Gabe Landes was one of about 20 people (many of them from this blog community) who met this summer to pray through how we live out a Luke 10 ethic in our culture. One result of the time was that we felt God directing us to reach out to neighbors to plant home churches. Here’s Gabe’s report on how it’s going in Ohio:
I expect to have 5 churches planted by the end of the year and have arranged my office hours so that I can be out 2-3 hours a day working on this stuff. I’ve been prayer walking and knocking on doors looking for persons of peace in three different areas around Dayton. Tomorrow I’m speaking with three different police departments to identify the neighborhoods in these areas which have the highest crime, and then next week I’ll start working in those neighborhoods.
Also, we think we’re on the verge of launching group in a local nursing home. I’m also building a relationship with a Muslim psychiatrist and hope to talk to him about Isa (Jesus) using the Camel method. And Heidi has a couple women from our neighborhood who want to come to a Jesus-discovery-group in our home starting next month.
In the movie Canadian Bacon, John Candy sits at a bar in upstate New York drinking. Ultimately deciding it was time to invade the country of Canada with his three friends and a revolver:
“There’s a time to think and a time to act; and ma’am, this is certainly no time to think.”
It’s a great line. And while most of us laugh at the thought of acting before thinking, it might be a key to the kingdom. How many times do we find ourselves struck with paralysis by analysis? We overthink the situation and talk ourselves out of taking risks, stepping out of the boat, sharing our faith, praying for healing, et al. Ultimately I wonder, “If I do this, will God show up? Or will I look foolish?”
Acts 1:3 has been my fuel of late. It says Jesus “gave MANY CONVINCING proofs he was alive.” In other words, Jesus kept showing up.
I’m trying to take that at face value. Just act. Don’t overthink. Jesus will show up and prove he’s alive.
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If anyone is interested in trying a Luke 10 experiment in their community, Gabe says, “Contact me and I’ll help.”
Thanks for your heart and obedience to the Kingdom Gabe, you are inspiring The Hardy family to pursue people of peace on our side of the country! I love the prayer walk idea and will be starting our walks this week. We may have found a neighbor across the street that is a person of peace. Love you brother keep it up!!
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has eye seen any God besides you, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. Gabe, I think God is waiting to act on your behalf as yous step out in faith.
He has got your back!
Isaiah 64:4
Love the heart behind this Gabe…keep pressing in..I’m with you..in more ways than I often realize..
Our prayers are with you, Heidi and your entire family Gabe. what an amazing bunch you are. We love you and I join Tres in saying, KEEP PRESSING IN.
Seth, Gabe,
I’ve touched on bias toward action in some of my classes, and I am planning on talking on, and encouraging it more and more. I do think it’s a key to the kingdom– a ‘little less and a a lot more action’ as Toby Keith would say.
Well done Gabe, keep it up brother.
Love it… Go Gabe & Heidi… Love what you are doing and pray God blesses it tremendously. Without faith (and real faith always results in action!), it is impossible to please God … KEEP ON!
Seriously? Just what I was praying 60 sec. before opening this blog. Just do something…
Praying for God’s blessing on the harvest!
I am a roman catholic based in Delhi working for a government office. I do not know but there appears to be call within from God that I should venture out to do something. I am not able to understand what is this something and in search of my ways landed into your website, It is nice that so many people are working for poor and needy in India. In the past two three years I have involved myself in many activities of parish not of my own volition but it seems something is driving me but I am still not in a position to understand what is wanted from me.Pray for me and guide me as whatsover little I am doing is not satisfying me.
Thanks Gabe for modeling what it means to be real and authentic in a world of “pretend”. I am praying for your efforts and know that the Father is smiling already. Loved meeting you about this time a year ago. Blessings brother…