There is something that is so powerful about connecting with someone with whom you feel some sort of kinship. Today I had the privelege of connecting with three such people.
This morning I had a Starbucks meeting with a young guy that I have never met, but have interacted a bit with on John Chandler's blog. He is the son of a missionary who is in the states completing Bible College - about to hit the last semester of his senior year. I told my wife, he had a humble nature about him, yet when I asked him what he wanted to do after college, he replied, "I want to change the world." There was no air of cockiness in that response, just a heart-felt desire to make a difference. I love that. Too many college students are more worried about when the next X-Box game is going to be released than they are about pursuing the passions of God's heart (which, by the way, is to change the world). I felt that spark of connection - he has a faith to believe that God can use him to do big things. I pray that the world (or the church) never beats that out of him.
For lunch, Leslie and I met with her old youth pastor and his wife. I had briefly introduced myself to him once, but had never really interacted with him prior to today. Leslie was really drawn to the two of them when she was young and really wanted to reconnect. I now understand why. They're hearts filled ours. They planted a church in Issaquah, WA sixteen years ago and have lived to tell about it. We were able to talk about mistakes and hurts and all of the other things that make what we do worth it. Leslie and I really see them as potential "coaches" in this church planting process and look forward to more times around a table together.
Beyond just face to face contact, we have been so encouraged by emails and letters we have recieved from so many friends who are lifting us up in prayer and believe in the ministry that we are giving ourselves to. There are no words to describe knowing that beyond our "reach" friends around the United States are going to battle with us. This is how it should be!
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
Would you like to be a partner?
Many of you have responded to our notes and letters asking how you can be a part of our team as we plant this church in the Seattle area. First, please pray for us on a regular basis. This area is known as the most unchurched area of the United States (along with Oregon). We have talked to many different church planters in the area who are struggling to make it. It is not an environment where churches thrive. Second, many of you have asked how you can give a one time gift or be a regular giver to our ministry. We are not yet incorporated as a church as of yet, that should come in the Spring of next year, so until that time, the Christian Evangelistic Association (the church planting organization that we are working with) is taking in our funding for us.
You can mail donations to:
Christian Evangelistic Association
Re: Dean and Leslie Kuest
P.O. Box 92
Edmonds, WA 98020
Thank you for caring about what we do here in the Northwest!
You can mail donations to:
Christian Evangelistic Association
Re: Dean and Leslie Kuest
P.O. Box 92
Edmonds, WA 98020
Thank you for caring about what we do here in the Northwest!
Kuest Boys Declare Christmas Best Ever!
Well, Christmas has come and gone and we at the Kuest household feel blessed. We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my parents up in Arlington and then spent Christmas Day with all of Leslie's Family. It was a bit overwhelming for us. We are used to fairly quiet Christmas' as we have never lived near our parents and immediate family. However, there is no better feeling than being surrounded by family and celebrating the birth of Christ. (I also think the new Gamecube contributed to the boys Christmas excitement.)
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Faith and Sight - A Paradox
Coming out of church today, I was overwhelmed with such a strong sense of God's calling us to this place. It is not a feeling that words can describe, simply an inward confidence and certainty that we are where God wants us.
At the same time, certainty does not mean that I have things figured out. It does not mean that fear does not creep into my heart as we begin to wonder where our financial support will come from and wondering where the exact location of our church will be. As someone said to me in church today as they were asking about our church plant, "My faith is a lot more easy when I can see where I am walking." He said this tongue in cheek, but I believe that this is a problem for me and for Christians all over. We say we have faith in God, but then fail to live a life that depends upon Him. We risk very little in our country by saying that we believe in God. Even a simple tithe is risking very little in the big picture of things. What do we do to lay our lives out there and say, "Lord, take me and use me no matter the cost"?
It is becoming so clear to me through this process that my life has been lived with faith that requires sight. True faith is lived when we "walk by faith and not by sight." I am praying that God will continue to exersize my "faith muscle" as we continue this journey. It strikes fear in my heart to pray that prayer, but I am confident that it will draw me closer to the heart of God.
At the same time, certainty does not mean that I have things figured out. It does not mean that fear does not creep into my heart as we begin to wonder where our financial support will come from and wondering where the exact location of our church will be. As someone said to me in church today as they were asking about our church plant, "My faith is a lot more easy when I can see where I am walking." He said this tongue in cheek, but I believe that this is a problem for me and for Christians all over. We say we have faith in God, but then fail to live a life that depends upon Him. We risk very little in our country by saying that we believe in God. Even a simple tithe is risking very little in the big picture of things. What do we do to lay our lives out there and say, "Lord, take me and use me no matter the cost"?
It is becoming so clear to me through this process that my life has been lived with faith that requires sight. True faith is lived when we "walk by faith and not by sight." I am praying that God will continue to exersize my "faith muscle" as we continue this journey. It strikes fear in my heart to pray that prayer, but I am confident that it will draw me closer to the heart of God.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Small World...Big God
Every once in a while you have those moments that make you feel like the world is as small as your home town. Those times usually involve seeing someone from your home town in a rather far away place. This is what Leslie and I just experienced.
My parents live about an hour north of us in Arlington, WA, so when we want a quick get-together, we usually meet in the middle. The middle is often the area around Alderwood Mall, which is just north of Seattle. My parents were out of town when we celebrated Joshua's birthday, so we called one of our get-togethers. We met at Cold Stone Creamery - we'll use any excuse we can find to do that, in Alderwood Mall. Afterward, we decided hit the mall for a bit of shopping. The first store we ventured into was the Disney Store. Now this is a huge mall and the Disney Store itself was good sized. While wandering around after my younger boys, I heard, "Well, if it isn't Dean Kuest." Now I know very few people in Washington and even fewer who would be at Alderwood Mall. I looked up to see Pam Melton, who was heavily involved in our youth ministry back in the early to mid ninety's.
She has been in Washington for about three years. She came out when her oldest daughter graduated from Seattle Pacific University, got married and stayed in the area. The odds of running into someone from our past up here like that are so astronomical that Leslie and I are convinced that God was at the center of it.
Please say a prayer for Pam. She just finished six months of chemotherapy as she is being treated for Hodgkins Disease. This is generally a curable form of cancer, but her's reached stage four before it was discovered. She is in remission at the moment, but will not be considered "cancer free" until after five years.
My parents live about an hour north of us in Arlington, WA, so when we want a quick get-together, we usually meet in the middle. The middle is often the area around Alderwood Mall, which is just north of Seattle. My parents were out of town when we celebrated Joshua's birthday, so we called one of our get-togethers. We met at Cold Stone Creamery - we'll use any excuse we can find to do that, in Alderwood Mall. Afterward, we decided hit the mall for a bit of shopping. The first store we ventured into was the Disney Store. Now this is a huge mall and the Disney Store itself was good sized. While wandering around after my younger boys, I heard, "Well, if it isn't Dean Kuest." Now I know very few people in Washington and even fewer who would be at Alderwood Mall. I looked up to see Pam Melton, who was heavily involved in our youth ministry back in the early to mid ninety's.
She has been in Washington for about three years. She came out when her oldest daughter graduated from Seattle Pacific University, got married and stayed in the area. The odds of running into someone from our past up here like that are so astronomical that Leslie and I are convinced that God was at the center of it.
Please say a prayer for Pam. She just finished six months of chemotherapy as she is being treated for Hodgkins Disease. This is generally a curable form of cancer, but her's reached stage four before it was discovered. She is in remission at the moment, but will not be considered "cancer free" until after five years.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Down to the Wire
We are coming down to the time where the decision will be made regarding our location. At this time, both Leslie and I feel that the Bellevue/Redmond area is where we need to be. Several reasons. One, all of the resources and people that we know who would love to be a part of a new church live in this area. Two, there are few churches doing a good job reaching the younger generation in this area. Three, Bellevue is a dichotomy. While it contains some of the richest areas in the eastside, it is also filled with poverty. There are $500,000 to $1,000,000 homes within the same square mile as apartments filled with people living in poverty. We have found very little being done for those families. In other words, there are great needs in this community.
Our other option is Mill Creek/Silver Firs. It is a white suburban area where there are many young families living. We would fit right in. Our selfish nature tells us we would love to live there, but we're not sure it is right to follow those feelings. Our church planting organization tells us that Mill Creek is what they "know." In other words, they know how to plant in a new and emerging community, so they are comfortable with us going there. They have never planted in an established area like Bellevue before, so they are nervous about that possibility, but not against it. They are hiring a company to conduct an intense demographic study of Bellevue before they commit to a decision.
Keep praying for us, we are anxious to land.
Our other option is Mill Creek/Silver Firs. It is a white suburban area where there are many young families living. We would fit right in. Our selfish nature tells us we would love to live there, but we're not sure it is right to follow those feelings. Our church planting organization tells us that Mill Creek is what they "know." In other words, they know how to plant in a new and emerging community, so they are comfortable with us going there. They have never planted in an established area like Bellevue before, so they are nervous about that possibility, but not against it. They are hiring a company to conduct an intense demographic study of Bellevue before they commit to a decision.
Keep praying for us, we are anxious to land.
Maple Valley Christmas
This morning Leslie and I took the boys to a Maple Valley Christmas. Some friends of ours have planted a church in that area this year and this was an outreach event that their church put together. It was really well done.
It began with a waffle breakfast for anyone who came - including the opportunity to make a waffle house that you can subsequently eat. There was live music, games for the kids, a train ride outside, ornament crafts and of course the picture with Santa. Over 400 people showed up, which is awesome for a church of 170. Shane and Cathy (the pastor and his wife) are sharp thinkers. It has been fun to get together and challenge each others thinking.
This will be an important relationship for us as we go on toward our launch.
It began with a waffle breakfast for anyone who came - including the opportunity to make a waffle house that you can subsequently eat. There was live music, games for the kids, a train ride outside, ornament crafts and of course the picture with Santa. Over 400 people showed up, which is awesome for a church of 170. Shane and Cathy (the pastor and his wife) are sharp thinkers. It has been fun to get together and challenge each others thinking.
This will be an important relationship for us as we go on toward our launch.
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