Church Update

Hi Everyone,

        I hope you are all doing well and had an awesome Thanksgiving! Suzanna and I are feeling the effects of our first winter in the mountains. We are happy to report that we're doing just fine after our first few weeks, which is a good sign because we have about 6 more months... But both of our cars now have snow tires on (I bet there are a few of you that didn't know those existed) and we have a full supply of canned goods for hot chili's and stews, so we are ready for it!

        It is hard to believe Suzanna and I have already been out here for 7 months. Time has flown by and we feel blessed as we look back on all that God has done out here. Here are a few updates on how things have been going up here in North Routt.

CHURCH UPDATES

Young Adult Group- We have been in the "off-season" for Vista Verde and lot of seasonal people are not returning and most of the winter returners are home until mid-December. So our group is about 1/3rd the size from the Summer. So we have decided to move from the charter school and instead we meet at our house or our friends place. There are 8 of us that meet every week to share a meal, worship, discuss the Book of Matthew, and then pray together. As we have moved into each others homes, with a smaller group we have grown a lot closer and the conversations are very rich. This group has been a HUGE blessing for Suzanna and I to build great relationships with people our age.

Community Gatherings- On the last Friday of every month we gather in someones home to share a meal, worship and pray together. We have had two so far and they have been a blast! Each time About 20 people were crammed into the downstairs of our cabin for a whole mess food and bunch of delicious sides. We worship together and spend time in prayer. It has been a really meaningful experience for us and we have had a lot of fun. The reason we started this is so that we could be intentional about how we do community. I had preached about community from the book of Acts and I thought that it would be good to actually try and live out the things that we read. We wanted to share our lives with one another in each others homes, with good food, worship and prayer. The plan is to continue this intentional practice more frequently as we share our lives together more and more as a community.

FUTURE GOALS

Discipleship- This has been a huge passion on my heart for the last few years. This passion has caused me to wrestle with the same question, Is the church in America making disciples of Jesus? Although, it is happening in pockets for sure, I would say as a whole, not so much. It seems as the church we have either neglected the great commission or we just assume we are fulfilling it through Sunday school and sermons. So I have been reading and developing (and taking notes from Grace Community Church) what it might look like if we got serious about making disciples like Jesus did. So the plan is to invite a handful of passionate disciples into a group study (with 12 core practices of discipleship) that we practice as a group, for about a year. Then after that year we are sent out to go and disciple 2-3 people in our lives through an intentional, consistent and committed relationship, where the "discipler" walks alongside, teaches and models what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life. For those of you who don't think this is suuuper boring here is an word doc that explains it in a little more detail. I am actually going to share this with the pastors of Steamboat in our next pastors meeting. My dream is that there could be "discipleship hubs" all over steamboat that are developing devoted disciples of Jesus. I think relational discipleship could could have a huge impact in a place like steamboat (which is 85% un-churched).

Small Groups- Another thing I am passionate about is small groups. Getting the church into close-knit groups that do life together and learn what it means to follow Jesus and live out the gospel in tangible ways. We want our community to be marked by the things have changed us, and shaped us as God's people. I think small groups are a great platform for a group of disciples to come together for fellowship, and to press into each others lives. I believe it is the kind of environment where the body of Christ can explore and practice what it means to be the church through gathering together and implementing the teachings of Christ in the context of genuine community (at least that is the hope!!)

Outreach- Over the past few months God has been showing me the different and unique needs up here for people. Almost every Wednesday I eat a pizza (pie and pint night!!) at the bar in the Roadhouse that is right down the road from our house (yes we have a couple of restaurants here). Every once in a while a local guy will share his life with me. A couple of them have given me a glimpse into some of the addiction, depression and loneliness that folks experience up here. There is a lot of hurt and brokenness that manifests itself in substance abuse and a crazy high suicide rate, which supposedly has continued to rise each year. So at NRCC we want to address these areas of brokenness and hopelessness with compassion, love and hope that's only found in Jesus. I have been able to connect with the principle at the charter school in Clark (where we meet for church) and he is excited about partnering in some way to address the needs of our community. In order to do that we want to develop an outreach team that can plan events, gatherings and initiatives that take intentional steps toward living out the gospel in more tangible ways and serving those around us, so that we can be salt and light to the community of Clark Colorado.

As we look back on our first 7 months here we can see just how much God has blessed us with relationships, ministry partners and loads of encouragement even in the face of challenges. We are so grateful for your continued support and prayer as God in his grace, continues to teach us how to lead others in humility. If you have any specific questions please don't hesitate to email me at dbloom2388@gmail.com.

Thank you all so much!

Dave & Suzanna

PS: Stay tuned for a picture update from Suzanna

A New Addition... And It's Not Another Puppy!!

Well, I bet you think Suzanna is pregnant... sorry to disappoint.

Even though our new addition to Colorado is not another puppy but a human being, he is in fact a full grown man.

Meet Andrew Fackler

This is us hiking in the Zirkel Wilderness! 

Some of you already know but a friend of mine from Indianapolis moved out mid-August to work at the Ranch and help organize and lead our worship team. 

Back Story

I met Andrew when I was an intern at Access the young adult ministry at Grace Community Church. He was the worship team leader during my internship and I got to know him more and more especially as he joined our small group. Over the past year, we became good friends. 

Last March I went backpacking in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. It was a last hurrah with my Indianapolis hiking buddies, Andrew and Kyle Affolder. We hiked for a few days and it was a great trip, even in spite of some real nasty weather and cold nights. One day Andrew and I were talking and out of the blue I asked Andrew to move out to Colorado. Our Conversation went something like this...

Me- "Hey, you should move out to Colorado and basically do what you are doing right now and get paid for it and then you can help lead worship for the church"

Andrew- "Get paid to hike and stuff?" 

Me- "Yeah, like guide trips and stuff at the Ranch"

Andrew- "Yeah, that would be sweet... but I don't want to just give up on culinary school. I want to do something that would at least be in that field"

....3 Hours Later....

Andrew- "Hey, you said the Ranch has really good food there, right?"

Me- "Uh huh, like really fancy, hoity toity stuff...in a good way"

Andrew- "So they have chefs there then?"

Me- "yeah, really good ones!"

Andrew- "Hmm, maybe you could talk with the manager or something" 

-End Scene-

          Saturday August 17th Andrew hopped on a flight with Suz and I to Denver to start his new job as a line cook at Vista Verde Ranch. So far he loves it! In his first week he worked 60hrs, road a horse, rock climbed, hiked in the Zirkel wilderness and cliff jumped into mountain lakes and he led worship at church and for our young adult group. Since then he has continued to pour into the Church by leading worship and helping in any way he can. He has been a great addition to our ministry team. It is so cool to see how God has brought so many things together, so don't be surprised if any of you get called to come out here to help NRCC!

PS. He also fries up some mighty tasty trout while backpacking! 

Church Happenings... and a Puppy?!?

Hello Friends and Family,

          I'm really sorry for the major slacking on our blog updates! It has been crazy as we continue to get settled in, yet go full force into what God has for us out here. Let me give you a few updates on some of the stuff going on out here in northwest Colorado. This is the “Novel” version and Suzanna will come out with a “Picture Book” post with some photo’s documenting our adventures! So, for those of you who hate reading there are better things on the horizon…

NRCC- Sunday Mornings and General Church Development

First, let me give you all an update on how the North Routt Community Church is coming along.

Growth: It has been an exciting couple months as God begins to bring together a great community. The Church has been growing, although with some fluctuation between some weeks. Although, it’s never just about numbers, it is exciting to see the community that is starting to gather with us. There have been many weeks where we have to bring out more chairs, with a couple weeks pushing 60 people, with a full parking lot and a packed house! If we start having more people, I won't know what to do... Ha, just kidding! kind of...

Development (Church Mission): More importantly than just growth in our numbers, is how NRCC is developing as a church. That is my main goal and passion. In mid-June we had a leaders meeting after service and we went through the concept of Church mission. Trying to answer the questions, did God give the church a mission? If so, what is it? It was a great conversation and the meeting went great! I proposed that the mission of the church is to be disciples (to become like Jesus) and to make disciples calling others to a transformational relationship with Jesus, thus attempting to fulfill the great commission. Dealing with the “gathering” as a body to exalt our God and encourage one another to become more and more like our lord and savior AND our “scattering” going among our community to live like Jesus did and share the good news of grace, hope, love and reconciliation offered through Him. We want to call those near and far to put their trust in Jesus and continuing to walk alongside them, showing and teaching them what it means to follow Jesus in a relational discipleship process. Our leaders had great feedback and seem to be on board with this simple mission to be disciples and make disciples.

Preaching: Man, preaching every week (actually twice a week with Monday nights) is hard! But it has been incredibly rewarding. God has been teaching me how I should not take it lightly. He is reminding me that I am representing Him and His word and I better not try and twist it to make people happy or avoid the claims of scripture that are hard. For those of you who don’t know, I have had opportunities to preach at a few different ministries over the past 3 years but I never have preached back to back weeks before my coming here and oddly enough 3 years ago I used to be terrified of speaking in front of people. 3 years ago I didn't want to have anything to do with preaching. But it is funny how God slowly coaxed me into this thing. He has continued to shape me in this gift and give me joy in it! I am very thankful that he pushed me into this area of ministry, that if left up to me I would have avoided. 2 weeks ago we made it through an entire series about Jesus called the “I Am” Series (not so clever, I know…) about the I am statements of Jesus found in John’s Gospel. This past week I introduced a new 10 week series on the Church where we will look at the biblical church and try and discover what God has called us to as his people. I am very passionate about his topic and I have loved studying it more and more and I am really excited about how God will show up in our community and hopefully empower us to better be his Church, rather than just attend it! Last Sunday we shared in communion as a church for the first time, which was very exciting and meaningful for me to share that with these wonderful people! We will take communion as a church every month from now on, although I would actually like to do it every week (In my opinion we could never preach the gospel to ourselves too much!!) and we will try to move toward that.

Monday Nights- Young Adult Ministry

          We are continuing our young adult ministry through NRCC which has been incredibly fruitful and I love how God is choosing to work through our simple little meetings together.

For those of you who don’t know the general premise of our meetings together.

• We worship- We worship with a few songs in the beginning and it is plugged in worship which is pretty advanced for us in North Routt.
• 15 minute Teaching- I teach a short lesson that is discussion driven with a few questions to lead us into a time of group discussion. All the teachings are geared toward discovering what it means to be a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.
• Discussion- We break up into tables of 5 or so and discuss and process the aspect of             discipleship that was just taught.
• We worship some more- Then we finish with a song or two.

        God has been working through our discussion and discovery process. We have had a few people come who are unsure of this whole Jesus thing and defiantly a little skeptical and searching. The discussion has led to some great opportunities, even for me to follow up with someone one on one and hear his story and present the bigger picture of the Christian world-view and the broader narrative that is written throughout scripture… the good news that God wants relationship with us even in spite of our brokenness and sin! So, please pray for continued opportunities and for hearts to be soften and receptive to God’s spirit!!

Children’s Ministry is up and Running- Suzanna and Company Are Awesome!

        After weeks of development and conversations our children’s ministry is up and running for our handful of kids. We wanted our children’s ministry to be intentional and not just shove them in a room so their parents could relax. We wanted it to flow out of our mission, to be disciples to make disciples and we think this can begin even at a young age. A woman from our church had the idea of teaching the kids a lesson that correlates with Sunday’s message so that there is continuity between what they are learning and what their parents are hearing on Sunday mornings. So we have crafts and a lesson that portray the “big idea” or biblical concept from the sermon on Sunday. Then we send the kiddos home with a few questions they can ask their parents to continue to unpack the truth they learned at home with their family. We want to encourage spiritual formation in the family dynamic. We are excited about the possibilities of these kind of interactions, which hopefully bear fruit in between Sundays and inside homes. Suzanna has been organizing the volunteers making sure there is always 2 or more each Sunday, and her and a couple other girls have been developing and teaching the lessons. 

Puppy???- I mean really, how long did you think that would take?

We got a puppy!!! Yep it’s official and he is officially adorable. His name is Scout, he’s 10 weeks old and he is a border collie/ lab (we think) mix. We adopted him a few weeks ago from a shelter in Fort Collins, north of Denver. We love him but HOLY COW, a puppy is a lot of work!! They are like furry little infants, only we can’t slap a diaper on him. At first he needed to be let out every 2 hours, so we weren't getting good sleep for a while. But he can almost sleep through the night so we are no longer zombies.  Here is a pic to hold you over until Suzanna puts together our next “picture book” post.

The Blooms are Headed Back to the Flatlands- Indy Bound!!

First off Grace Community Church is awesome! Let me explain why. Each year Grace, hosts a national (maybe global) leadership conference called Leadership Summit which is put on by Willow Creek Church, outside of Chicago. I was able to go last year as Grace Intern and this year they have generously chosen to fly Suzanna and I out for the conference and almost a week of personal development with my 3 mentoring Pastors at Grace (David Bell, Keith Carlson, Aaron Elliot). This will be the week of Aug 4^th- 9^th. This is such a blessing for Suzanna and me to be poured into for about a week. Since we will be in Indiana we will take the week after the conference to spend time with friends and family. We are so excited!

So like I said this is the Novel(y) version of our blog post and Suzanna will follow this up with a picture book version to show you some of the stuff we have experienced (Mostly animals, and nature stuff but hey who are we talking about here?)

Thanks for your love, support and prayers. God is doing some cool work in Clark Colorado and we are just happy he has let us come along for the ride!

David & Suzanna Bloom

Updates Galore!

Hey Friends and Family,

           Sorry I have been behind on the blog-o-sphere (I am pretty sure that is what the bloggers call it..). Although I am pretty sure you weren't staring at your screen refreshing your browser every 45 seconds, I do want to give you regular updates on our lives and how the church plant is going. So here are a few updates on the Blooms and what God is up to in North Routt, CO.

• SUPPORT RAISING

         First off, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! 

We have been so blessed by your generosity and are almost completely pledged for our first        year (2013-214) in Colorado. Although, we still have to raise support for the 2014-2015 year, we are more than thrilled that we can move forward with our support for this year almost completely  funded. So for that we THANK YOU! We have felt so very loved and supported by you! 

If you want to send us anything (including support) our new mailing address is: PO Box 1123 

                                                                                  Clark, CO 80428

• RANCH GIRL (SUZANNA)

            Suzanna has started her orientation at the Ranch and she is loving it so far. She has been connecting with a lot of the girls at the Ranch and she has already been able to go on a trail ride on horseback. But I will let her elaborate on her adventures in another blog post but here is a picture of her and the horse she was able to ride, Dakota.

Suz giving a horse a "headlock". Just kidding they are friends.




• CHURCH UPDATE

            The church has been going great! Although numbers tend to fluctuate here in the summer, it was fun to have around 50 people gather at the charter school this past Sunday! It was also my first time preaching and it went well or at least they didn't through any rotten tomatoes at me. No, but the community was very encouraging and had kind words for me after my message. I spoke on the parable of the mustard seed and how God builds His Kingdom from humble beginnings (Mark 4:30-32); with that parable in mind I recounted the story of the early church and how God builds his Church in extraordinary ways through ordinary people (Acts 4:13). It was fun, and very much applies to our small Church! This next week (June 2nd) we launch into a new 7 week sermon series on the 7 "I AM" statements of Jesus found in John's Gospel. Starting June 2nd we are moving to weekly services, which is exciting! The week before this last we (May 19th) we had a cook-out and grilled a bunch of burgers and hot dogs and quite a few people came out. It was a great time to meet some more people. Leadership confession: The last two weeks I have ran out of stuff because I shot too low on the numbers. More people just keep coming, which is a good problem to have (I suppose guessing numbers is not my "spiritual gift").

         I thought I would throw in a picture of the space we meet at within the Charter School; just to give you a visual of where our weekend services take place. 

We set up two columns on the left and right sides of the room (facing opposite of the fireplace) with about 4-5 rows of 5 chairs in each column. We also set up a table for coffee and snacks on the right of the fireplace to welcome people in. It is an awesome space that is perfect for us.  

• CHURCH UPDATE CONTINUED....

             We are also launching a young adult worship gathering (ministry within NRCC) that meets every Monday night at 7:30pm. We wanted to offer a space for young adults (18-20 somethings) to worship and discover what it means to follow Jesus in their current life context with other people in that same life-stage. We believe it is a crucial stage, in terms of figuring out who they are and what they are supposed to do. It is also a big need for the surrounding community because to our knowledge there is nothing really available for young adults. Oh, and I am also a "young adult" so I am excited to reach out and minister to that age group. Oh I also started to put together a NRCC Facebook page as our church website. 

You can check it out at www.facebook.com/NorthRouttCommunityChurch

              Well, that is all I will try and cram into one post. There is so much that has been going on, and so much more I could write. So if you have other questions, either ask us in the comment section below, email me at: dbloom2388@gmail.com or call my cell at: 630-346-8041

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Dave

Going West: Picture Book Edition

Hey all!

Here is a photo recap of our recent move out west to Clark, Colorado.  If you would like to read a more thorough summary of our move check out the Novel Edition.

Packing help from Kayley, Jeremy (not pictured), Elliott, & Grant

Saying goodbye to our first apartment

Loading up - thanks to Mom for all the Vitacost boxes!

Staying at Bekah & Andrew's house in Kansas City for the night - the weather was beautiful! 

Rockin' matching shades with this cupcake

Avery and Apaw

Aves & her Momma

The next day we made it to a Denver hotel and then woke up to THIS. 

And my dad, who stopped in Stratton, Colorado, woke up to this. 

Finally on the road again!

Lunch break in Idaho Springs

Descending into the 'boat from the last major mountain pass

Heading up our shared driveway with a view of Hahn's Peak

Upon pulling in, Dave immediately jumped out to take pictures of animals

Such as this sandhill crane, who was obviously thrilled that we showed up.

Ranger Chuck with his fleet

Home sweet temporary home. 

Hanging out at our new stomping grounds

A marmot catching some rays on the locally named "Whistle Pig Flats" 

Giving my dad a tour of the ranch while Dave was in a meeting...

New friends

Little Oliver, an orphan foal whose mother died giving birth to him

Fish Creek Falls mostly unfrozen and flowing from the snowmelt

Plaid pals

Whatta beaut. 

Walking to the annual Chili Cook-Off  at the Hahn's Peak Roadhouse

Loading up on green and red chilis

Pinata for the kiddos

Pictured at our table: the back of Reid's head, Dave, Me, Barb, Holly, Ben's arm, & Brandon

Kayaking the Yampa with my dad...

The prettiest skirt I've ever worn

Dad surfing upstream

Checking out a still very frozen Steamboat Lake (it has since totally melted)

We might be in the tourist phase for a long time

One of our two bald eagle sightings

Dad, Dave, & the "Suzaru"

Another sandhill crane - these squawking, monogamous pairs are everywhere. 

Group cabin pic

Going West: Novel Edition

Right now, David and I are sitting in a local coffee shop in Steamboat Springs.  He has been catching up on emails and making connections like a good pastor while I have been making a grocery list and desperately trying to figure out just what I can grow here in a container garden with such a short and mild summer season (not much). We've been in Clark for a week and a half now and we are already catching onto local know-how like carefully strategizing our trips to Steamboat Springs to include grocery shopping, fueling up, and other errands.  We've learned that the "Open Range" signs mean cattle are free to roam anywhere they wish and a cashier at The Clark Store demonstrated the local hand gesture, the receipt of which will notify us when we've "made it."  For being over a thousand miles away from our midwest territory, we are feeling quite at home already.  Below, I've tried to summarize the chaotic, month-long blur that has been our experience of moving West (if you're anything like David you may prefer the Picture Book Edition).

The Preparations

The short season of preparation was marked by a very long to-do list, spending time with friends and family, and an utter dependence on the Lord.  Part of me would like to think that we were on top of things since we realized we were moving our lives to Colorado.  Truly, we did get a lot accomplished in the window from when we decided to pursue this opportunity in February to our moving at the end of April.  We wrote up support letters and tracked donations in a database.  David started this blog.  We checked the internet daily for good car options.  We spent a weekend in Chicago visiting family and doing a presentation.  We drove out in March to solidify housing.  We found someone to take on our apartment lease.  We ate as much YATS as we could.  Yet, as my brother once said when leaving two hours later than expected for a family vacation, "The Davis gene is very strong" and things did not truly get moving (literally) until a week before take off.  It was then I realized we weren't just shoving some essentials in a van to go to college for the year; we were moving every item we have accumulated from our marriage and our lives prior.

Added to the mix was a very stressful car search as nothing had turned up in our price range and parameters.  We spent a few solid days test driving promising cars only to learn from mechanics that they would be needing some hefty repairs.  As God's provision would have it, there was a car just minutes down the road from us that had what we were looking for.  Granted, the process of buying this car was dramatic in its own way and it does have some repair needs that we are aware of, but it was a full $2,000 less than a comparable car we had looked at.  We were thrilled to find this Subaru under $6,000 with lots of life left in it.

With the car purchase under wraps, we were finally able to move forward with a lot of the grunt work of moving.  My favorite job to give people was crumpling paper because the demand for it was high and my delegation capacities were low.  Even my 10 month old nephew, Grant, was able to contribute some crumpled paper with a side of slobber.  The car search had put us behind schedule, but only by a day, and ended up working beautifully as our small group and other friends came over on Sunday (April 28th) for a pizza dinner and to help us with the final push.  Before I had even finished my pizza, the guys began hauling out all the large furniture pieces to the trailer.  It was amazing how much progress was made in a few hours with 10+ people versus the two of us taking it on alone; it was a true picture of community.  The good-byes were very hard but we take comfort in knowing we will see them again relatively soon.

The Move

The following morning, April 29th, we did some last minute moving and cleaning before turning in our keys and setting off for Kansas City.  Our caravan included Dave in his 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, my dad in his Dodge Dakota pulling his 14ft. utility trailer packed with our things, and me in the "new" car.  We made it to Kansas City without any issues (other than my dad discovering just how poor his gas mileage might be on this particular trip).  We had a great time visiting my sister Rebekah, bro-in-law Andrew, and niece Avery.  We also had some short, one-sided conversations with Baby Boy Jones, due in June.  We woke up to Bekah's amazing breakfast and the discouraging news that Denver was expecting snow just as we were to pass through.  After much consideration, we decided to at least try to make it to Denver and then wait the snow out.

The second leg through Kansas was, not surprisingly, uneventful.  My dad made it to Stratton, CO before turning in to a local motel there; he didn't want to be on the roads at night with possible rain/snow.  Dave and I made it to a Denver hotel and kept our eye on the weather the rest of the evening.  The weatherman must have patted himself on the back because when we woke up we saw the promised snow, product of Winterstorm Achilles.  We had gone from 70+ degrees in Kansas City to the lower 30's in Denver in the span of 24 hours.  A Colorado travel website confirmed that we shouldn't try to drive over any mountain passes that day and we didn't want to be too far away from my dad should his truck & trailer have issues. We decided to make the best of our unexpected day in downtown Denver and explored the city (mostly a warm, inviting Caribou).  My dad did some exploring of his own in the small town of Stratton, which was limited to his motel and a place called "Dairy Treat."

The following morning, May 2nd, we watched the road conditions like a hawk and continued on our way when all was clear.  We met my Dad in Idaho Springs, an old mining town west of Denver, for a lunch break.  When he came in he was running on sheer adrenaline after going over the first significant mountain inclines and declines with his truck & trailer.  Apparently, he had his pedal to the floor and was maxing out at about 40mph - but it was nothing a tuna melt couldn't temporarily fix.  I regretfully informed him we hadn't even crossed the main mountain passes yet.  Though the following passes were much higher, the roads were more gradual and the truck and trailer did exceptionally well.  When we all pulled into the driveway of our temporary home in Clark, both David and my dad looked like proud parents; my dad's modest V6 truck had carried a huge trailer of our things across the country and over mountains and David's car, well, made it without spontaneously combusting.  Our traveling saga officially ended to the sound of squawking sandhill cranes in the field nearby.

The Settling

We've spent the past week or so slowly unpacking (we haven't unpacked everything as this house may just be a temporary option) and tackling our "post-move" to-do list, which is strikingly similar in length to the "pre-move" to-do list.  Dave switched his phone service to Verizon so he could have what little bit of service is available up here, we set up a post office box at the Clark Store, and are going through the process of registering our car and getting new drivers licenses.  My dad stayed with us for four days before making the trek back to Indianapolis so he was able to do some exploring with us and had ample opportunity for his infamous food pics.  He and I were even able to go on a little kayaking tour down the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs where we learned how to maneuver white water kayaks and surf some small rapids.

The first Sunday we were here (May 5th) was an "off Sunday" for the church but there was a Annual Chili Cook-Off at the Hahn's Peak Roadhouse which we learned was a pretty big deal.  Long aisles of tables were dedicated to either "red" or "green" chili and the Moose Chili took first in the people's choice category.  We had our fill of chili and cornbread while visiting with church members and enjoying our first significant glimpse of the culture - an interesting hybrid of what David refers to as "Old West" and "New West."  Those attending included ranching families that have been around for generations as well as outdoor enthusiasts in their name brand technical clothing.

Following the chili cook-off, we met with the leaders of the church to become better acquainted and discuss the future of North Routt Community Church.  It was a really constructive time as lots of questions were asked and all expectations were brought to the floor.

The following Sunday/this past Sunday (May 12th), David and I attended our first service at NRCC, which was held in the local charter school.  It was everything we imagined it would be, in a great way!  It was a simple, unassuming yet beautiful space with lots of natural light and a stone fireplace. The worship was a basic set-up with a few acoustic guitar and song handouts.  The young kids would wander around quietly or play in the back of the room which was fondly reminiscent of my family's old "home church" days.  After the service we had another meeting with church leadership to go through the logistics of preparing for June 2nd - the day we have decided to start going weekly with church services (as opposed to the current every-other-week schedule).  We started to form teams (worship, hospitality, child care, etc.) to make sure we can make going every week a sustainable practice once we begin.

The Next Steps

Currently, David is facilitating a church cook-out for this coming "off" Sunday so we can continue to meet people and so the church can still have time set aside to fellowship.  He has met with a pastors cohort in Steamboat Springs and will be meeting with a pastor of the Rocky Mountain E-Free District this Thursday in Denver.  He is also working on his first sermon series.  As for me, I am assisting David with the church and biding my time until my orientation and training begins May 20th at the ranch.

We are so looking forward to what God has in store for this community and cannot wait to give you further updates!

A Couple Updates

Hey friends and family,

A couple of praises to update you on:

• We found someone to take over our lease for our apartment in north Indianapolis. This is a huge blessing because it saves us over $2,500!! We had posted it on Craigslist and were flooded with responses and finally someone committed and finished the application process.

• We might have found a car! A couple of days ago a pastor from my home church in Geneva, IL referred me to a Auto ministry called MATS. They find used cars for missionaries, pastors and other ministry staff and they are able to have mechanics work on them and sell them at at a discounted price. The best part is they are located in Indianapolis! I contacted them a couple days ago and they have a great all wheel drive option for us to look at. 

Fundraising Update:

Thanks to you we are so close to our goal in start-up costs. We continue to be blessed by the waves of generosity from our friends and family. We have also received a few pledges which is encouraging. So here is where we stand:

• Start-up costs: Right now we have raised $8,485 of our goal of $10,000. We are so close! We have exactly 10 days to meet our goal before we move, PLEASE help us get there! 

• Salary - We have received a few very generous pledges, so about $2,500/$10,000 is covered for this years salary.  These pledges and one time gifts are crucial as they will be applied to this coming year's salary and health insurance.  

• Final Note - If you are considering a one time gift or pledge we want to strongly encourage you to give sooner rather than later.  Ideally, we would like to avoid raising support on a month to month as-needed basis because we want to put as much energy into this church plant as possible. 

We have been blown away by the collective generosity and support we have received so far and we are incredibly thankful to all who have given. If you are undecided on whether you would like to partner with us in this church planting ministry, please prayerfully consider joining us as we labor to make God known and draw others into his kingdom! 

Also: If you have any questions please contact me at

dbloom2388@gmail.com

or call me at 630-346-8041

Thanks,

Dave & Suzanna

Calling All Chicagoans!!!

Friends and Family,

        This blog has been a great way to keep people updated and informed on the process and journey of the NRCC plant.  However, there is still so much that can be said and shared about the journey that God has us on and it is difficult to express through blog posts alone. With that said, I thought it would be nice to hold an event where I could share in greater detail the things that are unfolding and the way that God is working though Grace Community Church (my Indianapolis home Church) and North Routt Community Church, the church I get to help serve and develop. Therefore, my family (Rick and Suzy) and I want to hold an event/presentation where people can learn more about the story of North Routt, how Suz and I got involved, and what our hopes and goals for the future are. In this we will try and elaborate some important aspects of the upcoming church plant in Colorado. These will include...

• Our roles: Breaking down the nature and responsibility of my pastoral role and Suzanna's role working at a nearby Ranch
• What we have learned about the culture of North Routt (mainly Clark but also Steamboat)
• The vision and ministry opportunities for the church
• Ways that you can be involved 

This event will take place this Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30pm on the east campus of First Baptist Church in the Chapel Room (near the gymnasium). Here is the Address:

East Campus 

2300 South Street

Geneva, IL 60134

and map for your convenience 

You can go through the front double doors on the north side of the building, take a right and the chapel is down the hall on your right.

Also, did I mention there will be cheesecake and coffee!?!?!

If you are able to join us could you please contact me at dbloom2388@gmail.com, facebook or comment on this blog post below to let me know.

We hope to see you there,

David & Suzanna 

Colorado Housing Quest

        A couple weeks ago, Dave and I drove out to Clark to do some real house hunting.  It had been nearly impossible to secure a good housing option from across the country, especially since so much information is word-of-mouth in a community like Clark.  Thus, we set out with the goal of solidifying housing as well as visiting family, visiting Denver Seminary, and squeezing in some hiking along the way.  The drive was long but not too bad with the stops we had planned.  We stayed with Rebekah, Andrew, and Avery (my sister, brother-in-law, and niece) both on the way out to Colorado and on the way back, which made the drive much more surmountable.  We happened to be there the Sunday Andrew was preaching at church and really enjoyed hearing his message.  It was a unique Sunday, however, as a huge snowstorm had swept through overnight and we were two of only about 30 people who braved the snow to make it to church that morning.  It was funny to return the following week, Easter Sunday, to a warm and sunny Kansas City with hundreds of people filling the auditorium; we were 0 for 2 in experiencing a typical Sunday at Andrew and Rebekah's church!

        The next leg of our journey was a campus visit at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado (just south of Denver).  They put us up in a really nice student apartment (for free!) while we met with and learned from office staff, took a tour of the campus, and had lunch with one of the professors.  It was a a very helpful visit and everyone was so hospitable.  We could really see ourselves living there eventually should David decide to complete their MDiv program (David is thinking of starting an online course or two in Spring 2014).  We spent that afternoon visiting an old family friend of David's who works at World Venture and spent the night exploring downtown Denver, namely the REI flagship store.

        The next day we set out for Steamboat Springs/Clark, only stopping to do some hiking at Red Rocks Park.  We made it to Clark that evening and settled in for our stay.  The following days consisted of pursuing housing options, visiting with some of the church members, and exploring the area.  One church couple in particular, who have been beyond helpful with our transition, had us over for dinner as we discussed ideas and visions for the church.  They even lent us their snowshoes beforehand to work up an appetite in the wooded hills behind their house.  Their friendship and care was so encouraging and uplifting.

        By the beginning of our trip we had about four housing leads, most of which had dropped like flies only days later due to various reasons (one having a buyer, another not being available until August, etc.).  So by lunch on Friday we were feeling very unsure about what to do and we were running out of time.  During our lunch at the Hahn's Peak Roadhouse, I received a call from a woman looking to rent her cabin.  We had just received an email that morning about the opportunity and I was waiting to hear back from her.  She mentioned that we could actually see the property from the Roadhouse; she gave us the lockbox code and we were able to head right over and check it out.  The house blew us away!  It was not ideal in the sense that it was further north than we would like and it came fully furnished but it was priced more affordably and had a warehouse-like shop where we could store our furniture in the meantime.  Needless to say, we have committed to living at this particular house for the summer and possibly beyond (see photo of it below).  What would have been a fruitful trip either way, turned out to be such an example of God's provision.

Although things are moving forward and God is lining things up, we still have much ground to cover as far as raising support goes.  We have been so blessed by the generosity and support that has come in thus far.  If you haven't, please prayerfully consider partnering with us in this ministry that God brought us into.  Our goal is to have the $10,000 start up costs raised before we move on the last weekend of April.

Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to prepare to move in just over TWO WEEKS!  

Yes, we drove. Yes, Kansas feels as long as it looks. 

Pit stop in Kansas City to spend time with my sister Rebekah, her husband Andrew, and little Avery (Baby #2 due in June).  Snowstorm Virgil passed through overnight but we made it out alive!

Aerial shot of Denver Seminary

Denver Sem's student apartments where we stayed while visiting

We met up with Adam Bradley, an old family friend of David's, who is now working for World Venture - an organization that supports missionaries.
 

David at The Mothership (aka REI's flagship store)

View of Denver at dusk from REI

We were able to do a little time traveling as well.  If only it had worked on the drive through Kansas. 

A little morning hike at Red Rocks Park before driving the final leg to Clark, CO. 

The Red Rocks Amphitheater.  It was named the #1 concert venue so many times in one magazine that they eventually took them out of the competition and called 1st place the "Red Rocks Award."  It is also on my bucket list to see a show here. 

View of Denver from the Red Rocks Amphitheater

Caution: Stationary Icicles in Falling Motion

We stopped for lunch on the way to Clark at Beau Jo's in an old mining town, Idaho Springs.

Hiking Fish Creek Falls (frozen over) in Steamboat Springs

We made it! Population: At least 2 

Our first morning in Clark...

Misty early morning on our way to look at a housing option. 

Main Street in Steamboat Springs.  David was able to meet with a Steamboat pastor at a favorite local coffee shop - Steaming Bean.  Dave is looking forward to building relationships with pastors in the Steamboat area (which is 30 minutes south of Clark).

Hahn's Peak Roadhouse, a local hot spot - Our house is off a long driveway to the right of the roadhouse. 

Our new home!  At least for the summer.  We encourage any and all visitors!

School house and museum in Hahn's Peak Village, North of Clark

Overlooking the main neighborhood in Clark, Willow Creek Pass

Sunglasses are a must all winter, the ranchers tell us

Hahn's Peak in the distance

Seedhouse Road, which runs along the Elk River and leads to the ranch where Suzanna will be working

Stopping by the mare barn on our way out to see if any foals were born!