Big things require a Big God and some Big faith

As most, if not all of you know, I and my family have planted a church, called Journey Community in Fernley, Nevada.  If you know that, then you probably also know, that I didn't necessarily WANT to plant a church in Fernley, Nevada.  In fact, I didn't want to plant a church at all.  I was hoping to go to an established church, follow an established pastor, and do the established things a pastor does along with a little flavor of my own to make it a new and exciting place to worship.  Sounds reasonable and sounds familiar at the same time.  But for some reason God had other plans.
Now let me say this before we go any further: I DO NOT THINK THAT PLANTING A CHURCH HAS SOME SPECIAL DISPENSATION FROM GOD THAT ESTABLISHED CHURCHES DO NOT HAVE.  I do not think if you plant a church you are anything special and I cringe at the times that I read articles that make church planters something special and unique.  I do not think God smiles upon the church planter and tolerates the guy who takes over an established pulpit.
So God had other plans for me that was different than the plan I had been hoping for in my life.  And over these past three years God has shown me that some Big things require a Big God and some Big faith.  And God has shown me that time and time again.  I am thankful that He said no to my plans and moved me into His plan.  It has been a good learning experience for me and it continues to be something I am learning everyday.
Now we are at a time in the life of Journey Community where we need to hire an additional staff member.  Not because we aren't growing or doing some good things.  But because God has laid upon us a new ministry call to Fernley.  He has called us to reach into the community of 18 - 28 year olds with the gospel in a different kind of way.  It is a unique ministry that I do not believe I would reach effectively.  So I believe we are being called to step out on this and hire a man who has this call on his life.  We have found that man, actually God showed him to us, and we want to hire him.  This has potential to be a big thing here in Fernley and bring a lot of people into a relationship with Jesus.  We already know we have a big God.  So what it takes from us is some BIG FAITH.  
So what does it take to have BIG FAITH? Well first of all let me say that the true quality of my faith depends on the object of my faith. My faith may be small or weak, but my God is big and strong.  Daily, we must remind ourselves that our faith does not depend on the feelings of the situation or the circumstances that surround us. Those things always change. Remember: Feelings and Circumstances can be great servants in my faith, but they make lousy masters of my faith.  Our faith must be grounded in the Person of God. Who He is and what He does. What matters most is not the size of our faith but the size of our God. 
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
So, we are going to step out in faith, not faith in ourselves, but faith in God and hire this guy and his family.  But it is also going to require us to step up and step out when it comes to finances, prayer support, and changing the way we currently do things at Journey in order to faithfully do the call that God has laid upon our hearts here.  We need to give, serve, pray and fast more often, with more intensity, and with more surrender than ever before.  Lives are at stake, we are called, and the mission is clear.  Here we go.
So I am asking you to give more, serve more, pray more and fast more for the kingdom work God has called us to, here in Fernley NV.  
I am excited because we are being called to BIG things with our BIG God and I am ready to step out with some BIG faith.  Are you?
Take care,
Rod