Help Rebuild Joplin

Many of you know about the devastation that occurred in Missouri recently after a tornado wiped out 1/3 of the houses there. If you want to help but you're not sure how, here's a really cool opportunity. Page CXVI is offering all three of their Hymn albums for download for a donation of your choice to the Mystery Church Relief Fund. You can find all the info on their blog here. We recently saw them at a house show and are so gracious for the quality hymns they are producing. Thank you Page CXVI for stepping up to help!

How Hip-Hop Has Served our Home Well

If you have hung out with us for any amount of time, you probably know well our love for good gospel music. Some seem to think it's funny, some brush it off, some people embrace it. Today I'm going to ask you all to give it a try because it's just so good! Here are three reasons why we are fans of Lamp Mode Recordings and Reach Records. 

Guests & Weddings

Where have we been?

First, Giulian's mom Mauvianne came to visit for a long weekend, our very first out-of-town guest! It was very encouraging to have her here for DCC's Launch Sunday on April 3rd. Giulian and I were both in Cornerstone Kids, but Mauvianne left the gathering feeling excited for what God is doing in Seattle!



Then, a good friend of ours from college, David, came to town and we had a blast! He was here at the right time because he was able to gather with our church on Good Friday and enjoy Easter dinner together with some of our DCC family! What an encouragement to have him here.

 

Shortly thereafter we were able to celebrate the very first wedding in our church body! Pierce and Bonnie are dear friends that serve as teachers in Cornerstone Kids, and it was such a joy to share in this special occasion! They had it at a beautiful venue on Whidbey Island north of Seattle which was super cool. Yippee Pierce and Bonnie!

Lastly, we just returned from the CA Bay Area where we celebrated yet another marriage! Giulian had the honor of being in one of his best childhood buddy's wedding as a groomsman. It was an awesome pleasure to celebrate (and we DO mean celebrate!!) the union of Stuart and Madison! God gave us awesome conversation and laughter with many friends during this trip. We're still recovering from our dance high!


NOW, crazy enough, my parents are in town visiting from Texas! May is running by like a whirlwind, but we do hope to send out a newsletter soon. If you aren't on our quarterly newsletter list, then please let us know. It's so encouraging to look back over the past couple of months and all the stories God is weaving together.

-Christy

How God Works Through Prayer

A man once wrote of his early days in knowing Jesus,

Not many months after my conversion, having a leisure afternoon, I retired to my own chamber to spend it largely in communion with God (prayer). Well do I remember that occasion. How in the gladness of my heart I poured out my soul before God; and again and again confessing my grateful love to Him who had done everything for me--who had saved me when I had given up all hope and even desire for salvation--I besought Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and gratitude; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, however trying or however trivial; something with which He would be pleased, and that I might do for Him who had done so much for me. Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of God became unutterably real and blessed; and though but a child under sixteen, I remember stretching myself on the ground, and lying there silent before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy.

This man was James Hudson Taylor (1835-1905), who throughout his life continued in this prayer and was part of a movement of over 800 missionaries that joined him in a successful journey to bring Christ to the unreached provinces of China.

-G