Prentice Family Update

PITTSBURGH IS READY FOR REVIVAL
     In life, change happens!  Sometimes they happen often.  Sometimes they don't.  You just never know what God is up to concerning all the details.  Yet, we are called to live by faith knowing that He will do things according to His purposes and for His glory.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9)

     Our family has been actively serving in the Pittsburgh region since 2000.  I have served in traditional, contemporary, established, new church planting, and semi-church planting contexts throughout this period of time.  Through it all, God has been so faithful in producing spiritual fruit in our lives and in the lives of those He brought our way.  We've seen people surrender their lives to Jesus in salvation, marriages restored, emotional wounds mended, unbelievable physical healing, and many come alive to the Gospel of Jesus.  May God be honored and receive glory for what He's done!

     Since November 2013, we have been in the process of starting a new ministry focused on the Route 8 corridor from Pittsburgh to Butler.  This ministry is a response to a calling God has placed on our lives to saturate this region with the Good News of grace and truth found only in Jesus Christ (John 1:14).  This ministry involves planting 3 churches along this corridor and 1 in the Dominican Republic over the next decade.  This is an enormous task in which we are trusting God to provide the people and funds needed to impact this generation and the generations to come.  Our girls are excited (and they really love going to church at night too!)

WHY MORE CHURCHES?
     It may look like there are plenty of churches, but that's not the full picture.  As I wrote several months ago, more churches statistically reach more people with the gospel.  However, the number of churches in America is rapidly shrinking.  According to the North American Mission Board, in 1900 there were 28 churches for every 10,000 Americans; however there were only 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans in 2004.  Additionally, the Spirit uses new churches on average to win more people to Jesus than established churches.  "Churches under three years of age win an average of ten people to Christ per year for every hundred church members" while "churches over fifteen years of age win an average of three people per year for every hundred church members" (Stetzer, Planting Missional Churches). 

     I am totally in favor of and participate in international mission opportunities, because people all over the world need Jesus.  However, the following stats are frightening!  According to George Hunter, "the United Stated is the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere" and "the fifth largest mission field on earth".  Stetzer writes, "the spiritual deadness of North America appears not only in its culture but in its churches as well".  80-85% of American churches are on the downside of their life cycle.  3,500-4,000 churches close each year in America while approximately 1,500 new churches will open.  Finally, over time establishes churches focus inwardly while new churches tend to be more intentional about making a tangible difference in the community and target the unchurched with more purpose and passion.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Current Newsletter

     Would you consider partnering with us?  We are working to launch the first church plant in Gibsonia on September 21, 2014.  It is called AdvanceCommunityChurch.  We are need of people like you to help make this vision a reality.  The only requirement is that you commit to the church for the first 4-6 months after launch.  The launch team currently meets for worship and training Sunday nights from 5:00-6:15pm at St. Thomas Church in Gibsonia.  Everyone is welcome to come check it out.  

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to 

the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38). 

     Advance is striving to be a missional church designed to "Bless People (throughout the region), Create Inclusive Communities (where everyone is a friend), and Cultivate Communion with God (this is where truly amazing things happen!)".  If you do not live in the region but sense the importance of people hearing and responding to the Gospel, would you consider making a one-time tax-deductible donation to this new ministry or even supporting us monthly through the end of the year?  This would make a huge impact!  To do so, please check out Support Advance  

Thank you!

The Rewards are Worth It!

How many events on your calendar from 2013 are still impacting your life today?

For me, I can name a few.  One such event was the live simulcast of Secret Church.  It was an incredible night of spiritual and relational growth which remains vivid in my mind and soul.

If you're in the Pittsburgh area, my wife and I are opening our home on Good Friday evening for this year's Secret Church simulcast.  For video previews and other information, go to Secret Church (Pittsburgh)

Don't be intimidated.  You'll be among friends!

The rewards of such a night are worth it!

Coming Together (over 20 churches represented!!!)

This past Sunday night was an incredible night of Jesus-centered worship and gospel-centered missions.  Vision for the future was cast and the Lord was honored!  God revealed His Word and will

through Romans 10 where the Apostle Paul expresses his desire for people to cry out to the Lord for their salvation in response to hearing the good news of Jesus.

An offering was received for the purpose of missions.  100% of the funds given will go to advance the gospel (one family and community at a time).  We met a widow during this past trip.  Her young husband died this past summer.  They have little income and their home needs to be finished.  We are planning to complete her home during our next trip.  Over $4,000 was given to finish her home and spread the gospel!

If you would like to make a donation toward mission work in the D.R., go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/give.  There is a place for making a "note".  100% of your gift will go to the cause of Christ.

It was amazing experience to worship with people from over 20 congregations (including 6 pastors)!  There were also people who came out on Sunday night who don't have a relationship with Jesus.  They heard the truth of Jesus and were challenged to repent and follow Him.  After the service, over 75 people enjoyed fellowship and food from our local Max n Erma's.

We now pray more churches will come together in unity for the sake of the Kingdom in the weeks, months, and years to come!  If you would like to see some pictures from the night, go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/media/pictures.

On Mission in the Carribean

A few weeks ago, I arrived back in the states after another amazing trip to the Dominican Republic.

It was my 10th mission trip to this nation I have come to love.  The country, weather, culture, and food aren't the draw, it's the people - the people from the states who make the journey with me and the people who call the DR their home.  We serve in some of the poorest regions of the country.  Yet, I don't really notice their economic status anymore.  I notice their joy and affection for family and Jesus.  There is nothing like a Dominican greeting after being away for several months!  One of our sponsor children ran across the courtyard and jumped into my arms when she saw me.  It was a special moment.

I am beyond excited to lead another team to the Dominican Republic in June.  There will be a total of 34 people on the next trip.  Of whom, about twenty-five of them will be brand new to international missions.  We have witnessed God do amazing things on previous trips in many souls!  We are now praying for Him to reveal His faithfulness and power as we prepare to go.

To see some pictures from the past trip, go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/media/pictures.

Friendship & Marriage

I spent considerable time reading articles located at www.theresurgence.com website over the
weekend.  If you are unfamiliar with its content, it is a site dedicated to providing insight for those looking for straightforward answers regarding faith and practice from a biblical perspective.

One particular article stressed the importance of friendship in marriage.  The title of the article is: "The #1 Thing We'd Have Changed in Our Marriage".  I am grateful Heather and I have grown in our friendship over our 12+ years of marriage.  I think it's a good thing to consistently hunger to know each other more as time goes by.  We committed our lives to each other saying before friends and family, "until death do we part".  I long to know her more and more as the years pass by!

Here's a sample from the article mentioned above...

The importance of friendship in marriage relates in some way to everyone, whether married or not:

Single person who is dating: Are you building a genuine, godly friendship, or are you allowing something like sex get in the way of establishing a firm foundation in your relationship?

Engaged couple: Are you truly committed to always seeking to be better friends to one another, and helping one another to do this in encouraging and not criticizing ways?

Married couples: Is your friendship growing, or have you allowed bitterness, distractions, duties, chores, tasks, kids, work, responsibilities, and/or extended family to contribute weeds that have led to the withering of your friendship?"

15 Truths Every Christian Should Know

I started reading a new book this week called, "Christian Living Beyond Belief: Biblical Principles for the Life of Faith".  It gives a fantastic overview of discipleship.  One section described 15 key truths all Christians should know (and even memorize).

Check this out (straight from the book):

     The following are standard verses that will help you all the days of your Christian life, so it is worth the hard work and sweat to commit them to memory:

1. There is only one God
     c Deuteronomy 6:4

2. Jesus is Deity and equal to God the Father
     c John 1:1–3
     c John 1:14
     c John 8:58
     c John 17:5

3. God is three distinct Persons
     c Ephesians 4:4–6
     c John 14:26
     c John 16:13

4. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian
     c John 14:17
     c Romans 8:9

5. Jesus is the only way to heaven
     c John 14:6
     c 1 Timothy 2:5

6. Salvation is God’s gift, not from human works
     c John 3:16
     c Ephesians 2:8–9
     c Titus 3:4–7
     c 2 Peter 3:9

7. Salvation comes from believing the good news of the Gospel
     c Acts 16:31
     c 1 Corinthians 15:1–5
     c Romans 1:16
     c Romans 6:23
     c Romans 10:9–10

8. The Bible is God’s Word
     c 2 Timothy 3:16
     c Hebrews 4:12
     c Revelation 22:18–19

9. Christians are expected to be obedient
     c Ephesians 5:18
     c Galatians 5:22–23
     c 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

10. Every Christian should be a disciple
     c Luke 9:23–24
     c John 15:8
     c 2 Timothy 2:2

11. Every Christian should pray
     c Philippians 4:6

12. Every Christian will experience suffering
      c Philippians 1:29

13. The Devil is real
     c 2 Corinthians 4:4
     c 1 Peter 5:8

14. Hell is a real place
     c Matthew 10:28

15. Jesus is coming again
     c Philippians 3:20–21
     c 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

What would it look like if all Christians committed this list to memory?  I'd like to think the church (believers) would be much stronger in their witness and more effective in their disciple-making efforts.

Exciting Workday @ church!

Yesterday was a fantastic day of service.  Eleven people devoted much of their day to paint 4 restrooms, a hallway, and a classroom of the church we are sharing with another congregation.  There were also 4 brand-new, commercial toilets installed.  What an honor to serve with such wonderful, servant-minded people!

Here are a few pictures... (more to come soon!)