this past Sunday at Catalyst. Thought I’d share a snippet of emails that have been pouring in…
“More than anything we want you to know (we) are praying for your family. We sat and wept while you preached this morning because we have been in the same place. There was so much I wanted to say after service but the emotion was so overwhelming that I could not.
I have thoroughly enjoyed your ministry over the last year. I have learned much. I have repented much. And today I am in that position of repentant sinner once again.” - Dave, Ravenna
“I wanted to tell you that you are doing the right thing. I hope you find rest in the coming days as you get closer to God in these trying times.” – Adam Boyer, Uniontown
“I think your decision to pull back on the reigns is very wise and bold. Great job! I’m reminded of the first few scenes in Joshua. Community came before conquest! Keep on being “strong and courageous!”
- Chad Frank, planting in Kent this fall
“After seeing the countless fiery emails that the pastor of a church gets I wanted to send you one of encouragement… As you spoke Sunday about God working up river to move mountains and part waters to lead Catalyst into the promise land, I could not help but think of Amanda and I’s story. Amanda and I both have wrestled endlessly trying to figure out why we have been moved from Texas to Ohio. I never in my life thought I would work in corporate America. I wanted to go to seminary, read, learn, and grow, graduate and become a pastor. I thought God took that dream away from me with my job here in Ohio. It was not until after Catalyst Sunday morning that I saw the bigger picture, God has been working for the past 9 months to bring us here, to Catalyst, on this Sunday, to hear this call. As I have continued to think about this situation I have grown increasingly excited about Ohio, about Catalyst, and about the things that God is going to do in Northeast Ohio. I believe that I am now living and working in Ohio, for the purposes of God in Catalyst Church. I can’t wait till next Sunday. I can’t wait for the opportunity to begin learning and building relationships with other members of the Catalyst family.” – Ben Seals, Fairlawn
“Brandon and I are going to be serving at the 125 for the next 4 weeks until we leave to move. This will be our contribution so that everyone who will be at Catalyst for the next couple of years can attend the teaching with Jonathan. Since we are to be leaving- we’ll just get the notes online. You’re both in my prayers – in so many ways. God is BIG! He made our hearts and knows how to provide for them. He WILL provide for you and your hearts and lives. You and Jonathan are amazing and I pray we find a church led by such amazing people like you two. We are really going to miss Catalyst. Really!” – Lindsay Spring, Akron
Christology
May 28, 2008
The study notes for this coming Sunday are now on our Media page…
Summer Selah
May 28, 2008
“And the LORD answered me:
‘Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end – it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.’”
- Habakkuk 2.2-3 (ESV)
This June at Catalyst, we’re pausing to catch our breath and recalibrate as a young church plant. Known as a “Selah” in the Psalms and Habakkuk 3, we’re stripping away everything on Sunday mornings to just Catalyst KIDS, unplugged teaching, and a whiteboard on The Kent Stage.
That’s it.
We’re pausing all outreach and doing 5 Sundays of inreach.
Community-building. Spirit-infusing. Vision-recapturing.
Selah. A chance for us to gel as a Core Team utilizing Acts 29 Network church planting training this summer and relaunching in the fall as a fresh new Catalyst.
I unpacked this more this past Sunday and have been blown away at people’s responses. This is definitely a God-directed move for all of us. I’ll probably share some of people’s thoughts here later – - God is doing some neat things through this Selah already!
Our Core Team can download the notes every Wednesday night here, then print them out and bring them with on Sunday. I’d suggest buying a 3-ring binder for your notes with extra note-taking paper. For everyone else in blog-land, your prayers and encouragement are appreciated!
Evan Lucas Choate
May 27, 2008
Today at 3:18pm, Evan Lucas Choate entered the world!
Evan weighed in at 8lbs, 4 oz.
Mother Christine and baby Evan are fine. Meals will begin being delivered to the Choate’s home in Akron beginning Thursday; email Amber at churchlaunch@gmail.com to be part of the meal rotation…
Save the date: July 5th
May 14, 2008
Every summer, over 20,000 people from all over north-east Ohio descend upon downtown Kent for one day.
Saturday, July 5th is this year’s Kent Heritage Festival.
Like the previous 2 summers, Catalyst wants to serve families strolling through the fest. Manpower is key.
Circle the date. Give us 2 hours of your time that day and we’ll bring change to people’s lives together. Details coming soon…
Wanted: Baby Meals
May 14, 2008
We have a number of expecting moms in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls about to pop in the coming weeks (or days!). Can you provide a dinner meal to help them out post-delivery? Email Amber to be assigned a night at churchlaunch@gmail.com.
Sunday Shout-outs
May 13, 2008
Wow – this past Sunday at Catalyst truly put the spotlight on some of our core volunteers. We had people seizing what could have been a hurdle with divine intensity…
FRANK & CHRISTINE CHOATE - Wow. At 6:30am, a freak deer versus truck accident left us without a lead worshiper. By 7am, Frank was on the phone with a fresh set list. The band pulled it out, Christine led us with her stunning voice (9-months-pregnant? WHAT?!). Phenomenal.
NATE ADAMS & AARON YODER – The sound men went above and beyond. With Chas Ridley in Puerto Rico (punk!) and Jason Bonham sidelined by Bambi, it could have been a catastrophe. But because Nate & Aaron arrived at 8am and focused on the challenges of setting up worship, our guests at 10:30am had no idea of the miracle occurring in their midst.
MELANIE RUGGLES, CARRIE HALL, & MARY CHUHAY: Because our regular MacBook was with Jason and Bambi’s carcass, EVERYTHING had to be re-typed into our back-up PowerBook G4’s ProPresenter. It was tedious at times, but these 3 gals handled it with grace.
I know that many other volunteers stepped up big-time this past weekend – - THANK YOU to EVERYONE for doing whatever it takes to reach people far from God at Catalyst!
Welcome to CataBlog
May 6, 2008
As Catalyst continues to grow, communication becomes uber-important. I believe it’s impossible to over-communicate in today’s world.
Because we love everyone who calls Catalyst their home church and we want everyone to remain up to speed as life at Catalyst accelerates, we offer to you this CataBlog.
Our goal as a Staff Team is to make the CataBlog your source for news & information. And the occasional goofy thought.
Why? Because we’re sold out on our vision.
Catalyst exists so that people far from God will experience new life in Christ. If we’re all united and moving in the same direction, we’re going to be part of something bigger than ourselves. The movement of Jesus. The unstoppable force known as the local church.
CataBlog just helps facilitate the discussion along the way…
- Jonathan Herron, lead pastor
