By faith…

Hebrews chapter 11 tells the stories of faithful men and women who have gone before us. Their stories, seen most clearly through their actions, are meant to inspire us follow their example and live as a community that exists to be renewed and participate with God in helping to renew the world in the name of Jesus.

With these stories as our inspiration, God continues to write the story through the faithful men and women of The Renew Community.

In 2009…

By faith, the people of Renew attempted to live out the ways of Jesus through hope and love through various expressions in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and everywhere they went. By faith, they trusted that God could use them to be ambassadors and representatives of the Risen Christ.

By faith… Tracy and Jenna Commons trusted God’s call on their lives as Tracy joined the Renew staff and became the pastor of house churches. Tracy resigned from his position as bank manager in order to raise his own support and work several different jobs in order to follow this calling.

By faith… several people stepped forward and committed to being House Church Shepherds, charged at leading and serving house churches throughout the region. These house churches studied the Scriptures in an attempt to understand their role in God’s mission. People in house churches prayed for one another, loved their neighbors and stepped out in obedient faith in various expressions. They partnered with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Lansdale Parks and Rec department, Manna on Main Street, area schools and organizations in order to serve. They celebrated with friends and neighbors by watching Eagles games, throwing birthday parties for developmentally disabled friends, having picnics. Two of these house churches multiplied, birthing new house churches with new leadership.

By faith…the Launch Team continued to meet at the Boys and Girls Club. The little, squatty chairs and the bright yellow walls of the tutoring room taught us all that we are the Church, we don’t go to it.

By faith… the Launch Team completed their year-long commitment to give, serve, lead, love and be committed to relationship with one another.

By faith… the Renew Community began holding public gatherings at Marjeane’s Caterers in April. Brooke Wasser joined the staff part time to oversee the logistics of our public gatherings. James Chester, Dave Allem and Jon Hoover helped to lead us in worship. Andrew Gushee and Walt Coyle logged dozens of hours to help with sound/sound needs.

By faith, Margie Scheetz, Becca Derstine, Wendy Kratz, Jenna Commons, Janine Shinn and others led and served in organizing ways to care for the parents and precious children of Renew. Their tireless behind-the-scenes work to see our children safe, engaged, loved, cared for, and taught that God loves them deeply. In addition, Scott Shinn used his gift and passion for music to lead worship with the children at each of our gatherings.

By faith…Denise Coyle, Cheryl Ensinger, Tim and Cindy Culp, Nate Clemmer and Janice Allem purposefully and faithfully interceded on behalf of others at Renew who were hurting, lost and in need of prayer. Their faith-filled prayers continue to this day for people – many of whom do not know that they are being prayed for.

By faith… Bill and Jess Stevens, Brooke Wasser and a team of volunteers from Renew and the community served and led to see Renew bring a Farmers Market to Lansdale for the first time. Over a dozen vendors saw hundreds of people come out to Railroad Plaza in order to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. Mayor Andy Szekely stated in a borough council meeting in the summer that “the Farmers Market is the best thing that’s happened in Lansdale in a very long time.”

By faith…a group of people hosted doubt night every 6-8 weeks at Third and Walnut Bar and Grill in order to engage with people and create a safe place to ask dangerous questions about life, God, faith, Jesus, Church, the Bible, etc.

By faith… the people of the Renew Community were generous givers that allowed Renew to give away twice as much money to local and global organizations as we spent on rent and facilities.

By faith…Dave Allem, Duane Freed, Jon Hoover, Tracy Commons and J.R. Briggs were installed as the first elders of the Renew Community.

By faith, Jessica and Mike (“Rod”) Rodrigues – along with Joleen Nace, Tim and Cindy Culp, Cheryl Ensinger, Jess Salasin, Nate Clemmer and others – created Renew’s Global Partnership Team which prayed and discerned that Renew would partner with three global organizations to bring renewal overseas.

By faith…Jess Salasin and Aarika Chilson spent two weeks working at Brianna’s House of Joy, an orphanage in Chiang Mai, Thailand that serves young girls in the name of Jesus.

By faith…Wendy Kratz oversaw Renew’s involvement in the Meal of the Month at Manna on Main, organizing opportunities to prepare dinner and serve Manna’s guests. In addition, every Monday afternoon Megan Briggs served.

By faith… the Renew Community participated in the Advent Conspiracy during the month of December, re-directing a portion of their finances away from consumption and towards compassion in order to support Daughters – an organization in Cambodia that takes young girls out of the sex trafficking/human trafficking industry – and the Independent Church of India – a church which trains indigenous young pastors in Bible college in order to send them out to plant churches throughout India in the name of Jesus. Many people gave generously to the Advent Conspiracy, trusting God with their finances despite a bad economy.

By faith…people gave generously and faithfully of their money, time, and prayer in order to live faithfully as men and women who seek to follow Christ’s example. Knowing that, by faith, anything we have been a part of in 2009 has only come by God’s grace working in us.

It would be impossible to chronicle all the simple, subtle, compassionate acts of faith – many of which happened in secret, anonymously and in the midst of the daily life and rhythm of this community.

By faith… the people of Renew have loved when it has been easy and have loved when it has been hard. By faith, they have sacrificed for the sake of others. By faith, they have given out of abundance and given out of little. By faith, they have generously shared meals with strangers and shared meals with long-time friends. By faith, they have shared their faith in Jesus when asked and have had to ask forgiveness when opportunities have been missed.

By faith… the people of Renew have sought to do their best to live out our commitment to follow Jesus with all of our lives…

By faith…we enter into 2010 and beyond, knowing that God will be faithful to finish the work that He has started in this community, and in each of our lives, as we seek to humbly follow Jesus and be a blessing to the world…

In The Lansdale Reporter today, an article features Renew’s involvement in Advent Conspiracy.  Click here to read the article.

There is a Christmas song that I was confused by as a child.  The meaning of the “Little Drummer Boy” seemed to get lost in all of the ‘pa rum pum pum pums.’  It’s easy to gloss over its meaning and get annoyed by the repetition.

It seems that there are many people who either love or hate “Little Drummer Boy.”  This week, even my hairdresser exclaimed to me when the song came on the radio, how much she disliked it.  I smiled and thought about how I actually loved the song now - and not just because James often played it at Christmastime on guitar.

The song is a great reminder that there is nothing we can bring Jesus but the gifts He has already given us.  It’s a reminder that all of us are poor and truly have nothing to offer except ourselves – just like the shepherds on the first Christmas, that came just to worship.

It took a lot of begging and pleading but I was finally able to convince James to record a rough version of “Little Drummer Boy.”  So, if the song isn’t already a favorite of yours, I hope you will listen to it with new meaning this time – and maybe you will come to enjoy it as I have.

[Click to download a version of “Little Drummer Boy” by James]

Merry Christmas!
From the Chesters

Click play to hear the teaching from Sunday, December 20, 2009 by J.R. Briggs

As Christmas draws closer, find out what Renew is doing for Advent here.
For more info on Advent Conspiracy, visit their website here or view their promotional video here.

If you missed it, click here to view the story of Doug Burns, a member of Renew.

Click play to hear the teaching from Sunday, December 6, 2009 by Dave Allem

Manna on Main Street (one of our local partnerships) is in need of volunteers and has asked Renew to help. They need volunteers to deliver food and Christmas gifts to 15 schools in the North Penn school district on Monday, December 21^st between 9:30-11:30 am. This year Manna is providing food and gifts to about 100-150 households and are in need of about 15-20 drivers to make the deliveries to each of the schools.

Want to serve with us in this way? If so, contact J.R. at jrbriggsis@gmail.com