Over four years ago my wife Bailey and I moved to Fort Worth with the intention of returning to Arkansas after one year. Immediately after moving into our apartment God started opening our eyes and hearts to a desire to remain in Fort Worth with the hope to plant a church. After only two months I withdrew from the graduate program I had begun, we bought a house and decided to become Partners with The Paradox Church. During this time, sin was exposed and we grew in a deeper understanding of repentance and response to the work of Jesus Christ. His call for us to stay in Fort Worth was clear. Over the next two years we pursued community through city groups, I enrolled in Porterbrook Theological Training and we became City Group Leaders. We learned so much and have walked with friends through life, sin and new life.
"I had been struggling with a realization that I did not have the gifts of a lead planter."
In the summer of 2014 we participated in one of The Paradox’s Redemption Group Immersions. I had been struggling with a realization that I did not have the gifts of a lead planter. We were still anticipating God to plant a church out of The Paradox in Benbrook but we didn’t know how he would accomplish that. Bailey and I both walked away from the Immersion understanding that even though I was not to be a lead planter for this church in Benbrook we were still called to prepare for it.
"...but the gospel message of God saving sinners through his Son’s life, death, and resurrection is missing."
If you want a true glimpse into the culture of Benbrook all you need to do is spend an hour at our YMCA. We first joined The Y so Bailey could have a place to run in the winter. Now we have relationships that started in a boot camp that have spilled over into our homes. The staff knows our kids and Elliott calls them his teachers. Very few of our friends and neighbors are unaware of Jesus but the gospel message of God saving sinners through his Son’s life, death, and resurrection is missing. We love these people and are looking forward to the days we celebrate their new life in Jesus Christ.
"One thing that had remained clear to us is that God had been calling to himself a group of people in and around Benbrook to proclaim his name."
When Pastor Ryan approached us about the possibility of planting Grace Church in Benbrook we began to see the story unfolding. One thing that had remained clear to us is that God had been calling to himself a group of people in and around Benbrook to proclaim his name. We are committed to the one, true gospel and committed to sharing this gospel to the city of Benbrook that mostly believes in a cultural, moralistic religion. We are excited to worship, respond, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as it transforms lives and brings those who are lost into the grace we now know.
*Join the Greens and come to our first monthly gathering as a church plant on Wednesday, January 25th 2017.