A Final Goodbye to the Ridge Church Site

Hey! I just wanted to make a final post on the Ridge Church blog/website, and this is it.

Baby #2, Chloe, Emily and I will be moving to Charlotte on June 25, 2010 where I will be the new Student Pastor at LifePointe Christian Church. It's a five-year old church plant, and it will be a very challenging role for me. I would expect no less of the Lord! ;)

We are very excited about the new path that God has laid out for us, and ready to start serving in a new area of a town we loved living in!

This will never change the love that we have for the Ridge Church folks, those who supported us through prayer and finances while we planted The Ridge, and the fine staff of OneLife Church in Powell, who welcomed us with open arms. We care about you all and will miss each of you.

Please pray for us, and if God so leads you, consider financially supporting us in our 1/2 salary, 1/2 fundraised monetary situation in Charlotte. (You can learn more about all that in my personal blog, kevinlayne.blogspot.com.) I'm calling it "Life in the Fast Layne," but of course Emily thinks that's lame. The name of the blog is subject to change...

One final note: This blog will continue to exist as long as blogger lets it. I am planning to keep it as a record of our church plant, and my church planting thoughts and efforts, even before Ridge Church started meeting. To that end, I've imported my original blog posts from a couple years ago, so all the church planting stuff is on one blog. Doesn't mean a ton to most people, but it's a big deal for me... Feel free to read anything you want!

Until we see you again, God bless you and keep you!

Kevin

"New Baby" Layne's first picture...

Final Ridge Church Financial Update

Hey! I hope you all are having a great 2010! It has been a wild ride for Emily and me (and Chloe!) the last few months. That's life I guess!

I mentioned in my last post that I would have at least one more blog entry here to discuss the final financials of Ridge Church. I can say that winding down a church's bank accounts takes a little time! However, we're done, the bank statement says "$0" and we have the final info to share with you here. Our totals below include all the finances we shared at any time from The Ridge with missions organizations, missionaries, church planters, and church planting organizations.

Church Planting: $5,157.00 (The Axis Church in Nashville; Journey Church of the Highlands in Boone, NC; and the Acts29 Network in Seattle)

Regional Missions: $1,204.00 (Jimmie Hodges Ministries to the people of Appalachia)

Local Missions: $843.00 (Fountain City Ministry Center here in Knoxville)

International Missions: $56.10 (special offering from Ridge Church folks for persecuted Pakistani Christ-followers)

The total of all of this giving is $7,260.10! That's not too bad for a little church plant! I have to say, I am filled with excitement when I think back to the generosity of our Ridge Church folks and the way you all shared with others and kept your focus on God's Kingdom expansion, instead of on yourselves and your own comfort! Great job! I am proud of you (in a good way!) and will always have fond memories of our church plant together.

Thank you once again for allowing me to lead you as your church planter and lead pastor for a time. I pray that God would continue to use you in obedience wherever you go as you keep placing your faith in Him and keeping your eyes on Jesus and His harvest fields--those who don't have a relationship with Christ and desperately need one!

Again, have a great 2010! If you'd like to contact us, just email us at kevandem@yahoo.com.

For Jesus,

Kevin