I am changing the main website to content and design that is more appropriate for a church seeking members rather than a church plant seeking support.  You will still be able to access our current site by visiting www.epic4life.com/support.

to the left is our teaser for the new site…

Here are just a few things I’m thankful for this year:

1. God’s immense love – no joke, I know it sounds corny, but lately I have thought a lot about where I would be if God had not brought me into a relationship with Him.
2. Jenni – I am not that great of a husband and she is so loving, forgiving and able to push me just right.
3. Peter – baby smiles, need I say more.
4. Our friends and family.
5. Those folks who are supporting Epic Church through prayer and finances.  Jenni and I have been taking stock of just how many people are making this thing happen.  It’s incredible!
6. My Grandma for letting Jenni and I live with her for the past 6 months or so.
7. Pecan pie!
8. Bible Christian Church – for being so faithful and allowing us to make this move into church planting with their blessing!
9. Disposable diapers (You know you’re secretly thankful too).
10. Our youth at BCC – they are honestly the best teens I know!

Anyway, that’s some of what I’m thankful for this year.  How bout you?

We got to see our friends Dennis and Tonda on this trip, they let us stay with them and it was such a great time!  Plus, they have an amazing house!

My only regrets from the trip are that the bowling ball didn’t break more when we dropped it from the spill way and that I forgot to call Dan and Sarah – doh!  (Sorry guys, I’m dumb).

I think the next month or so is going to be a constant mix of sadness and excitement frosted with the need for complete trust and faithfullness to God!

Perhaps there is nothing more humbling than planting a church (surely there is – like having your skirt caught by the wind or something of that nature).  The problem with church planting is that the humblings (that’s my own personal word) keep coming.  They come because there is very little about the process that I actually control.  The two things that a church plant need to survive are people and money and these two things come from the only thing that a church plant needs to thrive – God.

Yeah, I am in charge of what happens between now and Sept. of 2009, or am I accountable for what happens – perhaps that is a better way of saying it.  But God is the one who brings it all together.  The key lies in me aligning my heart with His heart.  I must make my definition of sucess His definition of success.  He truly must become greater and I must become less.  This is a struggle for me.

You gotta love Church Planting – nothing like being stretched!

I am excited about the things God is doing!  I had a great meeting today with Robin Sigars, Drew Ashwell, Kevin & Courtney (potential staff) and the 4 State Men’s Group.  I have been meeting like crazy the last 4 days and it really all seems like a blur,  but the one constant in all the meetings has been just how much God is in what we are doing. Tonight while presenting to the 4 State Men’s Group I found out that one of the gentlemen there was from Derby and had pastored a church there.  Fifteen years ago he was commissioned to study Andover for a possible church plant and felt like there needed to be one there.  The group he was with ended up choosing to plant somewhere else but he said he always hoped that a plant would go in Andover.  He said, “It’s amazing how God does things He brings the right people on board when it’s the right time!”  I couldn’t agree more.  God is definitely bringing about something amazing – my prayer tonight was that He would stretch me into the leader I need to be in order to keep up with His steps!

I recently heard about a church plant that dedicated itself to doing 40,000 acts of kindness before they launched.  They wanted to overwhelm their community with love.

I have heard tons of great ideas about ways people have reached out and shown the love of God in a tangible way, but I would love to hear more.  What are your ideas?  How have you seen this done well?  How do you think the church could better serve her community?

This summer I had taken our Bible Christian Church Youth Group on mini missions trips to help my Brother and Sister-in-laws Church Plant in Derby, Aviator Church (You can read about our experience at my blog).  Joe (the Lead Pastor) and I started talking and he told me that Aviator was interested in trying to help a church plant go into the Andover area, basically East Wichita.  He asked if Jenni and I would consider planting in Andover.  I told him we would pray about it and see where God takes us.

All this happened while we had been fervently looking for a place to plant in Kansas City.  It seemed we couldn’t get a break in KC, everywhere we looked WE either didn’t fit the location or the location didn’t fit us.  Jenni and I had both really been struggling with this (we felt called to plant, but the places we were looking at just weren’t right).  It was feeling like God was closing the door to KC but we didn’t see another door opening.  When Joe suggested the idea of planting in Andover, KS we were excited about the possibilities but wanted to make sure we took our time to let God lead (I, Kent, personally fasted for 2 days as we prayed about this decision and asked others to fast as well).

After a week of seeking and praying on top of months of praying and closed doors.  Jenni and I feel like God is opening a wonderful door to serve and minister in Andover, KS (near Wichita)!  I can’t wait to begin to get to know people and share the love of God with this Community that so desperately needs new Churches!  In Andover the statistics break down this way: if you take the population of Andover and divide it into churches, there would be 900 people  to every 1 church in existence.  The average church in America has an attendance of 186 – this number is inflated by really large churches.  If you do the math that means that the churches of Andover and the surrounding area are only reaching 20.6% of their population.  That’s about 2 out of every 10 people.  Consider that Wichita is is expected to envelope Andover in the coming years as it continues to expand East and West (the projection are 20,000 more people on that side of town).  As that expansion happens that percentage is bound to worsen if the church to people ratio stays the same.  I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is leading Jenni and I through this door to Andover!

Thank you so much for your prayers!  It is amazing how Gods timing is absolutely perfect – He opens the doors at just the right time!  What an amazing Savior we serve!!!

Serving Christ,

Kent & Jenni Wagner

Prayer Needs:

Andover:

1. Pray that God will be preparing Andover – causing people to be in the right places and right times for us to meet them and get them involved with what God wants to do in their lives.
2. That the community, churches and officials will react with excitement and positively to a new church in Andover.
3. That God would continue to develop Jenni and I into the people we need to be in order to be the most effective for the Kingdom!

Staffing:

1. Pray that God will direct the right people to get on board with Epic Church and meet our staffing needs

• Children’s Minister – We need someone who can organize and develop volunteer leaders and put on a world class children’s ministry program.
• Worship & Creative Arts Pastor – Someone who can lead and develop musicians as well as oversee graphic and video development
• Director of Operations – This person will be able to develop & coordinate volunteerism and mission projects within the communities of Andover & Wichita as well as inside the church.

Funding:

1. Please be praying specifically that the Churches in the Wichita area will get on board with the idea of planting in Andover and help support this venture.
2. Jenni and I are gearing up to begin a fund-raising campaign, please be praying with us as we seek to raise significant amounts of money to reach those who are disconnected and far from God in Andover.  (Jenni and I are literally stepping out on faith that God is leading and where He leads He will provide)
3. Please be praying about ways that you can be involved in helping Epic Church raise money: Do you know individuals that might consider giving?  Have you gone to a church in the past that you know would be interested in hearing how they can be involved with planting Epic and reaching people who are far from God?  Would you personally consider joining Jenni and I in sacrificing financially to plant Epic Church?