Like it or not, the longer we live, the more complex life becomes. Things that were supposed to make life easier simply made life busier. In high school we thought college would simplify things. Then in college we anticipated graduation, marriage, and our first real job…because those things would, of course, bring structure, free our time, and simplify life. Yet at every stage another dimension of complexity has been discovered. If we’re not careful, like lemmings over a cliff, we’ll simply build our 401(k) hoping for retirement and the ‘salvation’ it is sure to bring.

Truthfully, life is complex at every stage. I am continually bombarded on every front. People seeking my attention in person, through email, on Facebook, Twitter, and every other form of Social Media. The little red light on my smart phone continually screams: “YOU HAVE A MESSAGE!” I find myself ‘connected’ to more people than ever before, but occasionally wonder at what cost. I have a wife to love and care for, a daughter to lead, nurture and provide for, and a church to plant. I need to make connections in the community, share the Gospel and become a successful fundraiser. I am told I need to read a book a week, keep up with the latest television shows, understand many different genres of music and track the scores of every sporting event in the world (thanks soccer fans). I’m supposed to understand the stock market and keep up with real estate trends – is it time to buy or sell? Additionally, I need to understand the vision God has given me and be capable of clearly articulating it in 3, 5, 15 & 30 minutes…you never know how much time you’ll be given. In addition to this, I know more than anything, I need to seek quiet and solitude as I continue to develop a close relationship with Jesus and the Father.

Because each of these have a place in my life, simplification is essential. With the demanding lives we lead, the optional robs the essential, the unimportant attacks the necessary. If I continue to fund the frivolous with time, money, and energy, there will be little remaining for that which matters most. And so I am on a mission to simplify my life. To rid myself of the unnecessary. Honestly, it remains a battle. I crave comfort, I desire ease and far too often I find these the enemy of the gospel and missional living. Yet if we are going to lead missional lives we must have time to spend with those in need, money to support a life of generosity, and energy to invest in relationships. At the end of the day -or month- there must be resources remaining for the inconvenient and the unexpected, requiring simplicity on the front side and constant attention along the way – while closely following the lead of the Spirit. Missional living is not easy – there is no formula for success. It looks different in every context, neighborhood, and home. Yet at the heart of missional living we find those hungry for Jesus, committed to his kingdom, and by the grace of God, willing to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel.  Won’t you join me on this journey?

Read Missional Living - Part 1

If we are ever going to live lives that embrace, redeem, and transform both people and cultures it is imperative we understand the importance of missional living. But what does this mean? What does it look like and how do we accomplish it?

In the simplest of definitions, to live a “missional” life is to live a life on mission. This is crucial to understand because it forces us to define the mission we are pursuing. Nearly everyone I know is on a mission: find a mate, make more money, retire early, have a family, be happy, find God, build a church… but to live a missional life is not as much about defining the mission as it is about transforming the way we pursue our mission. It is less about self-actualization and more about giving oneself to the glory of God and the good of others. However doing this well is difficult. It requires much of a person and more of a family. And so I’d like to begin to look at some characteristics and habits essential to living a missional life.

1) A Christ-Centered Life

To some this seems the obvious beginning of a missional lifestyle but my fear is far too many desire to embrace certain qualities they admire in a missional life, without understanding the essential nature of the foundation of Christ. As such, I find it important to begin our conversation here. Any effort to serve, to live a life of generosity and community, to engage people and culture, that is not deeply anchored in the person and work of Christ can do little more than set us adrift in a culture hostile to the very God we love.

At best, we will locate a few individuals eager to embrace us and our ideas, yet fail to point them to Christ. At worst, we will find our life destroyed by the culture we initially embraced with the best of intentions. How then do we safely enter a culture with the goals: embrace, redeem, transform?

We must begin with our identity, our purpose, our very existence firmly established in the work of Christ on the cross. We do this by believing the gospel and understanding that Christ embraced us for the purpose of redeeming and transforming us. We must place our hope not in our good deeds, our noble pursuits, or even our ability to engage culture, but in Christ – his death, burial and resurrection – by which we are both saved and being saved.

We must then realize that Christ did not come “to condemn the world, but to save the world” – a reality which frees us to do the same and allows us to engage people where and as they are. As we learn to operate out of a sense of His righteousness and not our own we are freed from the extremes of arrogance and separation or absolute acceptance both of which leave us powerless to engage the culture as Christ did.

To the extent we derive our lives and righteousness from Christ we find ourselves free to engage the world. We are free to ask what in this culture can I embrace? How can it be redeemed? How will this ultimately transform both individuals and the culture at large? Thus freeing us to live truly missional lives.

What an exciting month we have experienced. We began the month with the launch of the 10-10-100-100 Challenge through which God has used many of you to encourage and bless Epic Church! Today is day 6 of our ten days of giving and we have already received over $3,000, had many pledge to support us monthly and have received our first online donations! We’ve not yet met our goal of 100 people donating $100 or found all 25 of our monthly $100 supporters, but we are well on our way and trust that in the next five days God will use many of you to meet and exceed these goals. I want to thank you for your prayers, your generous giving, and your continued interest in Epic Church. Additionally, I want to thank those of you who have in turn asked us to join you in praying for specific needs in your life – we count it an honor. As I’ve stated before a church plant is not possible without people like you – people outside the plant praying, supporting and contributing to the church. Thank you for being a part of our team and thank you once again for encouraging us over the past 16 days.

Praying,

Rick Garrett

Want to be a part of this campaign? If you would like to contribute financially simply mail your check to Epic Church, PO Box 540534 Orlando, FL 32854 or give online through PayPal. Simply click here and follow the online instructions (a PayPal account is not necessary, however a credit or debit card is).

The ten days of prayer are officially completed, yet we pray this is merely the end of the beginning and not the beginning of the end. Our hope is that during the past ten days you have found a heart and a passion for Epic Church and the city of Orlando and will commit to a continued partnership. You will never know how much we appreciate your involvement in our life and ministry through your prayers. We have received many emails, comments, and questions about the campaign and have already found a few checks waiting in our mailbox.

If you remember, our goal for the campaign is to find 100 people willing to make a donation of $100 and for 25 of these individuals to commit to a $100 monthly donation for the next year. By accomplishing this goal we will be able to fund a part time worship leader for 6 monts and a meeting location for a year.

If you would like to be a part of making this goal a reality and would like to make a financial contribution you have a few options:

1)  You may mail checks payable to “Epic Church” to
PO Box 540534
Orlando, FL 32854

2)  You may give online through PayPal (using your PayPal account or your credit or debit card). For this options, simply click here and follow the instructions online.

Please remember if you would like to make a contribution either smaller or larger than $100, we gladly accept any size gift. Also, note that all donations are tax-deductible and donors will receive a 2010 statement during January 2011.

Finally, there is one more way you can help. As a financial supporter you have a unique opportunity to share the needs of Epic Church with others. Many are willing to support a ministry that they believe in. If you know of someone or some group who you think may be interested in supporting Epic Church, I would encourage you to talk with them and help us connect to them. If you believe in Epic Church, why not let others know you’ve found a cause worthy of your support?

Just like a new baby, this new congregation is vulnerable and requires constant attention. Someone must feed it, care for it, and encourage it. The task can seem insurmountable at times, but the church planter and pastor must follow Peter’s example and constantly encourage his fledgling flock: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”

As you pray for Epic Church today, understand that there is a great deal of work left to be done. The church has yet to be birthed. We are currently laboring to share the gospel and gather the initial group of people who will ultimately become Epic Church. This requires a great deal of effort and resources and this is where we would like to focus our prayer needs.

Please pray:

• that God would give Rick wisdom as he makes the many important decisions in the coming months (James 1:5)
• that we would find a building that would meet our needs and assist us in assembling the church
• that people in College Park would be receptive to and hungry for the gospel and Epic Church
• that God would be cultivating, calling, and preparing men to lead Epic church
• that God would be working through each team member to build relationships that lead to the spread of the gospel and the advancement of the kingdom of God
• that we would find people of peace – that is community leaders who would embrace our vision and passion and assist us in the work ahead, opening doors that we could not open on our own
• that God would provide the funds necessary for the work. Ask God to give people a heart for Epic church which frees them to give sacrificially to the work of the gospel and the spread of the church.
• that we would be free from the grip of materialism and that we would “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”
• that we would count every loss, gain, set back and blessing as joy and constantly remember that: “the testing of our faith develops perseverance.Perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• that over the next ten days, God uses this 10-10-100-100 challenge to a part time salary for our worship leader and a facility for the coming year.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

And now you’ve reached the end of day 10. Thank you for praying with and for us over the past week and a half. Our prayer is that you will not stop now, but only have a better perspective and understanding of our work in Orlando and will feel more connected to that which God is doing in College Park. We also pray that through the past ten days, God has given you a heart for Epic Church.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…” (Philippians 1:3-7)

Rick & Christie Garrett

Rick is the lead pastor of Epic Church, responsible for casting the vision and leading the charge, he is excited about what God has in store for Orlando and is continually humbled that God has chosen to use him in this capacity. He and Christie have been married for nearly 10 years during which they have served the church in student and education ministry. Having developed a passion for Orlando and sensing a call to church planting they have spent the past three years preparing for this stage of life and ministry.

Praying for Rick & Christie:
- Ask God to protect their marriage and family as they plant Epic Church
- Ask God to give Rick fresh vision and passion for the word of God and the people of Orlando
- Ask God to provide wisdom for the many decisions that are being and will be made in the coming months
- Ask God to meet the needs of their family – spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially
- Ask God  guide their steps and lead them to people receptive to the gospel and passionate about Epic Church
- Ask God to help them as they parent their children and to bring their children to faith in Jesus

Mike & Amber Price

Mike is serving Epic Church as the Worship Pastor and is responsible for overseeing corporate worship gatherings while developing a team of musicians to serve the church. Mike graduated from the student ministry Rick led, went on to pursue a degree in Theology, and married Amber nearly three years ago. The couple committed to Epic Church in its earliest stages and are excited to be living in Orlando.

Praying for Mike & Amber:
-  Ask God to provide the couple with jobs that enable them to build relationships in the community and serve the growing church
- Ask God to give them peace as they leave behind family and friends and transition to a new city and culture
- Ask God to use this experience to strengthen their faith and marriage and to protect their relationship
- Ask God to meet their needs to provide for them in unique ways
- Ask God to give Mike wisdom and passion as he develops people into worshipers of Jesus Christ
- Ask God to use their relationships to lead people to Jesus
- Ask God to provide the musicians necessary to establish a worship team

Dwaine & Misty Hodges

Dwaine and Misty became Christians during Rick’s ministry at First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Georgia. The two couple became great friends and discovered similar hearts for ministry and discipleship. As Dwaine and Misty watched Rick and Christie prepare to plant Epic church, they began to wonder if it was possible God was calling them to become a part of this adventure. After a great deal of prayer, the two felt certain this was the direction God was leading and decided to move their family to Orlando to plug into the vision and work of Epic Church.

Praying for Dwaine & Misty:
- Ask God to continue to guide Misty and Dwaine during their transition to Orlando
- Ask God to strengthen their marriage and family as they take a step of faith and trust Jesus in new ways
- Ask God to provide for their many needs during this transition, including new jobs
- Ask God to encourage Dwaine as he leads his family through the many changes
- Ask God to meet the needs of their son as they move to a new city

Jamey & Brooks Vizzini

Jamey and Brooks are moving to Orlando while Jamey pursues a Master of Divinity at RTS. Encouraged by what they’ve seen God do through the Acts 29 Network, they were excited to learn of Epic Church and are enthusiastic about the possibility of being involved from the start. The couple are Georgia natives and have been involved in student ministry over the past few years.

Praying for Jamey & Brooks:
- Ask God to help them as they work out the details of their move – housing, jobs, etc.
- Ask God to provide Brooks with a full time job she enjoys and Jamey with a part time job to supplement the family income while working on his degree
- Ask God to strengthen their faith and marriage during this new adventure
- Ask God to help them as they move far away from family, friends, and the familiar
- Ask God to guide them as they seek their place in ministry
- Ask God to help them meet people who need to learn of Jesus as they desire to live in Orlando as missionaries

Thanks so much for praying with and for us today. We appreciate your faithfulness during the past 9 days. Come back tomorrow as we share specific prayer requests for Epic Church.

The truth is all cities need new churches – that is not to say that existing churches are not necessary, it merely is a reflection based on the reality that the population is increasing at a far greater rate than church attendance and most churches continue to see very few converted.

Today, as we pray for the churches of Orlando, I want to focus on a few specific churches. Each of these churches are at different stages and were started in different ways. All, however, are grounded in the gospel and seeing growth as a result. I would encourage you to pray for these pastors and the churches they lead.

1. Grace Fellowship Orlando (www.gogracefellowship.com), Pastor: Mike Adkins
   This church, located in College Park is the church Christie and I have been attending during our transition. Grace exists to help people take their next step toward Christ. Founded in 2003 by Pastor Mike Adkins, we’ve seen God dramatically change the lives of both the unchurched and the lifelong churched.

   Please Pray:
   - For the details and finances to come together for our own facility
   - For guidance through the challenges that come with growth
   - For vision for the next season of ministry
   

2. Westpoint Church (www.WestpointChurch.org) Pastor: Jason Dukes
   Westpoint Church is a local expression of the church who emphasize that we don’t “go” to church, but rather we ARE the church. 140 plus times the New Testament refers to “church,” but not one is a place or an event. Instead, “church” is a bride, a body, a who, not a what, someone, not something or somewhere. It’s people, following Jesus together, gathering together, serving together, loving together. LIVING SENT.

   Please Pray:
   - that we would grow more in our love for one another,
   - our togetherness around the intended mission of God to live and speak the Gospel to our neighbor and to the nations,
   - our commitment to live sent as His letter daily,
   - that many who do not know Him would know Him here in Central Florida and beyond.

3. WestRiver Gathering, Pastor: Charlie Woodward
   Charlie is a new friend of mine who will be planting WestRiver Gathering this Fall. They are currently planning and building relationships in the area. WestRiver Gathering is a church, founded by the gospel, laboring to help others know, love, and live for Jesus Christ.  Our hope is to see renewal and transformation take place as we make disciples who are learning:
   1.) To embrace the truth about Jesus Christ and their new identity in him,
   2.) To embody the rhythms of grace that flow out of our new identity in Christ,
   3.) Embark faithfully as they follow Jesus into their daily routines at home, work, and abroad in order to advance his kingdom.
   In the end, WestRiver is all about Jesus.

   Please Pray:
   - for our family’s transition into the area (in about 3 months). Ask God for continued guidance & financial provision as we make this move.
   - for people to commit to join our launch team on the front end of this endeavor
   - for relationships to be formed and for God to provide “people of peace” who will increase our  credibility and relational currency in that area.
   - for the people of Horizon’s West to come to know Jesus and see his Kingdom reign not only in their lives but in and throughout the fabric of the community so as to impact the city and beyond.
   

4. Pray in General for the churches of Orlando:
   - Ask God to encourage faithful pastors and church staff so that they will be energized for their work and powerfully proclaim the word of God
   - Ask God to bring revival to the churches of Orlando and to begin a work that can be attributed only to Him
   - Ask God to give Christians in Orlando a deep hunger for God and His Word.
   - Ask God to thwart the plans of the evil one and the lies he would spread through false teachers.

Again, thank you for joining us for these 10 days of prayer.

Colossians 4:2-4 – Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak

As I talk with these people, I find them curious about the church, interested in what we are doing in Orlando and why we would move to a new city to start a new church. I have talked with those who have been wounded by the church and those who simply have never been invited to attend church. I’ve also met those who are pretty certain church has nothing to offer them, but what I have not met is anyone hostile to the church. I’m sure some of these people exist, but so far, I’ve not met them.

And so today, I would call you to pray for the unchurched people of Orlando. We are confident that God has not only called us to plant a church in Orlando, but that He has called us to serve the unchurched and to preach the gospel to them. We feel certain the words Jesus shared with Paul about Corinth are true of Orlando as well: “for I have many people in this city who are my people” and we rest in obedience to His command: “Go, therefore and make disciples…”

As you pray:

• Pray for those who have never been invited to attend a church or who have no connection with a church. Ask God to bring people into their lives brave enough to share Jesus and invite them to church.
• Pray for those who have been wounded by the church. Ask God to show them the beauty of Jesus despite their past experiences and to help them find a church where they can experience healing from the past through the power of the gospel.
• Pray for those who have embraced another faith or religion seeking to find salvation in their good deeds and moral behavior. Ask God to show them the gospel – the good news that He has accomplished everything necessary for their salvation on the cross.
• Pray for those who want nothing to do with God or the church. Ask God to give them eyes to see His beauty and a heart that longs for him.
• Pray for Christians who interact with the unchurched on a regular basis. Ask God to help them live lives of authentic faith and to demonstrate the impact Christ makes on their life as much with their actions as with their words. Ask God to give them compassion on those who do not know Christ and a deep love for the unchurched.

“You awaken us to delight in your praises, for you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it reposes in you.” — St. Augustine of Hippo

Despite this difficulty, Orlando continues to plays a major role in making and distributing culture and through the years has been known as a major industrial and hi-tech center – boasting a $13.4 billion technology industry which impacts digital media, agricultural technology, aviation, aerospace and software design. Orlando is also home to a large number of engineering firms, many companies working with the military, weapons development, and the aeronautical industry. In addition to its impact on the hi-tech industry, Orlando also contributes to pop culture through the film, television, and electronic gaming industries through a large number of companies, studios, and schools working in these fields.

Finally, Orlando is involved in culture making and distribution, merely through its tourism. Being one of the most visited cities in the world, the city has become a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and traditions. As such, it has a unique opportunity to disseminate culture around the world.

While some Christians shy away from culture, avoiding it altogether and other Christians embrace all culture, we at Epic church believe Christians should be wise in the way they engage culture and should contribute to the making and spreading of culture. From the earliest pages of Scripture, we are commanded to subdue the earth and have dominion, to be fruitful and multiply. We are in effect commanded to create and shape the earth into a place inhabitable for us and our offspring - that is to build culture.

Genesis 1:28 – And God blessed them. And God said to them, ”Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Today, I would call you to join me in praying for those individuals in Orlando tasked with making and spreading culture.

As you pray today:

• Ask God to promote righteous men and women who take the task of spreading culture seriously and appreciate the huge responsibility that comes with the job
• Pray that Christians would find a place in making and promoting culture instead of simply filling the role of consumers
• Pray that Christians would willingly engage and dialogue with culture makers and that instead of making war on culture or blindly embracing culture they would wisely seek to redeem culture and use it as an opportunity to bring glory to Christ
• Pray that Christians in these industries would realize the attitudes and motives of their heart are an important element of their work and worship
• Pray that the plans of the ungodly and the production of damaging and destructive cultural elements would be frustrated and thwarted
• Pray for Epic church as we seek to find inroads into the culture and establish relationships with the culture makers, ask God to place opportunities before us and to guide each step we take

The reasons behind this immigration are vast. Partially due to the tourism industry itself – it not only provides thousands of jobs, but also attracts visitors from around the world who later consider moving to the city they’ve already visited. Additionally, many companies and realtors have invested in large overseas marketing campaigns which have attracted thousands of people. Once people begin to move into a city, they bring family and friends with them and the trends continue. The result is a vast number of neighborhoods with specific international ties and a large number of retained customs and traditions.

As the number of international residents increase, the oversea relationships continue to strengthen and grow. As such, Orlando is now home to 14 foreign consulates and has developed relationships with International Sister Cities in Brazil, China, France, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and Taiwan. All of these factors present those of us living as missionaries in the city with unique challenges and opportunities.

This international population and influence was a large part of why we felt God calling us to plant Epic Church in Orlando. We do not yet know how we will minister to the thousands of foreigners we share a city with, but we are certain that they are a part of the reason why God has called us to this place and we are reminded in Acts 17:26-27 that “he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him.” Thank you for joining us in prayer for these ten days as we seek God’s direction and blessing on our ministry.

Revelation 7:9-10 – “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

Join me in praying for Orlando’s international residents as we consider the needs and opportunities before us:

• Pray that God will supply the needs of these people as they transition to a new home, culture, & land
• Pray that the Christians of Central Florida will have an increased passion to reach the nations for Christ and that this passion will begin with those people they encounter daily
• Pray that God will raise up men and women to boldly share the Gospel with these residents and to assist them in their time of transition
• Pray for my new friends, Andre & Renata, who have been sent as missionaries to Orlando by a church in Brazil and are planting a church to reach Brazilian people living in Orlando
• Pray that those immigrants who receive Christ would have a passion to share him with their friends and family they left behind in their native lands
• Pray that God would continue to call out missionaries to reach the nations
• Pray that God would guide Epic church as we consider the ways in which we are to minister to the “local foreigners” and that through our ministry we would see people from many nations come to faith in Jesus Christ

We often think the work of missions is relegated to a few individuals called by God to go to far-away places. Today, let us remember that Jesus’ Great Commission began with: “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL NATIONS…” This is not a calling for a few, this is the very reason we, as Christians, are alive and breathing. The promise is given in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Today I would call you to be a part of all that God is doing and to join us in praying for the salvation of the nations and especially those residing within the city of Orlando.

Again, we thank you for joining us in this season of prayer and look forward to seeing you tomorrow as we pray for the many people living in Orlando who contribute to the making of culture.