Celebration.
He is Risen.
This month has been a month of celebration. Celebrating Easter with the Oaks Church, meeting new friends at parks, having old friends come visit, and so much more. March has been a sunny, bright, and optimistic month that we hope sends us into the second quarter of our church planting residency with much enthusiasm and zeal.
Jubilee.
As I mentioned last month I have begun working a part-time job in the craft coffee industry. Jubilee Roasting Co. has treated me well, taught me much about espresso and espresso theory (for real, that is a thing), as well as provided a great opportunity to meet downtown Denverites. The mission of Jubilee is to create well and be good neighbors. It’s been fun to adopt this mission as an employee, as a citizen, and as a church planter to this lovely city we call home. This job is a large answer to prayer, not just because I get free coffee, but because through my employment I have been able to learn so much about the local affluent Denver citizen, as well as the houseless and addicted citizens. Blatant drug use, violence, quite a bit of getting screamed at, and even some really sweet conversations have come from my time at Jubilee, and I am looking forward to so much more.
What’s Been Happening
Michael finished his six month church planting training through The Send Network. We are eternally grateful for the investment of the network, the trainers, and the brotherhood of the five other planters in the Front Range.
Michael will begin volunteering for a nonprofit organization in the next couple of weeks to learn more, minister to, and love on houseless and impoverished members of the community.
We are deeply pursuing prayer (still), and have a goal of praying over all of the homes on every single street in Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Speer, and Baker neighborhoods in the next 3-4 months. Our prayer over every home is that the eyes of their hearts would be opened to the beauty of the gospel, and that the Holy Spirit would send laborers into the harvest.
We are slowly but surely chipping away at meeting 100 people in this area in the next 90 days.
Our friend (and intern), Nik, has begun stage one of his internship at Capitol City Church where he grows as a disciple of Jesus and a leader of not only himself but of others.
We had the joy of having wonderful friends from Iowa and Minnesota visit last week. What a recharging and life-giving experience that was for us.
We are praying that in the next couple of weeks we will be able to start at least one if not two or three Bible studies with primarily unbelievers. We are super excited to see what God will do through His Word and His Body by His Spirit.
Prayer Needs
Pray for Jake, Dillon, Anna, Martha, Jess, Evan, Troy, Casey, Tracey, Kevin and Liz. These are friends, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers (soon to be friends) that we hope become Family.
Pray for increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, how to fight the spiritual war as a Son and Daughter seated with Christ, and that we would be united in our marriage as a part of this fight.
Pray for Aksel, Flora, and Frances. One of our hopes is that they would experience a double portion of the Spirit than what Ally and I have or will receive in our lifetime. We pray for their souls and their wellbeing as we seek this insane endeavor.
Pray for unity in our ever-forming team! We want a bigger team, but even more, the right team. We now have two teammates who are hoping to move here this fall with at least one teammate in the city looking to join us.
Pray for the spiritual reality of the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Baker, Speer, Alamo Placita and Lincoln Park. These places are wealthy and affluent with lots of homeless people, but something they are both tethered to is addiction. There is a dark spiritual presence here that we are actively praying on the streets would be pushed back.
Pray for our neighbors. We have two couples on either side of us who do not know Jesus and are of course very okay with that. Pray for these two couples that we would show compassion to them, the heart of Jesus as gentle and lowly, and that their would be a supernatural encounter that they cannot ignore!
Pray for the longing and aimless souls in our neighborhood, Capitol Hill. We are praying that God would give us divine appointments with the poor, the homeless, the wealthy, the millennials, and anyone who resides in this area. Pray for healing, repentance, and renewal.
Pray for our funding to be fully met. We don’t just ask you to give, but to pray that others would join us! We want a vast network of partners to be in on what God is doing for their own joy. We feel like we are sharing in the spoils of what God is doing when we gain new partners in any way.
Here is our reality:
225 Prayer Partners
2 team members (that aren’t a VW!)
$101,200 raised for Phase 1 (92% of the way!)
Here are our goals:
250 Prayer Partners
A team of 15 people by 2022
$110,000 raised for Phase 1 (Nov. 2020-Oct.2021)
Phase 1 Financial Progress
Working On Us.
Working for God (Proving)
When I daydreamed about church planting I definitely dreamed of hard work, lots of gospel conversations, grinding through each day, and reaping lots and LOTS of fruit. Immediately. So much so that our metaphorical nets would be bursting at the seems. I (Michael) definitely am a zealous person who gets very excited about all of the what-ifs, what-could-bes, imagine-ifs, and one-days of life and especially of church planting. I also am zealous enough to not have much of a grasp of patience in these things.
So when we arrived in Denver and got to work on planting this church I quickly encountered confusion and faced a collision of expectations vs. experience. Now, this is not a problem in itself, but what I did with this collision is what bred the problem. I thought that I wasn’t working hard enough so I naturally began to work harder. Not because of the good work that was before me brought joy in Jesus, but rather to begin to prove myself to myself, to others, and to God. I wanted to prove that I was church-planter enough.
Worked on by God (Pruning)
Naturally that didn’t last long. You can do anything, for awhile, but I was confronted, confounded, and caught by the Holy Spirit and His Body. I quickly was faced with the reality that there was much work to be done on me. When I say me, I do primarily mean me (Michael still), but also Ally and our kids. We as a family of VWs had some stuff that needed to be renovated in the home of our hearts.
If we go to the parable of the four soils in Matthew 13 we see that there is not always room for the gospel to grow because of things like rocks and thistles. These past three months, and especially the month of February, through pro-active counseling, friends, co-laborers, prayer and the Holy Spirit the Farmer, Jesus, has been coming in and ripping out rocks and boulders, thistles and thorns from the soil of our hearts to make room for the gospel of the grace and love of Jesus to grow that much deeper, wider, and someday taller in and through us. Similar to the image of being pruned by the vine dresser lopping off dead branches, branches that aren’t helpful, or that are sick in order that the good might grow Jesus has been making room.
Working with God (Participating)
When I talk about this I do not do so in the past tense. By no means are we done with the pruning stage, but I do now know that this is one of the primary works that God has been up to since we arrived in our beloved City. I now know even more plainly the depths at which I didn’t and still don’t believe that I am a son of God, co-heir with the King, who is called to a good work, working alongside of a loving Father.
In this reality we are not starting something to prove our devotion, our work ethic, or our holiness. We are participants in grace, joining in with what God is already doing here in our city. Functioning more like a child at play than a hired hand. I have nothing to prove with this church plant. I have nothing to prove to the city of Denver. Jesus sprouting the gospel in me and in our family is the proof of his Life, and we will simply testify with our hands and with our mouths that He is the way to Abundant Life.
We are grateful for this process, and I look forward to rewriting this same blog post in the future as we watch God work on us as we work with him.
What’s Been Happening?
Aksel started swimming lessons and is officially Aqua-Man!
Michael got a part-time job at a coffee shop downtown and starts Tuesday. This is not only a joy, but an opportunity to provide greater sustainability financially and most importantly a place in the community to meet many new people.
We have started exploring an awesome ministry and non-profit downtown that works to holistically bless and help those who are trapped in cycles of addiction, poverty, homelessness, and isolation.
Ally joined the worship team of The Oaks and even got to lead the Body.
Michael preached his first sermon at The Oaks. To watch both of these check out the video —>
We are in the process of discerning what exactly our target area is in the city of Denver with goals of meeting 100 people in this area in the next 90 days.
We have begun planning and scheming with a potential team member living in the city about an internship under Capitol City Church.
Numerous friends have come to visit over these past few months, including on Ally’s birthday. For that, we are so grateful!
To remind him of his humanity Michael got his first-ever speeding ticket. Praise God for speed trap parked cars.
Prayer Needs
Pray for unity between Ally and I so that we may lead from our marriage as a picture of the gospel.
Pray for Aksel, Flora, and Frances. One of our hopes is that they would experience a double portion of the Spirit than what Ally and I have or will receive in our lifetime. We pray for their souls and their wellbeing as we seek this insane endeavor.
Pray for unity in our ever-forming team! We want a bigger team, but even more, the right team.
Pray for the spiritual reality of the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Baker, Speer, Alamo Placita and Lincoln Park. These places are wealthy and affluent with lots of homeless people, but something they are both tethered to is addiction. There is a dark spiritual presence here that we are actively praying on the streets would be pushed back.
Pray for our neighbors. We have two couples on either side of us who do not know Jesus and are of course very okay with that. Pray for these two couples that we would show compassion to them, the heart of Jesus as gentle and lowly, and that their would be a supernatural encounter that they cannot ignore!
Pray for the longing and aimless souls in our neighborhood, Capitol Hill. We are praying that God would give us divine appointments with the poor, the homeless, the wealthy, the millennials, and anyone who resides in this area. Pray for healing, repentance, and renewal.
Pray for our funding to be fully met. We don’t just ask you to give, but to pray that others would join us! We want a vast network of partners to be in on what God is doing. We feel like we are sharing in the spoils of what God is doing when we gain new partners in any way.
Here is our reality:
223 Prayer Partners
1 team member (that isn’t a VW)
$98,500 raised (90% of the way)
Here are our goals:
250 Prayer Partners
A team of 15 people by 2022
$110,000 raised for Phase 1 (Nov. 2020-Oct.2021)
Phase 1 Financial Progress
Returning & Residency.
After five years of getting ready to move to Denver we finally arrived. After a month of living with Ally’s parents we finally moved into our own home, our temporary mansion. We began our stay in Denver with visiting family, celebrating holidays together, and starting our own holiday traditions, and then… we returned to Iowa.
Returning
It’s Christmas after all and there is no one we would rather be with than family on Christmas. But honestly, it felt wrong. Leaving Denver felt wrong. Driving across Nebraska felt wrong. Visiting Cedar Falls and seeing friends felt wrong. It felt like we weren’t supposed to be there. In fact it felt like we had simply left to plant our church, failed, and had already returned with tails between our legs.
Yet we knew, fought to believe, and know today as we sit in our home in Denver that this is not the case. We are so grateful for our time in Iowa, but to be completely honest with you all we are so glad to be home here at 3108 S. Cherokee. There was much to learn from these emotions and experiences, but one of the primary observations we made is that Denver is home. We love Denver. We claim Denver as our own. God has given us this place, and we joyfully receive it (especially now that we can eat in restaurants again! YAY COVID).
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US START OUR STAY HERE.
Residency
Now that we are here we have officially kicked off our church planting residency with The Oaks Church. We have been planning, scheming together for the future, but this has been primarily through listening and speaking to our King, Jesus. What a treat it is to partner with Ally, our kids, our dear friend and co-laborer Derick, and all the others at The Oaks. This place is officially becoming our new church home and family.
Something else we are grateful for is our official acceptance into the Send Network family as missionaries to the city of Denver! We have been assessed, begun our training, and been receiving the amazing love and care that this family brings to all of its planters as we seek restoration through multiplication.
One area that God is highlighting for us in this early stage of residency is team building. Specifically, team members who will join us in Capitol Hill to plant Capitol City Church. What we have been praying for, and even experiencing, is a unity of Spirit that transcends logic and catchy vision (of which I seem to have only an average amount). What we are praying for is that we would be unified in passion, zeal, and longing for the longing and aimless citizen of Cap Hill will experience the freeing and empowering grace of Jesus. Grace that unifies. Grace that builds up. Grace that sets free. Grace that fills us with worship and wonder.
We want to ask you to pray for us as we seek God’s desire for our team. We are eagerly praying how to lead this team, but also who should be on it! Maybe it is you. Maybe it is not. Either way, we ask you to join us in praying for our team now (the VWs and Elle), and our team to come. We are beginning to see with fresh eyes the potential in each person to not only join us, but to be a participant in planting churches across Denver and the world as we seek the renewal of the city through the renewal of the citizen.
Prayer Needs
Pray for Ally. It is her 30th birthday this Saturday and I want her to know how blessed and loved she is by our good good King Jesus through his Spirit and the unity of His Body. (She may hate that I included this)
Pray for unity between Ally and I. We are young parents with young kids who moved twice in the last 2.5 months across the country to plant a church. We need some help and prayer for incredible unity.
Pray for Aksel, Flora, and Frances. One of our hopes is that they would experience a double portion of the Spirit than what Ally and I have or will receive in our lifetime. We pray for their souls and their wellbeing as we seek this insane endeavor.
Pray for unity in our ever-forming team! We have one amazing committed team member with a handful more considering joining. We are excited to see this form, but we want unity more than anything.
Pray for our neighbors. We have two couples on either side of us who do not know Jesus and are of course very okay with that. Pray for these two couples that we would show compassion to them, the heart of Jesus as gentle and lowly, and that their would be a supernatural encounter that they cannot ignore!
Pray for the longing and aimless souls in our neighborhood, Capitol Hill. We are praying that God would give us divine appointments with the poor, the homeless, the wealthy, the millennials, and anyone who resides in this area. Pray for healing, repentance, and renewal.
Pray for our funding to be fully met. We don’t just ask you to give, but to pray that others would join us! We want a vast network of partners to be in on what God is doing. We feel like we are sharing in the spoils of what God is doing when we gain new partners in any way.
Here are our goals:
250 Prayer Partners
A team of 15 people by 2022
$110,000 raised for Phase 1 (Nov. 2020-Oct.2021)
Here is our reality:
218 Prayer Partners
1 team member (that isn’t a VW)
$92,600 raised (84% of the way and up 10% from last month!)
Phase 1 Financial Progress
Starting to Stay
Resettling
Our first month in Colorado has come and gone! In some ways we have settled into this new normal. Driving with sunshine on our faces almost every day, the beauty of the Rockies, the traffic, and the expensive coffee all seem pretty normal anymore. Yet there is so much that is new every day. God is continuing to show us new mercy every single day that appears in the faces of strangers, times of quiet in prayer, our new church family at The Oaks, and a growth of brotherhood for us at The Send Network. These are just a few ways that we are experiencing the grace of God for us, strengthening our hearts, and helping us abide in him.
This past month we got the opportunity to live with Ally’s parents north of the city. What a treat it was to be with family, watch our kids be loved so deeply every single day by Nana and Papa, and provide space for Ally and I to grow in our marriage, teamwork for planting Capitol City Church, and simply to enjoy our family.
This month was also the beginning of us getting to soak and spend more time with our new church family, co-laborors, and dear friends at The Oaks. Many of you might be wondering what work looks like for us right now. While I officially will not start my apprenticeship with the Send Network/The Oaks Church until January we have had the opportunity to spend time at “The Office” with others. The office space has been home to many brainstorming sessions, prayer meetings, trainings, and play time with the kids. We look forward to so much time here on our faces before the throne of grace, but also with these brothers and sisters as we seek the renewal of the city of Denver TOGETHER.
At the beginning of November we were able to participate in our Send Network Orientation where we caught a deeper vision of being a church that values family, multiplication, and restoration. I also am continuing my training through the Send Network where I am a part of a church planting cohort with other planters in the front range. This group of men is invaluable to me as we learn together from our amazing trainers what it looks like to plant healthy churches that last.
One of my favorite things that I have been able to do alone, as well as with our whole family is simply walking and praying the streets of Capitol Hill. Covid-19 has shut down much of the activity of the city, but that has not deterred us from walking, talking with strangers, and crying out to God to make war on the strongholds of our city, our neighborhood, and her citizens. The deep needs for freedom and restoration, deep cries for justice and hope, and deep craving for belonging are more apparent than ever before. It is apparent when you talk to the millennial barista at Thump Coffee and the houseless man on the street corner. It is apparent when you listen to the cries and howls of the pedestrians and when you read the writing on the plywood that boards the storefronts of Colfax. It is apparent that the Lord wants Ally and I to hear the cry of the city, weep with them, and bring hope and empowerment that only the Spirit of God can bring. There is much we want to see God do, but right now we are hearing him say, “Listen. Be faithful. Be present together.”
Staying
While we wait we are also moving. We had the pleasure of moving into our own home a week ago. This home is what we are calling our Temporary Mansion because it is much larger than most anywhere else we will likely live once we arrive in Cap Hill. The Mansion has been graciously provided to us as a gift for the next year through the Send Network. Just so you know this is a HUGE answer to prayers we have been praying for months! PRAISE THE LIVING GOD!
One of our longings is to love Englewood (where the Mansion is located) as well as we love Cap Hill. While this is not where we will land long term there are neighbors, strangers, coffee shop workers, cashiers, and so many others that are longing for more and wandering this in search of Jesus without knowing him. We want to be faithful here and now not just later when we “arrive”. We are grateful for this home, this time of preparing the foundation and building the framework for our local church, and are grateful for how you all have helped us get here! THANK YOU.
Help Us Stay
If you are reading this then you are (most likely) a Partner with us in this work already. You are praying for us, participating with us in considering joining our team, visiting, calling, and connecting us with others, and many of you are providing financially to our efforts. We want to say thank you for all that you have done over this year of crazy uncertainty, challenge, and celebration. From the depths of our being thank you.
We also want to ask you to consider Partnering with us afresh as we approach the end of the year and the start of another.
Here are our goals:
Phase 1 Financial Progress
250 Prayer Partners
A team of 15 people by 2022
$110,000 raised for Phase 1 (Nov. 2020-Oct. 2021)
Here is where we are:
213 Prayer Partners
1 team member (that isn’t Ally or I)
$81,000 raised (74% of the way!)
I tenderly ask you to consider how you might extend your partnership as we approach year, and as we begin afresh 2021.
Consider sharing our prayer updates with other faithful believers in your family, church, and life to bring greater unity in the body to intercede for our city.
Consider whether God is calling you to join us in the work here on location.
Consider who you might know that is a prime candidate to join in what God is already doing here.
Consider giving financially by starting for the first time with a one time gift or a one time gift, or increasing your current monthly gift.
A new way we want to offer partnership is by bringing to light specific ways you can contribute to our financial needs.
One way we are trying to engage with those in our neighborhood is through engaging the houseless and the poor that line the streets. We have a goal of eating a meal with three times a week in order hear their story and pray for the Spirit to grip their hearts. If you would like to contribute to this consider giving a recurring gift of $50, $100 or $200 each month.
We have needed to buy new furniture for our home that is compact and versatile for our upcoming urban lifestyle. If you would like to contribute to this consider giving a one time gift of $200, $500, or $1,000.
For more ways please don’t hesitate to ask.
Thank you for Partnering with us in the gospel as we seek the renewal of the city of Denver through the renewal of her citizens Together.
Michael, Ally, Aksel, Flora, and Frances Van Waardhuizen.
Sent.
Here I sit, in my new temporary home, in Brighton, Colorado praising God for the answered prayers, the supportive friends and family, and the peace that has come upon arriving to this next stage. We have moved. We have been sent.
Over the last couple of weeks we have prepared to host our final vision night (morning?) in Cedar Rapids, sold a heavy portion of our worldly possessions, boxed the rest of it up, and packed it tight into a trailer so that we could leave the Cedar Valley behind for higher altitudes and highest praise of our King. God said we would/should move in the Fall of 2020. Here we are. We have a long way to go before we are a local church in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, but we are here and the work has begun. We have unpacked all that we could fit in our Prius, but before we do anything else we REST. Be together as a family to soak in the presence of God. Present together. We will hit the streets soon enough, but for now we enjoy one another while we enjoy our good God.
While we are officially in Colorado this is only phase one of the moving process. We will be living with my wonderful in-laws for the next four weeks before we take on phase two. Our partners and champions at The Send Network/The North American Mission Board have provided housing for us as a gift that lasts the first year in the city. We will be moving into this house, our first home on our own in Denver, on December 1.
After this first year we will move into the neighborhood. But before we even live there we are going to begin the work of seeking the renewal of Denver through the renewal of her citizens. We will seek to bring the Presence of God to this neighborhood as living temples of the Spirit of God. Pray with us that we will be faithful witnesses, filled with the Presence, the power, and be blessings to the poor and to the lost.
Prayer Needs
Unity between Ally and I as we start new family/work rhythms.
Pray that souls would be saved as we meet strangers in the streets. Pray for divine appointments with the poor and the lost. Pray for healing, repentance, and renewal.
Pray for funding! One of the primary works I am doing right now is fundraising by asking anyone and everyone to join our Partnership Team.
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
For individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
Phase 1 Financial Progress
A Place to Lay Our Head
November is coming. What happens in November? Potentially nothing more than the recycling of a four year election season. While these political times are intense, controversial, and life changing, we know that what we are anticipating is a move of God. A move that is greater than any election. While it may sound arrogant or presumptuous, the arrival of the Van Waardhuizen family in Denver, CO this November is on par with what happens when we wake up November 4. Why? Why so confident? Why so sure? Because God has been directing us to this place, to this time, for his mission for years now. And from our vantage point November is coming. And November is when cross state lines into the first stage of what God has in store for us.
Does it seem strange to talk about church planting this way? Does it sound presumptuous or boastful to say that one little family moving to a city is as monumental as a presidential election? Yes it does. But that is only the case if we miss the fact that we are on the move because God is on the move. We are simply kids joining in with what their Father is already doing. We are following our Leader. We are going with Him, not the other way around. While we don’t have our long term home set in stone, or even or shorter term home, or really even our immediate landing pad technically all set and ready to go, we know that we are going because God said so. That is why we are planting Capitol City Church. That is how we are able to say goodbye to so many of our closest friends, family, and loved ones. It is time to go.
Still sound presumptuous? Absolutely. But so is faith.
I pray that the next time you hear from us we are no longer in Iowa, but rather are in a new place doing a new work.
Vision Nights
Come join us this October in Cedar Falls or Cedar Rapids for a night of vision casting, worship, and giving to the mission of Capitol City Church. See the tab at the top for more details!
Location in Cedar Falls is 815 Orchard Drive.
Location in Cedar Rapids is 4444 1st Ave. NE in Lindale Mall next to Von Maur.
At our vision night this Sunday in Cedar Falls there will be an amazing opportunity to participate in a silent auction where art pieces created by Ally as well as numerous other wonderful artists can be bid upon as a fun way of joining in financial partnership with Capitol City Church. Pictured above are a few examples of what will be offered.
Prayer Needs
Phase 1 Financial Progress
Unity between Ally and I as we navigate sleep deprivation, new family dynamics, and the strain of transitioning.
Clarity and finality on our housing situation in Denver. We have three transition homes where we can stay, but our longer term home is still not a guarantee.
Pray for funding! One of the primary works I am doing right now is fundraising by asking anyone and everyone to join our Partnership Team. Specifically that pray for individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
Toppling Dominoes
This month was a month of changes, celebration, and clarity. For weeks (even months) now Ally and I have been looking ahead to August 2020 with anticipation and expectation.
Changes
For months we have been waiting for the birth of our beautiful daughter, Frances Belle Van Waardhuizen, and on August 12 in the middle of the night she made her arrival into the loving arms of her mother and father. There are so many stories to share that display God’s kindness, grace, and mercy even from this birth that Ally and I will be recounting for years to come.
Frances and Ally are doing great. Aksel and Flora are adjusting to the newness of the arrival of Frances as well as can be expected, and I am simply smitten with our little girl.
Celebration
Leading up to this new birth I had an amazing opportunity to lead my final event in student ministry. The Cedar Falls Bible Conference, a 99 year old tradition of the Cedar Valley, asked me and the newest staff member of Redeemer Church, Jacob, to lead the student ministry portion of this conference. I mention this because I want to share the amazing victory that was had in Jesus the last week of July! We had the opportunity to baptize four students into the Kingdom, and we saw a fifth student give their life to Christ (but was uncertain about immediate baptism)! What an amazing victory for the Kingdom of God! I hope that you all find this encouraging as you see the fruits of your prayers and support. It is our prayer that this would be a reflection of what is to come as we set off to minister to the people of Denver, CO.
Clarity
While we were in the thrill of nurturing and caring for our newest family member we were thrust into the process of being assessed for church planting through the Send Network. On August 17 & 18 Ally and I embarked on a two-day virtual journey where we answered a barrage of questions about ministry, marriage, and so much else to assess our readiness and unity in our goal of planting Capitol City Church. Ally and I are thrilled by how much we were cared for during this process (especially since Ally was a mere six days post-delivery!). We are also thrilled to announce that we have been given a GREEN LIGHT to continue to Denver to begin our apprenticeship with The Oaks Church.
With this clarity we are looking to move our family into Denver sometime at the end of October or beginning of November to begin our apprenticeship, and acclimating to the city. This is yet another step in the process of planting that we have been anticipating for years. We are so thrilled to see what God might do over these next two months as we continue to prepare through fundraising, selling our stuff, and prepare to say our goodbyes.
Vision Nights
Come join us this October in Cedar Falls or Cedar Rapids for a night of vision casting, worship, and giving to the mission of Capitol City Church.
Location in Cedar Falls is 815 Orchard Drive.
Location in Cedar Rapids is 4444 1st Ave. NE in Lindale Mall next to Von Maur.
Prayer Needs
Unity between Ally and I as we navigate sleep deprivation, new family dynamics, and the strain of transitioning.
Clarity and finality on our housing situation in Denver this Fall. We have a potential home this fall, but it is still not a guarantee.
Pray for funding! One of the primary works I am doing right now is fundraising by asking anyone and everyone to join our Partnership Team.
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
For individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
July 2020 Prayer Team Update
Where We've Been
We have loved the process of preparing, day dreaming, and increase longing for church planting these last few years. One piece that I have GROWN to love is the ever-changing nature of it all. Adaptability and flexibility were not always in my vocabulary. I would make plans, and stick to them. That was admirable in my vocabulary, and in a large part it still is. However, what I didn’t know was that something that cannot flex will break.
I praise God for how he has been slow to teach me how to flex, bend, pivot, and adapt to not just my surroundings, but to the particular next step he is calling us to take. In church planting and in our personal journey of following Jesus we have learned that the path to joy is the path to the Presence of God. Psalm 16:11 has fueled us along the way to be flexible and adaptable when it says,
“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Following Jesus into the joy of His Presence has been our vision as we have followed him to today, and will continue to be our vision as we follow him into Denver.
Where We Are
Today flexibility is the name of every day. Yesterday was my last official day as a staff member of Redeemer Church. Last Wednesday we had the joy and privilege of officially handing over our beloved student ministry, RISE, to Jacob the man who will continue to lead the students toward Christ. It has been a strange (COVID), and yet incredibly delightful experience transitioning into his leadership. I know and trust that he will lead the students, and the volunteers in the same vision of equipping the students to fight for joy in Jesus.
Today marks day one in the next stage of church planting. While we are done with student ministry and I don’t technically work for Redeemer anymore we are just getting started on the immense adventure of fundraising. There are many details to share, but at this point we are approximately 30% of the way to raising our first year budget. I am heavily encouraged and optimistic, but am heavily aware of the immense uphill climb before we arrive at our goal.
I have been describing the rest of our time in Cedar Falls as fundraising and hustling. I have officially been hired back at my part-time job at Sidecar Coffee, and am excited to keep building relationships there that will lead to gospel renewal in the lives of my coworkers. Another opportunity I have been granted for the summer is leading a week long student conference here in Cedar Falls. The theme of this conference is “So What?”. I hope that this edgy and provoking theme will help coax students out of their Midwest churched context and bring them closer to Jesus. I along with many other church leaders will teach tweens and teens about the joy of the gospel and why it matters to them and to the lost. I am very honored for the opportunity to keep preaching the gospel and sharing life with students, all while rallying other leaders in the Cedar Valley.
Where We are Headed
Looking ahead we long for the safe arrival of our baby girl on (or slightly before) August 8. Ally is doing well, but also is very plainly 35 weeks pregnant and feeling it. We are also very thrilled to tell you that we are going to have our assessment with the Send Network/North American Mission Board on August 17-18.
Yes, that is incredibly close to our due date. So what we ask is what we have been asking: pray for safe delivery, and now that she would come just a little early, (just a little) so that we have that much more time to recover before we spend two days in interviews. We are still hoping and praying for Apartment Life to give us placement this year, but we are also being given potential options of housing in Denver through other means, which is also an amazing answer to prayers! We covet your prayers and are grateful for how you have continued to support us.
Stay salty family,
Michael Van Waardhuizen
Prayer Needs
Healthy baby girl and smooth labor for Ally.
For an apartment community in Capitol Hill, Denver to open up this fall so we can move in with this awesome organization.
We are experiencing fruit of family unity, but long for EVEN MORE as we continue and as things get crazy hectic these next four months.
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
For individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
May 2020 Prayer Team Update
Where We've Been
Renewed hope in the midst of change and waiting. That is what I am reflecting on today. This is another thread that is woven into the tapestry of God’s story and my own. I have been reflecting on the portion of our story where we were waiting. Waiting for God to confirm our call into church planting. Waiting for God to make the next step clear. Working in Cedar Falls, serving at Redeemer church, called to Colorado and church planting with no prospects, and honestly no motivation to make plans. I felt like Israel in Numbers 11 grumbling to God how my “strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all... but this manna to look at.” Manna, a gift from God, as a reminder of the flame and power of God. Of his provision. But still grumbling and waiting. Waiting... for anything to fan into flame the spark that was remaining.
Then the wind blew.
Then the Spirit of God rushed in.
Renewed hope came in the form of a phone call. Donovan, our lead pastor, called to check in on our plans for Colorado (of which I had none). My empty plans, lack of motivation, and apathy were exactly where God had me so that He could provide my strength and my hope. Donovan had called to do more than check-in but to make me an offer. To give me an opportunity to lay my life down as an offering for the church as worship, as training, and as a test for church planting. The offer: Start a student ministry from scratch. Come on staff to see what God would do with a little time and a whole lot of trust.
Renewed hope. A pathway. A highway in the sea of chaos. The Spirit blew to not only fan into flame the dying spark of hope in me, but also to make the way to himself. To His Presence.
Where We Are
Everyone has been tossed around by COVID-19. Yet God has shown up in the midst. That thread of hope has been brought out again.
This month has felt like a slap to the face in a brightly lit room. What was around you seemed apparent, but somehow a stinging pain has landed upon your cheek. It is shocking. But the shock wears off. For me that shock wore off in the form of a renewed sense of calling. God very plainly reminded me that he has called me to plant a church in Denver by making disciples in Denver. To simplify the wake up: God woke me up to the reality that he has given us an inheritance in Denver and we are ready to do what it takes to get there.
While we are still awaiting news of how we will proceed with the North American Mission Board in the future we are still moving toward our residency at The Oaks Church. Derick and the Oaks are ready for us to get there (any day now), and still abide in the vision of planting us in Denver. Capitol Hill still exists, there are still lost people there, and we are still being drawn by His Spirit to join in the work He is doing. We simply have to arrive. Show up and play on the playground of Denver with the Father who loves us.
Where We are Headed
Hope and joy is often future oriented. We are looking forward to knowing more, but also are so grateful for how God is deepening our roots now.
Like always we know that there is so much more to come. Hope is future oriented and we have not yet arrived on That Day. God has woken me up to realize that my strength is in the Lord. My hope is in the maker of heaven and earth. We have a renewed hope that if God wants us to get to Denver he is the source of power and strength behind it.
What we look ahead to is a summer that is full of preparation and planning. Preparation is primarily going to be fundraising. Sharing our vision for making disciples, planting churches, and seeking the presence of God in Denver, Colorado so that we can grow our team of partners bought into that vision. We are praying that God would be preparing singles, families, and churches to join up with us in a number of ways so that we can get on the ground this October. We are pleased to say that we have gained another church partner in Paragon Church out of Grinnell, Iowa. We are so grateful for their backing us in our work.
One way that we may be able to arrive in Denver propped up for success is by working with an organization known as Apartment Life. Ally and I just (20 minutes ago) found out that we have officially been accepted into their program to help radically transform apartment communities with the hope of the gospel. However, while we have been accepted we have not been placed. A missionary not only needs to be funded and vouched for, but needs placement before they begin their work. We now are going to ask you to join us in praying that by a move of God an apartment community opens up in Capitol Hill so that we can be placed there as missionaries of the gospel this fall. While this is not the only way we can get there it is something that we believe God has placed on our hearts for a reason.
Thank you all for your amazing support.
Prayer Needs
For an apartment community in Capitol Hill, Denver to open up this fall so we can move in with this awesome organization.
That our assessment would be rescheduled sooner rather than later so that we can know whether or not we will have this support and backing.
That God would clarify when we are supposed to move now that this assessment is postponed. Our original date of September is not likely at this point.
We are experiencing fruit of family unity, but long for EVEN MORE as we continue.
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
Health for our baby girl!
That God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
For individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
April 2020 Prayer Team Update
It all begins with an idea.
Where We've Been
In these uncertain times I am drawn to reflect on our story in church planting. Waiting has been our normal for the last four years. Waiting for answers, for direction, for clarity on what God would be pleased to do in our lives. We have spent many days and nights thirsty for revelation that comes from the River of Life. Yet, hindsight reveals the countless times that we were never far from Christ. We were never far from thirst quenching satisfaction in Jesus, with or without answers.
As mentioned previously our story began by a very particular and vivid call to church planting, and then a season of waiting for more details. Right now we are reflecting heavily on that season of waiting. Waiting while waking every morning to jobs we knew we weren’t intending to stay; in apartments we weren’t planning to call Home. Waiting for our first child to appear, while waiting for any grain of vision for our future in church planting.
These days were darker than I care to remember, share, or revisit, and yet God moved toward us with kindness, gentleness, and love. Peace was the cloud that the Holy Spirit brought to replace despair, worry, and fear. Hindsight shows me that the faithfulness of the Lord has always remained.
Where We Are
Waiting is our Today. Waiting to see how COVID-19 pans out. Waiting for what the future holds. Abiding in the changes that have come. While we were on our trip to Denver over Spring Break (AKA COVID Shutdown Week) we received the news that my position at my part-time job had been terminated for the foreseeable future. Just before that we were notified that our upcoming assessment for church planting has been postponed to an unknown date. In an hour we joined the masses that are now affected by the virus. Now here me say this: We are not panicking. However, we are waiting. We, like anyone, are simply waiting to see how this develops.
There are many differences today as compared to four years ago, yet we are waiting. Waiting while waking to a job that I love in a home that is better than I deserve, and yet we long for Denver. Waiting the arrival of our third child. Waiting while we work here and now, but we wait for what is in store there. This season is not as dark as we have been in the past. Our joy is deeper. Our hope is stronger. Our belief in the faithfulness of the Lord is richer. Hindsight is helpful. Sight of the faithfulness of Christ.
I am drawn to plead with the Lord to make us more and more like the righteous man in Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” I am drawn to rejoice that he has made us like this over the years including these past four years. We are planted by streams of living water that flows through us. We know Christ is sustaining us, and we are joyful in the waiting and changing times of COVID-19.
Yet while we are waiting God has been ushering us into a time as a family that is sweeter than ever before. We are together. Loving it. Laughing a LOT.
Jesus has also ushered us into a more intense season of prayer, silence and solitude, and listening to him. This is a better gift than any we have ever asked, and for that we are thankful.
Where We are Headed
As we wait now we know that Christ will continue to give good gifts as we ask. We also know that this theme of waiting is not unique to us or to us right now. We look ahead to our unknown future KNOWING that we are always going to be waiting on the Lord, dependent upon him to move, and to send his wind and rain. Yet, we will draw from what we know: Jesus is faithful and near. In his presence there is fullness of joy.
When we are looking ahead we are praying, fasting, and longing for more of his presence and the fruit that comes from abiding is the sugary sweet morsel on top.
Check out our Gender Reveal Video for a little joy in your day (even if you already watched it online!)
Prayer Needs
We are praying that our assessment would be rescheduled sooner rather than later so that we can know whether or not we will have this support and backing.
We are praying that God would clarify when we are supposed to move now that this assessment is postponed. Our original date of September is not likely at this point.
We are experiencing fruit of family unity, but long for EVEN MORE as we continue.
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
Health for our baby girl!
We are praying that God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
We are also praying for individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
March 2020 Prayer Team Update
It all begins with an idea.
Where We've Been
Over the last four years of our explicit church planting journey there are various monuments that God has built up in order for us to remember his faithfulness and explicit call on our lives. For example our initial call into church planting took place just over four years ago. While spending time with Ally and a friend I experienced what can only be described as an encounter with the Living God. In this encounter of peace, joy, and overwhelming love he spoke these words to me, “Michael, you are going to plant a church in Colorado.” What was confounding to me was not that he spoke to me out of a place of love, joy, and peace, but rather that he was calling ME to plant a church. This was the beginning of an amazing journey that we are calling our call to church planting.
Another monument was put in place one year ago. Ally and I were visiting Denver over Spring Break to explore answers to two particular questions: Where in Colorado should we plant a church? Who in Denver will we partner with in this process? To keep this email short, we got answers to both of those questions through this particular trip to Denver. God revealed to us that we were called not only to the city of Denver, but more specifically to the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver. We knew nothing of Denver, the neighborhood or the baggage that comes with it, but we were overjoyed at the peace that came through this place.
We also were put in contact with Derick at The Oaks Church through our time in the city. These are two pieces of the journey that we were so desperate to know, had been pleading with God to find answers to, and now we rejoice in the peace of knowing God’s place for us and one of our greatest partners and advocates in this journey.
Where We Are
In light of where God has taken us in the past we are currently looking forward to our next trip over Spring Break. We will be visiting what we believe is our future home, Capitol Hill, to pray, walk, explore, and dive into what life looks like in this particular part of this particular city. We also will be meeting with other church planters, pastors, and followers of Jesus in the city to begin relationships that will hopefully last our lifetime. This will center heavily on our relationship with pastors that are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention and particularly the Send Network.
One of the things that God is calling us to do is to deepen our network of co-laborers in the Kingdom and in Colorado. Through our desired partnership with the Send Network we are hoping to build friendships, partners in ministry, and be encouragers to those who are working for the Kingdom of God. Last month I had an opportunity to dive into this by attending a regional Send Conference in Phoenix, Arizona with my guy Derick. The focus of this conference was to mobilize churches, church planters, and individuals to be a people intent on planting churches to expand the Kingdom. To say the least I walked away inspired, encouraged, and even more connected to Derick. I also know that I have more brothers and sisters to walk with in Denver and the West Coast region.
Where We are Headed
What we are hoping to see happen over the coming months is our network of supporters, partners, and co-laborers deepen. We are just getting started in this process of planting in Denver, and we are praying that we would be given more monuments to look back on with fondness, tears, and joy unspeakable at the kindness and nearness of God.
One of those monuments we know is coming is our upcoming Church Planting Assessment with the Send Network/North American Mission Board. Ally and I have been in process with them for a few months now, but we are quickly approaching the time where we put it all on the line. In this process we are hoping to see unhealthy behaviors exposed and strengths highlighted so that we can move forward to plant the healthiest church that we as a team possibly can. We want the rocks exhumed from the field to make way for even greater fruit from the gospel in our lives. We are anxious to be tested, and look forward to all that our assessment brings this May.
We are also, with great sorrow and joy, approaching the end of our time as staff of Redeemer Church in Cedar Falls. We are in the beginning of transitioning leadership of our student ministry to new leadership, and look forward to where God takes these students and leaders. One of the greatest hopes we have for our near future is that we finish well at Redeemer in every way possible.
Here are some lovely pictures of two of our lovely kids. Yes that train is stuck in Aksel’s hair. Yes we had to cut it out with a scissors.
Prayer Needs
We are desperately asking that our family would become even more cohesive as a unit that loves and cares for one another as we get closer to our departure into the unknown and the new.
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
Health during pregnancy. (We find out the gender in two weeks!)
We are praying that God would send at least ten churches to partner with us both in prayer and in financial support as we begin our residency this coming September.
We are also praying for individuals to partner with us in financial support to meet our Phase One Financial Goal for our year of Residency.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.
February 2020 Prayer Team Update
It all begins with an idea.
Where We've Been
The beauty (and challenge) of gospel transformation is that hind-sight is not only expected, but it is required. To see who we are now, to know what we know now, requires a perspective of who we once were and what we once knew (or didn’t know).
Jesus began the beloved calling into church planting many years before I ever considered myself capable of planting a church. Shortly after Jesus saved my life he implanted a desire to see others know what I know and to experience the freedom that I have experienced. This took shape through leading high school and then college students in the gospel. Upon graduating from college we planted roots in a little local church plant that we still call home: Redeemer Church. As we went from Door-Greeters to Group Leaders to a place where now I (Michael) am a staff pastor God has humbled, pruned, and transformed Ally and I into Kingdom-Minded followers of Jesus.
Where We Are
To prepare for this God has placed us in Redeemer Church, our local church in Cedar Falls, as disciple-makers and leaders. One of the primary things that we are doing right now to prepare is the same thing we are asking all of you to do: PRAY.
The primary work that Ally and I are trying to be about is praying for abundant clarity, steady direction, and faithful hearts to the calling he has placed in our lives. While there is much else that we are doing this is of first importance. We want to know the who, the what, and the how that God has in store. We have faith that God will continue to do this as he has been doing for the past four years. There is much else that we are doing, but this is of primary importance now and always.
Something else for you all to know is that at this time Ally and I are expecting a child to be born in the beginning of August!! That being said, we are anxious to meet this little one and covet your prayers for the health of Ally, the baby, and our family as we proceed into being a family of five.
Where We are Headed
Ally and I know that our purpose in all of life is to be faithful, joyful disciples of Jesus, and more particularly that he has called us to do so in Denver, Colorado beginning around September of 2020.
To funnel it down even more we believe that we have been called into a particular section of the city known as the Capitol Hill neighborhood. What we hope to do in this neighborhood is be the good news of Jesus and plant the seed of the gospel in the soil of Denver, Colorado. Much of our strategy, vision, and language is yet to be flushed out, but we know and believe that Jesus has called us to this particular work in this particular place at this particular time.
While there is much that is unknown about the journey ahead one thing that we do know is that we are going to be partnering with The Oaks Church located in south Denver. Pictured above with Ally and I is Derick Scherfey Lead pastor of the Oaks.
In September of 2020 we plan to move to Denver and begin a church planting apprenticeship with them to formally prepare and train to launch our church plant sometime in the next year to two years.
Prayer Needs
Emotional and spiritual health for Ally and I as we continue to prepare for this adventure. Now is a time where we are chasing the vision of rest and health before the new work of church planting.
Unity between Ally and I as well as between us and our kids.
Health during pregnancy.
A big picture of the Kingdom coming to Cedar Falls and to Denver.
A team of missionaries to go with us into Capitol Hill to reach out to the lost.