Update from Greensboro – AMiA Winter Conference
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you from a hotel room in Greensboro, North Carolina. Fran and I, along with Fr. Clint and Fr. Daniel, are attending the annual AMiA Winter Conference. It is like a family reunion in many ways. I can’t walk 10 feet without running into someone I have known and wanted to catch up with.
Today is the 10th anniversary of the founding of the AMiA in North America. To celebrate, Bishop Chuck Murphy addresses the assembled crowd of over 1,250 from 37 states and 9 different countries. He reviews the amazing accomplishments of the AMiA over the last 10 years. He sums up the blessings and opportunities of the AMiA in the words of Leith Anderson (pastor, author, evangelical scholar) a few years ago:
I am a constant observer of American Christianity and American churches. I lead the National Association of Evangelicals which has over 60 member denominations and hundreds of para-church ministries, and I am convinced that the Anglican Mission in America [the Americas] has been blessed and positioned by God to do something extraordinary in America in the 21st century.
You are committed to the Bible as the standard of faith and practice. You adhere to orthodox Christian faith. You are an amazing combination of tradition and tomorrow. You are under the authority of the Church of Rwanda; you are directly connected to one of the greatest spiritual pipelines to a part of the world where God is doing something that has never ever been done in the history of Christianity.
Bishop Murphy then redefines the vision and action of AMiA as another journey, like the Second Missionary Journey of the Apostle Paul. We have had to act on vision…to reach a world in need. From 11 congregations in 1999 to 158 in 2009, the AMiA continues to grow.
That’s it from Greensboro…but there are several other things you need to know.
You Get Another Chance
Jonah #3 is coming up this weekend. My sermon is a entitled: You Get Another Chance. (Doesn’t that sound hopeful?) Personally, I am moved, Sunday by Sunday by what God shows us in His Word. But it is more than that. There seems to be a powerful sense of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Can you sense it yourself? Do you feel that God’s Word has been carved out just for you? Do you find yourself rejoicing in the Lord? Do you sense a growing heart for Christ and the mission He has in the world? All these are signs of the blessing from God. I strongly urge you to make your spiritual life your first priority. I know that you read the same things I read in the newspapers and online. While our country is changing and the tensions in government are nearing an all time high, there is a growing and deepening desire for the rock solid hope that can only be found in Christ.
1,000 New Churches
I have written to you about the Anglican1000 movement that is taking shape here at Christ Church. Archbishop Duncan, in his opening address last summer, called for the establishment of 1,000 new 
churches and congregations in the New Province. Wow! That is such a ‘BHAG’ that we have had to take a serious look at how we plant churches and how we raise up leaders. Christ Church is the perfect place for this movement to take shape. On Feb 22-23, you will see a large number of church planters and church leaders coming to our campus from around the U.S. and Canada for a Church Planting Summit. Registrations are coming in beautifully and I am very, very pleased and excited about the way this is developing. Go here for much more information and to see the people who are in the leadership roles. Pray for it. It is a great goal and something that Christ Church should get behind and support with our leadership and resources.
New Members
Last Sunday night I had the privilege of welcoming the 100 or so new people who have decided to join Christ Church. It was such a joy to meet them and see our church through the eyes of newcomers. This weekend, you will have a chance to welcome them as well when they take their membership “vows” at the end of our worship services.
Come With 
Us to the Holy Land
As we have done several times over the years, Fran and I are planning to lead a group of Christ Church members and friends on a tour of the Holy Land in November. We would love for you to join us. If you think you might be interested, come to an information meeting on February 2 at 7 p.m. Click here for details…
2010 Budget
The Christ Church annual budget is always available publicly on our website at christchurchplano.org/budget. We update it monthly. You can visit this page now to see our newly published 2010 budget. In addition, we will soon make available our “parish Report” for 2009, which includes a brief annual report. Look for printed copies around our campus beginning February 6. If you have questions about our budget, you are always welcome to contact Stacy Mading at 214-291-5065.
I will see you this Sunday.
David+
