Knock, Knock! Will you answer the door of opportunity?

Like many, I have always said, "Lord, send me anywhere but Africa," until several years ago when I was attending the Tennessee Baptist Convention and kept running into Missionary Mike McAfee from Abidjan, West Africa.  Immediately, I sensed the Lord saying that this is where I was to go.  At first, I rejected it and didn't want to follow through.  For several weeks, I continued to sense the nudging of the Holy Spirit to seek out the opportunity to travel to the Ivory Coast to take HOPE to a people in need of Jesus. 

I remember the first conversation that I had with Missionary Mike.  It was like a breathe of fresh air and a peace flooded my spirit.  From that moment forward, my first trip was in place and the days were counting down.  I still remember the moment that I boarded that plane heading to Abidjan and the feeling of excitement that gripped me as I knew God was carrying me every step of the way.

Abidjan is an urban city in West Africa of some 8 million people.  Many live in the city and many live outside of the city in poverty ridden villages.  My team experienced first hand the hunger and thirst for HOPE among the people and we were blessed to be able to share with them the story of creation to Christ. 

Honestly, even after returning home and to this very day, I cannot for the life of me get the images of those people out of my head and off of my heart.  I love the people of Abidjan dearly and cannot wait to return again to share the HOPE of Jesus Christ and plant new churches to reach their own people.

I am scheduled to take a team of 4-5 people from Impact Church this October 20-29th to once again impact this area with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  On this team is an elder from Bridges of Hope Fellowship in McMinnville, TN (my former church plant), a young lady who is in our student ministry at Impact, her brother, and myself.  There may be the possibility of another lady in our church going as well.  Me and the elder from BOHF have both been before, but the other two will be making this journey as their FIRST mission trip ever.  That's exciting!

I am asking all of my friends to pray about helping us get to Africa this fall.  We are currently in need of $5,000 to purchase the plane tickets in order to secure a good rate.  I understand that many cannot go on foreign missions, but could give to help see that others get there and that the gospel gets shared.  There are several ways that you can give to help support this mission trip.

1)  Pray for us and God's provisions

2)  Give online at https://impactchurchtn.securegive.com  and mark "AFRICA" in the memo box.

3)  Mail your contribution to:  Impact Church, P.O. Box 1057, Kingston, TN 37763

Any amount you can give to help us get to Africa will be greatly helpful as God will multiply your gifts.  All gifts are totally tax deductible as allowed by the IRS.

Thanks in advance for giving to make an IMPACT in the lives of the people of Abidjan, West Africa! When we get to heaven, many of them will await you to thank you there.  May God bless you as you give of yourself so that many could be won to the kingdom!

If you need more information or would like to talk with me more about this trip, please call 865-376-4400 or email pastor@impactchurchtn.com

Pastor DeWayne
Impact Church
Kingston, TN

December 2013 Update

It’s December and another year is drawing to an end.  This year has been filled with lots of blessing and change for our family and ministry.  As many of you know, we resigned from Bridges of Hope Fellowship in McMinnville, TN and had our last day on the 7^th Anniversary of the church, October 13^th.  Within a few weeks, we embarked on the journey of moving our family to Kingston, TN to start/plant a new church in Roane County, TN.  The welcome and support has been overwhelming.  We are excited to be back in East Tennessee!

The new church plant is called, Impact Church.  The latest census reports show that Roane County has a

population of 54,181 people, with 31, 208 of those having no relationship to God or a church.  The need is great.  Most of the churches are either totally traditional or totally contemporary in their approach to worship, discipleship, and reaching people.  We feel the need to offer something that is not off the wall, but different.  Our goal is to focus on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our mission is simple, yet clear:  LOVING GOD.  LOVING PEOPLE.  IMPACTING THE WORLD.  You can find out more about Impact Church at www.ImpactChurchTN.com or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ImpactChurchTN.   You can also follow us on Twitter @ImpactChurchTN.

We immediately began talking to people and seeking to build a core group/launch team, a 500 member prayer team, and secure a facility.  It’s been exciting as I’ve been out in the community talking with people and seeing their eyes glow with interest.  Next week, we’ll launch Impact Vision Tour, an informal gathering, to share the vision of Impact Church with the community.  Please pray for those gatherings and the people who will show up.  The dates are as follows:

·         Tuesday, December 10^th at 7 p.m. at Kingston Community Center

·         Thursday, December 12^th at 7 p.m. at Harriman Community Center

If you are in the area, feel free to come and join us for this time of fellowship and sharing.

As you may know, expenses are already starting to come in as we make full preparations to plant Impact Church.  There are lots of initial startup costs involved with planting a new church (website, meeting space, business/invite cards, banners, chairs, sound equipment, projection equipment, etc.).  God is more than able to supply all of our needs and He desires to use people like you and me to do so.  So, how can you be a part of this great new work?

Four Ways to Partner With Us:

1.  IMPACT PRAYER TEAM:  Join the Impact Prayer Team by replying to this email with your name and email address or visit www.ImpactChurchTN.com and sign up on the front page. 
You'll receive a weekly email with our urgent requests concerning the plant and our family.

2.  IMPACT PARTNER:  Become an Impact Partner by supporting the church financially for 1 year.  You can give a monthly gift or a one-time gift that is tax deductible.  A partner could be an individual, family, Sunday School Class, Life Group, or a church.  Send your gifts to: Impact Church, P.O. Box 1057, Kingston, TN 37763.  Register as an Impact Partner at http://www.impactchurchtn.com/_forms/view/16628.  Soon, you’ll be able to give online or use our smart phone giving app!  (We are looking for 10 churches who will partner with us at $100 monthly for 12 months.  Could your church do this?)

3.  IMPACT LAUNCH TEAM:  Join the Launch Team (Core Group) as a missionary to help launch the new church for a specified or unspecified period of time. If interested, click here > http://www.impactchurchtn.com/_forms/view/16627

4.  MISSION TEAMS:  Bring a mission team to help us prepare our meeting space, do community outreach, prayer walking, etc.  Call 931-808-8866 or email me if your church or small group is interested.

Thanks in advance for all of your prayers and financial support to help us launch this new church in Roane County!  For more information, feel free to contact me at 931-808-8866 or email me at pastordhoward@gmail.com

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Impacting the World,

Pastor DeWayne Howard

Impact Church...Experience the Difference!

www.ImpactChurchTN.com
www.DewayneHoward.com