The TORCH: The Way Church Newsletter 9: The Summer
Greetings from The Way Church!
It has been a couple of months since I last sent out a TORCH update, and I’m excited to share all that God is doing at The Way. I can hardly believe we’re nearing the end of summer and that fall is just around the corner!
Outdoor Services:
First, I want to thank God for the incredible outdoor services we’ve had this summer. Our building is located right across the parking lot from a local park, and we sensed early on that the Lord would use this park as one of our “fishing ponds” in the community. We’ve held four outdoor services so far, and it’s been amazing to engage with the community before, during, and after our worship services. Several people have stopped by, joined in worship, lifted their hands, and observed what God is doing as we worship Jesus at the Park. We believe this is just the beginning of a greater connection with the community as we continue to hold more outdoor services.
Please pray for continued good weather and that God will use these services to glorify Him and bless our community!
Browns Kickoff Tailgate Party:
Our next big event is a community tailgate to kick off the Cleveland Browns season. This event will be on the NFL’s opening Sunday, September 8th and the tailgate party begins at 3:30pm. We are praying that this event will bring out friends and neighbors from Wadsworth and surrounding areas for fellowship and possible gospel opportunities. We’ll be using the parking lot next to Durling Park, which is owned by the same person who owns the church building we are leasing.
Please pray that God will draw many people to this event and that those seeking a church home will feel welcomed at The Way Church. Also, pray for good weather, as we will have TVs and other equipment set up for the big game!
First-Time Visitors:
I want to praise God for the long streak of first-time visitors we’ve had at The Way. We went 17 straight weeks with new visitors! We know that in this foundation-building stage, many will come and visit without immediately jumping on board—that’s the nature of church planting. However, it’s very encouraging to see our guests feel welcomed and have a positive church experience. Several of our first-time visitors have returned, and we believe that, in time, more will do the same, leading to first-time visitors becoming full-fledged members. Although we went a few weeks without a first-time visitor, we now have a new streak going with visitors for three straight weeks.
Please pray that God continues to draw new people to The Way Church and that we can create a Christ-centered, warm, and inviting experience that people want to call their church home.
Permission to Paint:
We’ve recently received permission from the owner of our building to paint the rooms we’re renting. We received a very reasonable quote from a professional painter, and by God’s grace, we have the finances to move forward with this project. Initially, we considered doing the work ourselves, but with everyone on the team strapped for time, Pastor Dave and I decided to outsource this project.
Please pray that God will allow us to complete this painting project without any issues and that it will be one more step in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for our church family to worship Jesus each week.
Salt & Light Pantry:
We’re still in the early stages of what we hope will be a great outreach to Wadsworth and the surrounding areas. We firmly believe that Jesus has called us to be Salt and Light, and one way we can do this is by being a tangible blessing to those around us. Life isn’t as it used to be—people are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Our vision for the Salt & Light Pantry is to give away, free of charge, items that people need but often cannot receive help with from other sources. As we begin this ministry, we know many will ask how they can help. Due to limited storage space at the church, we’re asking supporters who feel led to contribute by donating gift cards. This will help us purchase needed items without requiring large storage areas. If you’d like to donate, please send an email to info@thewayonline.org. It has been utterly amazing how generous you all have been with prayer, financial, and spiritual support, and we greatly appreciate everything you’ve done to help The Way thus far.
Please pray that as we meet tangible needs in our community, the Holy Spirit will use this to address the greater spiritual needs that only He can satisfy. Pray that God provides the resources we need to give away and that these provisions become gospel seeds that lead many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
If you’re receiving this email, I want you to know how much you mean to The Way Church. We consider you a part of our family, and we’re extremely thankful for you. If you need prayer or anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by sending an email to info@thewayonline.org. We are the body of Christ, and Jesus has called us to love and support one another.
Thank you for your continued support. I’ll send another update on what God is doing soon!
In Christ,
Pastor Steve
330-703-2158