This past June the Westwind Church leadership, in connection with a church planting network involving Cornerstone Church of Ames and Veritas Church of Iowa City, decided to take the step of faith and plant a church in Warren County. As you may know, Westwind reaches people from as far away as Knoxville all the way to Redfield. Since our conception we have been reaching families in Warren County and have felt that God has used Westwind to spread the Gospel there. On Sunday, April 8, 2012 (Easter Sunday) Westwind will begin a new faith adventure as we start New Heights Church in Indianola, IA.

Leadership is an important component to a starting a church, so as part of that decision, Geoff has taken the leap of faith and agreed to lead the New Heights church plant. Although this is sad for our worshipping community, you can see that this is an amazing symbol of our commitment to making New Heights an impact church in Warren County. I am sure you will want to continue praying for Geoff and his family as they prepare themselves to lead this God-driven vision.

Just as dual-leadership is an important aspect of Westwind, it will also be part of the DNA of New Heights. That is why Geoff has asked Kevin Mayer, our Missional Lead and elder to be his ministry partner. Kevin and Geoff will co-lead New Heights as Geoff and I have led Westwind these last four years. Please pray for Kevin and Pat as they make their transition.

Below you will find the answers to some of the questions you may have. They have been grouped to help you.

Timeline

• Over the next two months Westwind will be spending time recruiting people to be a part of the core team. We will also be organizing socials and information/prayer meetings.
• In January Geoff and Kevin will begin the process of phasing out at Westwind. Geoff will still oversee Grow on Wednesday nights and Kevin will still be our Missional Lead.
• In Febraury there will be soft launches, as well as a special service for New Heights during our Missional Living Week here at Westwind.
• In March we will be counting down the days until our launch on Easter Sunday.

Westwind Information

• The Elder Team is currently in search of Geoff’s replacement, and have talked to many qualified people. It is our plan to have that person in place by January.
• Efforts have been made to search for people in our worshipping community who have the spiritual gift of teaching. They have been contacted and will begin teaching in a limited capacity in our celebration service.
• Westwind has pledged $40,000 over the next two years to helping New Heights get off the ground.
• We are expecting anywhere between 30-50 people from Westwind to be a part of this initiative.
• Although it doesn’t need to be said, this church plant is in no way the fruit of division or conflict among the Westwind leadership.

Prayer

• Be in prayer for Geoff, Deb, Trent and Naomi as they venture to replicate the message and methods of Westwind in Warren County.
• Pray for Kevin and Pat as they prepare themselves for this next ministry leap.
• Pray for the people of Westwind who feel called to be a part of this exciting ministry opportunity.
• Pray for our worship team, as we will have many members leaving to be a part of New Heights.
• Pray for the funding to continue pouring in so that we can start well.
• Pray for the Elder Team as they search for Geoff’s replacement.

Four Considerations

As part of the Westwind worshipping community, we hope you will consider being a part of our New Heights initiative in the following ways:

1. Be a prayer warrior for this endeavor,
2. Give more financially to Westwind as we seek to bless New Heights,
3. Get more involved in Westwind through volunteering. Remember the people who leave for New Heights will create opportunities for others to lead. Also, help us recruit others to use their time, talents and resources.
4. Be a part of New Heights. We want to bless this church plant not only with funding, but with the horses to help make New Heights an impact church.

We hope you will join us in our excitement about New Heights and what God can do through this vision. Think about that fact that on Sunday, April 8 there will be more people in our two churches than we would have in just one. This thought compells us to move forward to plant New Heights!

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Below is an email from Mark Arant and Jeff Thume celebrating their first birthday.

Westwind, Cornerstone and Calvary (via Jeff, Troy, Tim, Dan, Brandon and Geoff)-
Veritas just celebrated our one year anniversary. We continually point back to God (duh) but also you guys for thrusting us out with such blessing and planting this thing with great sacrifice… people, money, prayer, etc. We want you to know that the fruit we have seen ought to be credited to your account. We will never forget your investment and will not soon forget that we are being carried on your shoulders. Please let your churches know how thankful we are to you and God for the great things He has done.
May God do this a thousand times over and give us the privilege of partnering with you to plant the next church…
Here’s the video we showed on Sunday to celebrate:

One Year Anniversary of Veritas Church from Veritas Church on Vimeo.

This week Westwind  Church turns three years old. I can’t decide if it is easier to believe that we are that old or that we are that young. In any case, it has been in God-inspired three years and I hope you will join me in thanking God for our church.

As a father of two kids I think back to the time when they were three years old. This was one of my favorite times in their lives. Three year olds are walking, running, talking, laughing, engaging in conversation–all things that I loved experiencing with them. One of my favorite things about three year olds is their sense of curiosity. I recall may moments holding my children in my arms and having them point with enthusiasm to something and say, “what’s this?” I would answer them, only to be pointed in a different direction and asked again, “what’s this?”

As Westwind celebrates her third birthday, just like a three year old child, I look forward to the way that she walks and runs, and laughs and engages in conversation at new levels. But, I am more excited to see her curiosity. What will we point to as a worshipping community and ask “what’s this?” What will we see as new things to learn and new frontiers to explore? How will we grow together in understanding of who God is and what He wants from us on a daily basis?

New Heights and Grow

Two new frontiers that we are exploring are our new church plant in Indianola which will be planted in 2012. We have faithfully opened ourselves up to God’s will and followed Him into an unimaginable opportunity. Although our church is young we are sending people, resources and leaders to reach Warren County with the Gospel. Our child-like faith has allowed God to show us an exciting direction toward church planting, that most churches don’t get to experience in a lifetime. It is as if we are being held in God’s arm and asking “what’s this?” to His reply, “a growing area that needs more Bible teaching churches.”

The second frontier is our new midweek family ministry, Grow. We have asked God, “what’s this?” and he has answered, “families that need to know my Word so they can grow spiritually together.” Equipping families to follow Christ is a priority at Westwind and we believe that this not only means teaching kids, but their parents as well. We are stepping out in faith and challenging parents, and volunteers like never before in our three year history. We do this because we believe that helping families commit to walking daily in obedience to God’s Word is of the highest importance and the church should be engaged in equipping parents to take the lead.

Personal Growth

Turning three as a worshipping community could not happen without the personal spiritual growth of so many at Westwind. Some have been with Westwind from the very beginning, but most have only just joined us on our spiritual journey. It is exciting to imagine what God will continue to do through the people of Westwind. We hope all who join us with live out 2 Corinthians 4:5 in their lives

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.”

As Westwind turns three and moves into her forth year of ministry, I pray that God will help us continue to share his son with Dallas County (and beyond) and we submit as slaves to that end.

For Me, For The Word is the first song in an effort by the Westwind Music Team to collaboratively produce music that reflects the work of God at Westwind Church.  It is a song inspired by the story of Rhiana Christensen.  Rhiana recently moved to Waukee to start a new phase of life.  Her journey landed her in the home of Michael and Donis Bosworth.  The Bosworth’s invited Rhiana to attend Westwind Church with them and join their connection group.  Being exposed to a community of Christ followers and Biblical teaching opened her heart to God and on July 3rd Rhiana prayed to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Her new life has inspired her to share her story with family and friends.  This song is meant to celebrate God and his work in her life.

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