Anna & Jessica’s MainStreet Stories

MainStreet celebrated our first year of public ministry this past Sunday. Here are just a couple of the stories of how God has been at work among us this past year!  Read many more MS Stories here.

MIKE’S STORY: Obedient to His Call

Mike is the definition of a ‘willing servant’. The greatest gift a leader can have is someone they can count on to show up and do whatever is needed. Mike doesn’t ask for glamorous roles, only to be used in God’s service. That said, I’ve enjoyed seeing Mike’s gifts as a mentor and teacher emerge these past months, and I’m thrilled to have Mike leading one of our LifeGroups this fall. Here’s his MainStreet story in his own words. -JB

I want to tell you why I have joined the MainStreet launch team.  In Barbara Brown Taylor’s book “An Altar in the World”. I came across 2 passages I want to share with you.

First,
“As important as it is to mark the places where we meet God, I worry about what happens when we build a house for God. … Do we build God a house so that we can choose when to go see God? Do we build God a house in lieu of having God stay at ours? Plus, what happens to the rest of the world when we build four walls – even four gorgeous walls – cap them with a steepled roof, and designate that this is the House of God?… What happens to the people who never show up in our house of God?”

I am part of MainStreet because I care for the people who never show up in a “House of God”.  One of MainStreet’s primary purposes is to reach out to this group of people.  Acts 17:17 “So he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.”

Second, she has this to say about St. Francis of Assisi:

LAURIE’S STORY: A Coffeeshop Connection

We are living into our vision of being people who are “in the marketplace daily with all who happen to be there” (Acts 17:17). Dave and Melissa met us in the Farmer’s Market, Deano heard about us from the chiropractor, and recently Laurie bumped into us at Caribou Coffee.  Here’s her story:

“A young man named Charlie was at the Caribou in Mound minding his own business when I spotted him. He looked hip, had a Bible open in front of him, was likely a believer and therefore must have known of a church in the area – as he did and its name is MainStreet.

I have been attending MainStreet functions for little over a month. In my short time of observation and participation I have found much faith in action. I am stoked to be a part of a fellowship that can boldly say to the people of Mound, “Go, have a great day!” because we see to it that they can by meeting that need of theirs, whatever it may be, thereby earning their confidence and solidifying the Gospel message as worthy of being heard.

MainStreet is a beautiful gathering of people whom I find to be bold, sincere in relationship with one another, humble, witty, uplifting, and just right. Is it right for you?”

What a delight it is to see God adding to our number these days.  Now, our goal isn’t to meet people on Main Street and pull them away from there and “into the church,” but rather to invite them to help us be the church — the hands and feet of Jesus — all week long out there in the everyday spaces.  We’re excited to see how God uses Laurie to further His mission in the days ahead.  She brings many gifts! Welcome Laurie!

MELISSA’S STORY: A Crossroads Moment

Enjoy another ‘Mission Moment’ from our church planting adventure in Mound, MN.

MainStreet’s vision is to be a church that meets people where they do everyday life, forming relationships that point them to Jesus. We met Melissa this fall when she and her boyfriend, Dave, stopped by our MainStreet booth at the Farmer’s Market in Mound. She has been part of our journey these past months, attends our LifeGroup, and recently surrendered her life to Christ. Here’s how she describes it:

“Hi Jeremy, I cannot even begin to express how glad and thankful I am. A life changing experience such as this is not easily explained and the magnitude of it cannot be captured in words…

I feel like I truly am at a crossroads right now. For the first time since college, I actually picked up my Bible last night… I am scared, yet excited, yet oh so scared, to see where God leads me….I am definitely in a place I’ve never been before…

I am trying to reconcile my previous/current life with the need to explore what God wants me to do. I don’t know how to live this kind of a Christian life and still live how I was before…

However, I cannot believe how at peace I am with God. As I was driving to work today, I knew that if on this day I were to die, the Lord would fully welcome me. Death is no longer nearly as scary as it used to be. I don’t know how to explain it; I can honestly say I’ve never felt so many of the things I’m feeling recently. It’s a scary and wonderful time…

I look forward to exploring with you and our fellow believers. Dave and I have strongly felt that God brought us (MainStreet Community) together and I am SO glad we followed his gentle prodding.”

All this happened because MainStreet made ourselves available in the marketplace, at the intersection of faith and everyday life. This is why we’re here and this is why we need your continued support and prayers — there are many more Melissas in Mound to meet!

DEANO’S STORY: Called Back Home to Mound

Here’s a ‘Mission Moment’ story from our church planting mission in Mound, MN.

In Acts 16, Paul is called to the region of Macedonia in a vision. I believe God still calls people to particular places to bring the gospel. That’s why I’m in Mound. But I’m not alone.

Another unsuspecting “victim” of the divine summons is Deano. Deano graduated from Mound in ’01 and has been living in Otsego/Elk River area an hour or so away. However, Deano has spent the past few springs/summers coaching baseball in Mound.

Deano surrendered his life to Christ in 2009, and since then has been sensing God nudging him back to Mound to reach his old town and classmates for Christ. Amazingly, Deano says this call became strongest last August, but Deano kept waiting because he knew he couldn’t accomplish much on his own out here.

Little did Deano know that at this very same time last summer, we began holding MainStreet Launch Team gatherings and asking God to bring others around our vision to plant a new church in Mound! Isn’t that just like our God!?

Deano first heard about MainStreet from our local chiropractor, and we finally connected this past month. In January our Launch Team prayed specifically that God would bring a bold, evangelistic personality to our Launch Team to help spread the word in the community about MainStreet. Deano is a direct answer to that prayer!

Deano is filled with passion for God and a burning desire to draw others closer to Christ. Deano has hit the ground running, is moving back to Mound in March, and wants to use his house in Mound for hosting his own LifeGroup and other MainStreet ministry events.

Thank you LORD for answering our prayers, and thank you Deano for hearing His call and responding in faithful obedience.

“Do not be afraid….For I have many people in this city.” -Acts 18