Potential

At Redemption Church we see the God possibilities for our community.

We see a neighborhood that finds unity among its diversity. A neighborhood not defined by its shortcomings but by the strength of its people. We see a neighborhood know by some as a pocket of crime and gang activity becoming a place of safety and hope. We see homes that were once broken by violence and addiction being restored with strong marriages and great parents. We see a place where kids can grow up knowing that they have been created by God and that He has a unique destiny for each of them. We see a community of people worshiping God and displaying His love to the whole world. These and many more are the God possibilities that we see.

I’m Back

Okay so it has been a while since I have blogged. I know I said it would post every week. Well it has been about 4 months since my last blog.

First of all I want to say sorry for not keeping my word. The obvious negative part of this is who wants to go to a church where you can't trust the leader's word. Although the positive could be that you would like to follow someone who is willing to admit their mistakes and apologize for their shortcomings. At any rate something my pastor B.B. Hankins used to say it fitting here. "There are no perfect churches," he said, "and if there were they would become imperfect the minute you or I joined them."

Ok, now that I got that behind me I will move on to the some updates. Since our last blog Redemption Church started its Home Worship Gathering at our house on Sunday mornings. We have about 15 people who come regularly to our home service. This meeting is open to visitors so any of you reading this blog are welcomed to come join us at 10 am on Sunday mornings. We have also started forming and meeting with our launch team. Including my wife and me there are seven people that are part of the team.

Our Saturday apartment outreaches continue to be going quite well. We usually get to ministry to about 30 kids at two different apartment complexes every time we go out. It always encourages me when I hear the kids repeat a lesson or memory verse they learned several months earlier. I believe that we are not only making an impact in the lives of these children but we are also touching their families. Our heart is to see entire families reached by the love and grace of God.

Well that was not too hard. Hopefully it will not take 4 more months for me to write another blog. Until then, thank you for your prayers and support.

God Bless,

Pastor Ralph

A Good Day

Sometimes people think meetings are boring. I think that as well sometimes. Yes, I will admit that I have been in my fare share of dull gatherings. I have even lead a few assemblies that could be described as mind-numbingly uninteresting. However, yesterday was NOT a day of the boooooring meetings. No, in fact I must say that I quite enjoyed yesterday.

My fist meeting was a lunch gathering with the Sharpstown Rotary Club. They are a inviting a friendly group of people who made me feel right at home. At the heart of Redemption Church is a desire to make a positive impact in our world, and I found some like minded friends at the Rotary. It was a pleasure to chat with people who have a yearning to help others.

It was also good to get reconnected to some friends from Ed White Elementary. Ed White is the school where we held our church services for the Calvary Regional site in Sharpstown. It is also a school where I have spent much time volunteering over the past three years. Principal Thuy Le-Thai, Assistant Principal Paulette Caston and Social Worker Lara Hulin were the guest speakers for the lunch. Ed White Elementary is doing a wonderful job of educating, training and equipping the children of our community and these women play a key part in the success of that school.

After I left the Rotary lunch I picked up Anna and we went to the South Texas Assemblies of God District Office. Anna and I were meeting with the Executive Presbytery to receive approval for our church as a district church plant. We had to wait a while in the office before we got the opportunity to meet with the EP so that gave us the chance to talk with Pastor David Plank. Pastor Plank is the District Church Plant Director and has planted 6 churches. Anna and I enjoyed getting to know Pastor Plank better as he shared some advice about church planting. When we met with the Executive Presbytery it was a brief but heartening meeting. We were able to share our heart in planting this church and they encouraged the call that God has on our life. We concluded the meeting with prayer.

It may be true that meeting can be boring, but yesterday’s gatherings where a great encouragement to me as the pastor of Redemption Church. I believe God has called us to make a positive impact in our community and I am confident that God will enable us to do all He has called us to accomplish.

Getting Started

"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."
Richard Evans

It has been said the the hardest part of anything is getting started. So today I am doing what some call difficult, starting. I am starting this blog to help communicate the process we are on as we plant Redemption Church. Planting this church is a journey that we have shared with many friends and I hope this tool with help us share it with many more.

My plan is to post at least weekly to let you know what's going on. I will also be posting photos soon of some our outreaches and events.

Well I guess that it. It has started. Lets see where it takes us.