Dear burning ones-
History records twelve men whose lives were never the same after encountering the man, Christ Jesus. They were utterly wrecked by his love, his authority, and his compassion. They went down in history as being the first disciples, those who followed in the dust of their rabbi. Jesus was God alive, walking and talking among them and to their great surprise they found themselves caught up in his great story as first hand witnesses of the Good News. The sick were healed, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and demons were cast out as Jesus reclaimed the culture and demonstrated the Kingdom of God among them! Everything had suddenly changed! We can only imagine what it must have felt like even as they asked one another,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked to us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” –Luke 24:32
Today too, we find ourselves surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses. We also can’t help but to recall the past few years of our own story, to remember a group of friends whose lives would never be the same after encountering the presence of God in our college days. God marked us powerfully then as burning ones, consumed by the love of God and eager to share that love to those around us, transforming lives, cities, and nations. John Wesley once said,
“If you set yourselves on fire, people will come and watch you burn.”
So, as a group of friends, we set out on a journey to explore loving God, loving one another, and loving the world around us, inviting as many friends along for the ride as we could! We chased the Holy Spirit like chasing a wild goose. We prayed for everyone we could and saw people’s lives touched by the power of God and the power of his love. We baptized people in ponds, in lakes, and even in truck beds! God was alive and walking and talking among us! It was incredible and we believe we will never be the same because of it!
As our last year of college approached, we stumbled upon an abandoned fraternity house that had “community” written all over it! We moved in over the summer of 2007 and for three years, The Jesus House was home to over 50 Christian guys. Through unceasing love and support from the Stillwater church community, a multitude of family and friends who believed in us and came along side us for the journey, and many other beautiful friends who pitched in to make this happen- we have seen God renovate not only a broken down, bedraggled fraternity house, but also the renovation of hundreds of lives! It is truly amazing to think about the spiritual legacy of generations coming together, both old and young alike, to see God rebuild the ancient ruins long devastated.
In our belief that God is who he says he is, and can do what he says he can do, we jumped at the opportunity to invest in the city in this capacity, coming along side and participating in what God was already doing: establishing his Kingdom and building his family! We long to continue to be a people who aspire to this great calling: following Jesus where he leads and participating with his spirit in what he is doing.
“In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit.”
-Ephesians 2:21-22
As spring of 2010 approached we became quite aware that the wind of change was blowing through the ministry of the Jesus House and we began to deliberate whether or not to close the doors to this chapter in our history together. Through a series of divine circumstances and much wisdom, and prayer, the board (which includes local church ministers, pastors, current house leaders, and past leaders) unanimously decided it good in the Holy Spirit to official close the doors of the Jesus House beginning June 1st of 2010.
As sad and unforeseen as this decision is, we remain convinced that God has written some significant history in each of our lives over the past few years! We are incredibly indebted for the friendship, the grace, and the prayers of those who have gathered around as and called us family during this time! Thank you friends and family for sharing who you are with us! You are an incredible breed of people who have encountered God, who will do his works, and change the world by sharing his love!
May we continue to champion one another in the seasons to come, as the Lord faithfully leads us on, to bring about his good purpose and plan! May we continue to fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of this most holy faith, the one who was and is, and is still to come! May we remember the wonderful work of the Lord, and remind ourselves constantly of his unfailing love and mercy. May we love him till the end with all of our affection, all of our lives, and all the dreams still yet to come! Friends we know this:
“God’s spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! The resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next, papa?”
-Romans 8:14-15 (The Message)
With burning hearts,
The Jesus House Leadership Team
June 2010
