Missionary Riner
February 6, 2010
Hey y’all! The Lord has shown me the starting point for my ministry in Atlanta. I had a meeting last week with Jim Haskell, director of Urban Atlanta Church Planting/UACP and Todd Briggs, a church planter already ministering in the city. We discussed an opportunity where I will partner with Todd to plant two new churches at Loring Heights (on Deering near Northside Drive) and Hills Park (between Howell Mill and Moores Mill roads). There is no gospel presence there. Two former churches in those neighborhoods (Midtown Church and Hills Park Baptist Church) have ceased to function, however, both facilities have been turned over to the UACP to use for church planting. I am praying much about this partnership, and excited about the opportunity. Todd is a man of God, loves the Lord, and a solid Bible conservative. PTL!!!!! He has the heart to reach the city for Christ, to reproduce Christ and multiply the ministry, and to equip believers to go into the world. We are already talking about our missions emphasis for the coming year. I have a real sense of calling, both a driving burden and re-assuring peace, to partner in this effort. Surprisingly, I have few expectations of how my future ministry in Atlanta will take form; I am trying to remain flexible under the Spirit’s Lordship. I don’t want my narrow and limited vision to hinder God’s call and best plans for me.
I want you to know how the Lord is leading and also to thank you for your encouragement, support, and prayers. I’m still working on finding a place to live in Atlanta; some progess, but nothing definite yet. Since God is never in a hurry, I need not worry, amen?
Grace to you,
Greg
Hello to all my family and friends! I am writing to let you know about an amazing new direction in my life. I know that word of mouth can spread news rapidly, but not always accurately, so I wanted to share this information with you so that you will know what is happening with me.
After 11 years of joyful ministry, I resigned as pastor of the South Thompson Baptist Church tonight (Sunday night). I love the church, the community, and the people, and to leave is difficult. There are no negatives that have caused this. In Baptist circles that’s shocking, huh? I am well, and the church is well. The Lord has truly blessed the church and is using it to a make a kingdom difference in the world. I have been privileged and honored to have served this people. I promised years ago that I would never leave of my own choosing, either the church would throw me out or carry me out in a box, but otherwise the Lord would have to call me to a new ministry, which He has.
I would enjoy pastoring this people for many more years, but that is no longer God’s plan for me. For some time, the Lord has burdened my heart for the lost city of Atlanta. I lived there and went to college at Tech in the 80s. I never liked the city, and never had any desire to return until the Lord began to work on my heart. Atlanta is growing again; it is re-populating rapidly, but it is as spiritually lost as any city the apostle Paul encountered in his days on earth. That makes me very sad to think that in a state where there are so many great churches that our largest city is 90-95% lost and unchurched (inside the perimeter of I-285). Early next year, I plan to return to Atlanta to join with other Christians who are planting the gospel of Jesus Christ in the city again, and wherever the gospel is planted, the Lord will plant His church.
I am very encouraged and eager to do this, which also confirms the Lord’s leading in my life to have me excited to go back to a city I never wanted to return. For those of you who know me well and my personality, you know that I am an organizer and a detailed planner, but I am way out of my comfort zone with this and yet very much at peace with it. I do not know specifically which area of the city I will begin my ministry. I do not know where I will be living. I do not know what kind of work I will do while there. Because of the start-up nature of small church plants and not wanting to be a burden, I will return to the workforce to support myself. All I can do is obey the Lord and trust Him to take care of the details in His time.
I appreciate your prayers as I begin this transition, and I ask you to pray for the South Thompson church as it transitions to its next pastor and ministry direction. The church has an incredible future, if you doubt that, it is because you haven’t read the last four chapters of the Bible lately. This church will always be dear to my heart and will be my “home” church. South Thompson has many gifted and godly believers, and this is another growing opportunity for the church to be what God would have it to be and to do His will in reaching the world for Christ. I am convinced that God will use the believers of South Thompson to do far more in His name than my little mind can imagine. I believe that in the years to come South Thompson will be even more effective and winsome as Christ’s witnesses to the world.
Change is never easy. Our nature is to shun and fear change, but I look forward to being used by the Lord in the future, which is all that matters to me. I can’t write everything or express all my thoughts in an email, but these are the important matters. I look forward to speaking with all of you in due time, so that you can hear from me how the Lord brought this about. Until then, glory to His name and grace to you all!
Greg