First Newsletter Article for First Rowlett

Here is my first Newsletter Article for First Rowlett. It was included in a newsletter sent out to the members called the Summer of New.



“Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every
sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they
were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36 CEB


I am looking forward to beginning my appointment at First Rowlett and getting to know
all of you. I am even more excited about being IN MINISTRY with you! As July 1 rolls
around, we will be partnering together as we start a new church in the southeast Wylie
/ north Rowlett community. Starting this new church will continue the rich tradition
here at First Rowlett of inviting people to Live, Learn and Love... but we will be doing
this through a different perspective.


As we partner together to launch this new church, let’s follow the example Christ gives
us in the scripture above. The passage starts out by saying that Jesus traveled among all
the cities and villages… He went to where the people were to minister to them. We see
that Jesus went out into the "community" to meet those who lived there face to face,
meeting them on their turf, to walk with them in their pain, distress and need.


The communities of southeast Wylie and north Rowlett are poised for tremendous
growth. In a recent meeting with the Wylie ISD, I learned that the current student
population stands at 12,000 students, with projections reaching upwards of 25,000
students within 5-7 years. Already, Wylie ISD has purchased land for new elementary,
intermediate, junior and senior high schools. They are preparing for the growth they
know is coming.


As a church we could plan for this growth by posting signs, sending out fliers or bulk
emails to invite them to come to us. However, if we truly want to follow the example of
Christ, we too must go out into this new community and share the transforming words
of Christ with them.


You may be wondering how you can help in this new ministry. 1 John 5:14 says, “This
is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in
agreement with his will, he listens to us.” First and foremost, I ask for your prayers.
This task will not be easy… but I have seen amazing things happen when God’s people
pray. Second, I would love to get to know you. Let’s sit down for a cup of coffee, or just
drop by for a visit to hear more about the new church start. Please feel free to call or
email me (or just stop me in the halls of First Rowlett after July 1), and I will be more
than happy to talk to you about what God is doing through First Rowlett as we reach out
to new places and new people.


Be God’s
Chris