May 9

Hey guys,

I am really excited about what God is doing with all of us (although I don't know what that means yet). Hamish and Molly, I was very impressed by both of you and I feel like we all 'cliqued' well. Here is a copy of an email I just sent to Richard Crabtree, Jeff Metzger, Bill Weber and Randall Brooks;

Dear Richard, Jeff, Bill, & Randall,

Thank you all for your support, guidance, and encouragement in our effort to participate in what God is doing in New Zealand. We are encouraged all the time that, even though we do not know exactly what we are doing, God does. It seems to me that God is working in spite of our inexperience and difficulties to show that if anything great does happen it will be Him, and not us, who deserves all the credit.

At the suggestion of Jeff and Bill, Amy and I drove to Indianapolis to meet with Nate & Whitney Hutchison and (the soon to be wed couple) Hamish Taylor and Molly Vance about a possible partnership in church planting. As you know, Amy and I had been praying about and discussing working as a team with the Hutchisons when Jeff and Bill suggested we involve Hamish and Molly in that discussion. Last night we all met together for the first time since meeting with Bill and Jeff and were very impressed with Hamish and Molly. It was clear that they are both very gifted individuals with a passion to serve God, particularly in New Zealand.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that we are excited about what God can do with all of us working together. We plan to meet again after Amy and I speak with Randall and Mikki on June 4, but before Hamish and Molly leave for New Zealand. The best dates for all of us are June 16 and 17, in either Cincinnati or Indianapolis. Although these dates are still uncertain, we would like to invite all of you to come and meet with us as we discuss future plans on that date.

Once again, thank you all for your continued help. Please realize that you are all welcome to ask questions, make suggestions and guide us in any way you see fit.

In Fellowship,
Joe Flammer

As soon as I hit "send" the phone rang and it was Richard Crabtree. We had a brief but very encouraging conversation. He is excited about the possibility of us all working together. He also was hopeful that we could all make it to the NACC for the SPCF meeting there on Wednesday, June 28 at 1:30. He said as official "recruits" the Hutchisons and Amy and I would be able to stay for every aspect of the meeting. I informed them that I think Hamish and Molly will have returned to NZ by then.

In summary, I am excited to see what God has planned.