day with God - what if . . .

I spent yesterday doing the best I know how just connecting with my Creator. I left my computer at home and had my phone off all day. Those things helped, but I still need to practice this habit of being alone with God. I need to find a good place to be or something. Yesterday, I mostly drove around and stopped here and there. Some reflections from my time "unplugged":

• If I'm going to lead a church well, I need to lead my family well. I've struggled so much with the inherent chaos our family has been in with selling our home, living in a temporary one and then moving cross-country. The truth is that I've done a poor job coping and I've not been a very kind person to my wife and boys. That is changing, beginning yesterday.
• As I drove around, I found some comfort in going to and going by the places I had memories from . . . old houses I'd lived in, old schools, etc. I think I heard God tell me to stop going back to the familiar places. This time around I'm a whole new man and God is creating a whole new identity. That scares me just a little.

To be honest, I'm a little scared on a few levels. I love Tulsa, but I feel like a stranger in a strange land. My mind goes to so many "what ifs". What if . . . some of our launch team does not come to Tulsa as planned . . . I don't do a good job networking with people here . . . we don't raise enough money. So many "what ifs".

Here's one God hit me with (and I love this one). What if all that happened but I still followed His call and pulled ever closer to Him. Well, if that all happened, things will be just fine.

Transition is difficult and scary. I desperately need and love your prayers at this time. Thank you!

Jason Fitch - Lead Pastor

The Theaters of Tulsa

I toured 2 theaters today . . . Cinemark at Tulsa and Cinemark 8. The first Cinemark was beautiful, then second was not. The problem with both is lack of good kids ministry space. Cinemark at Tulsa is a slim possibility, but I doubt it will work because of the shortage of kids ministry space. It's a great looking place. Some pictures for you to enjoy :)

Jason Fitch - Lead Pastor

touring the theater today

This morning @ 10am (that's 11am for you East Coasters - haha) we will be taking a good look around at the Cinemark Theater on 71st St. Pictures will follow. Please pray with me that God will talk to us about that location. As of right now, I absolutely love the location, however the cost has me a little nervous . . . probably would cost us in the neighborhood of just under $1000 per week.

Jason Fitch - lead pastor

possibilities

I'm going to do some recon work on the two movie theaters in Tulsa that we're considering using for our services. There's really only one that I'm very interested in, but I want to practice what they call "due diligence" and check all my theater options. I also hope to check on business banking and cell phone options today. I'll get to finish out my day with coffee with a new friend named Ryan.

Jon and Jen arrived safely yesterday and will begin looking at homes to rent today. Heather is back on the job-hunting trail. Please keep all of us in your prayers today as we look at the possibilities God may have for us here in Tulsa.

Jake, Shawna and the Gesser family all arrive in just a few short weeks. I can't wait to have more of the team here. I've never felt such a synergy with a group of people and I want to get to work! I love this life God has set up for me to live. What an adventure!

Jason Fitch - Lead Pastor

update

Steps are being taken. The team is assembling in Tulsa. Heather Bryant moved into her apartment in Tulsa last night and Jon and Jen Trout are flying in today to spend a few days (I think 5) looking at places for their family to live. Just found out recently that Matt Gesser has a job in Tulsa! God is setting things up.

On my side, I secured our EIN for the church last night and I'm working through the process of getting tax exempt status in the state of OK. With a tax rate of 8.5, we can save big $ on all the equipment we will purchase this year if we can get that tax exempt status!

Just about 3 weeks until the next wave of the launch team moves to Tulsa!

update from Tulsa!

Wow, the last week has been an absolute blur . . . on a scale that I've not experienced before. I'm sitting in my living room on my second morning in Tulsa and I am finally beginning to feel some of the excitement in my spirit that I was hoping for.

Can I tell you something. Moving with 4 little boys is quite an undertaking. But, we are beginning to settle in just a bit. We now own a refrigerator and and groceries. Unfortunately, that refrigerator is too tall for the cabinet opening in our kitchen and I need to take a half-inch off the bottom of the cabinet, so if anyone is skilled with a jigsaw (and owns one) let me know. We have our washer and dryer hooked up and laundry is being washed and dried. We have a table and chairs in the kitchen, so meals don't have to be eaten on the floor. Things are slowly but surely being set up. We register Colin and Liam for school today and they start tomorrow (I hope :)

The best thing? For the first time in several days, I spent some time this morning reading God's Word. Man, that is such life to me. Just look at this :

Hebrews 4:12 - 13 - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

I can't wait for the rest of our team to join us here in Tulsa. More updates to come

Jason Fitch - Lead Pastor

my final night in PA!

Driving back from Lancaster now with Jake, Shawna Daniel and Heather. We had a great night at FLCC again. Thanks to Pastor Sam Masteller and his team for having us out tonight. I love that church!

Well, this is it. Tomorrow at 9am we pull out for OK! And how about this . . . Heather Bryant is going with us tomorrow! She just had a development with her job that let her leave for Tulsa a couple weeks early. We're so glad to travel with her.

Hey, if you would not mind, could you say some prayers for our family and Heather as we travel over the next few days? We could definitely use a concerted prayer effort as we spend 3 days on the road.

Well, my next post will be from somewhere between here and there.

Jason Fitch - Lead Pastor