Mystery Fall Update

Hello from Joplin!
I hope this newsletter finds you doing well! Things are well here in Southwest Missouri. We have had a busy but nice summer! It has been a fairly mild here and the heat has not hit us with the full force it usually does. I am excited to be a full time pastor as I have officially transitioned from CIY to Mystery this month. A summer highlight for me was preaching three weeks in a row at Mystery this July. It was a great opportunity, and I am really enjoying being able to preach more often as I pastor here. If you are interested in any of the messages from our services, please check out our podcast. You can access it via our website or on itunes. If you happen to listen to a message I preach, I would love your feedback as I am always looking for how I can improve! I am excited about the fall here in Joplin and am looking forward to what Jesus has in store for Mystery!

So, What is God Doing?
God is doing some awesome things, both in my heart and in the heart of Mystery. I guess I’ll start with me. Jesus has used Mystery to continue to change me. The years I’ve spent doing ministry have been good, and there are some incredible things that I’ve seen Jesus do in people’s hearts and lives, but I’ve never really been a pastor to people. For most of my ministry, I’ve tried to keep people at a safe distance. Through Mystery, Jesus is changing me into a person who comes along side people to point them to Him rather than someone who keeps them at arm’s length so things don’t get too messy. I’m learning a better perspective on leading worship. I still want the music to be well done and relevant – but even more than that I’m learning the importance of shepherding the hearts of those who are helping to lead and play music. Are they worshipping Jesus? Not just on stage for the four or five songs we may do on a Sunday, but are they worshipping Him throughout their week? Do the lyrics of the songs mean anything to them as they live their lives Monday through Saturday? As we have continue to grow as worshippers, we see evidence of Jesus moving in the hearts of our church family - specifically in our Sunday morning gatherings.

Coming alongside people does indeed get messy though! We want to be a church that seeks the good of the city for the glory of Christ…and so we have seen people of the city begin to come to our church. Some of these people are quite poor as Joplin has many people who live below the poverty line. Joplin is also a city full of addictions – gambling, alcohol, meth, etc. We live in a city that is full of hurting people, people who need to know the truth and grace that is in Jesus. We have an incredible opportunity to share the gospel with people, but we need wisdom and compassion in order to best help. In all honesty, this has been something that has forced me into places that I am not comfortable. Scriptures talk a lot about the poor…and they cannot be ignored because they make us uncomfortable! Thank you for your prayers for me and for Mystery as we seek to truly help people first and foremost through the gospel of Jesus

Another one of the things Jesus has allowed Mystery to be a part of is a monthly event called ArtWalk. On the third Thursday of each month, our building downtown becomes an art gallery as it is filled with local Art, live music, and great food. Not many churches have an opportunity to love and serve the city each month in the way we do! People come to see the art, eat the food, and listen to the music and we have a great chance to meet them, and a huge opportunity to live out and share the gospel! Many of the artists who come are blown away by how the people of our church love and care for them. One of the ladies from our church prepares food for the event every week and the rumor is that our gallery has the best food in the ArtWalk…it doesn’t surprise me a bit!

Thank You!
Finally, I wanted to say thank you for your support of the work here in Joplin. You are such a huge encouragement and blessing! Thank you for your prayers for us, and thank you for your financial support! Jesus is growing a church, and changing a city through what you are doing! If you would like to talk or have questions, please feel free to email me at nate@mysterychurch.com, or call at 417.781.7771.