Goin’ Camping!
We are getting ready for our annual trek to Letchworth – we started a few years ago with just a couple of families camping (cabins!) together and I think we have around 70 going on this excursion for 08! We have some first timers going with us so it ought be a lot of fun. I am not a "real" camper – I am a one night only kinda guy but I get the most out of the experience and the kids absolutely love being able to play sun up to sun down just the way summer is supposed to be. 
A little update on the warehouse –
we have been working hard to look at every detail, and to look at all aspects of the possible use of this facility. I reallly feel God helped us to find this facility to help us go through the process and to look really hard at what it means for us to take on a permanent location.
The Theater has been great for us so far but there are a couple of issues that we are facing at the Theater which has promted us to look elsewhere.
- We need to go to two gatherings soon for the sake of our Elmwood Superhero's – KW Team – these folks give up the opportunity twice a month to serve our kids and families – that means they only get to be a part of the adult gathering 2 x's a month verses every week. That is NOT sustainable for much longer – we want the best for our volunteers – this is reason enough!
We can't do 2 gathering's at the Theater because we have to be out of there by 11:15
2. As I have gotten to meet/talk with folks in our community they view portable as "not-permanent" as business/churches/people move out of the city – as long as we stay portable there is a feeling that we could leave also – not true but perception is hard to over come.
3. We want to be good stewards of the resources God gives us – to have a facility 24-7 would allow us to do a lot of things we can't do now.
Our Mission to reach every man, woman and child with repeated opportunities to not only hear but see the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in our circle of accountability drives everything we do at Elmwood - so that is the filter that we are looking through as we pursue God's next step for us as a congregation.
With all that being said we are not completely sure at this point that the warhouse is God's best next step for us. We have to make a final decision by next Wednesday so I would ask that you would really go before the Lord and lift this decision up to Him – we want to TRUST in the Lord not our own understanding. So I feel confident that He will give us the right directions to help us make the right decision!
I am off to Letchworth and a great time of camping – see you Sunday!
