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September Update

It must have been very difficult for the early Christians to

imagine what would happen to their movement once the

Holy Spirit shook the place where they were meeting (Acts

4). Up to that point, they had experienced little persecution.

But what started as a movement behind closed doors was

going to be dramatically thrust out into the open! When we

are shaken by the Spirit, we cannot help but to move out in

gratitude and in power.


Go ahead. Take a look at what happens next in Acts 4:23-

5:16. The shaking of God’s people produced movement. The

believers were compelled toward generosity, sharing, and

caring for the needy. They gathered in community out in

the open (no longer behind closed doors). Crowds gathered.

People were drawn to the community and were being saved!

Grace was the basis for all of this. The Gospel was the basis

for physical healing, the healing of the worry and desire for

money and things, healing from isolation, healing from fear

and rejection of others. A boldness swept over the church.


For many years Denise and I have felt a

continued challenge to give our financial

resources to God’s Kingdom work. For

Shaken, that desire continues to grow and

strengthen us. We have also felt led in this

season to lead a life group in our home.

We’ve done that quite often over the years.


It stretches us. However, this time, we felt led by God to lead

a group for young adults (18–24-year-olds). We are certainly

outside of our element. We’re a bit apprehensive. I feel that’s

what being shaken by God does to us. We must think through

and work out the implication of the Gospel in every area of our

own lives.



We are coming close to the culmination of our Shaken initiative

in December. We look forward to celebrating all that God has

done in and through us throughout this journey. We continue to

hear stories and see lives being changed at White Oak.

Sixty-six baptisms with more on the way! Hundreds of people

are stepping into life groups. We’ve been able to support

displaced pastors and their families in war-torn Myanmar. The

refreshing of ministry-ready spaces at our Colerain facility is

taking place and plans for partnering with Side by Side and

BLOC ministries are underway! We have paid down the debt of

our Ross facility saving more than $1.662M in interest over the

life of our loan. God is moving with power and the result of his

grace is producing boldness in his Church at White Oak!


I want to thank you for your generosity over this season. It’s

changing lives! I don’t know what the implication of the Gospel

being worked out in your life looks like. I do want to encourage

you. Don’t let up. Don’t coast to the finish line. Continue to ask

God to shake you to bold steps of trust.


-Nathan

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