Hey everyone! It was incredible seeing all of you up there on stage along with the picture of those down here on the ground. God is on the move both here and there! Sunday night at the gathering we had 16 first time people who have not been to a meeting yet. I met with them all and it was great to hear their stories of how God has been speaking and encouraging them to be a part of this adventure with Kensington. I am praying for you all as you continue to seek and trust God with your futures!
Down here in FL we are already starting to see people from the area hear about what we are doing, be intrigued that so many people are crazy enough to follow God down here, and are engaging us. Last weekend we were excited to have over 70 people come out to hear and meet Steve Andrews who was down here to speak at our Orlando Gathering.
It was really a special night! Another extremely exciting part of that same evening was the beginning of Orlando Campus small groups up in MI. Small groups are the easiest way to step into the vision of what Kensington and our Orlando campus is all about. True life change happens best in the context of a small group. If you are not in one and would like to join a small group in your area with others tracking with coming to Orlando There is not a better way to be journeying towards joining us than to do that with others who are seeking and praying about coming down here also.
Along with the launch of Small groups in MI we also launched small groups down here in FL the same night. They also got off to a great start and everyone is loving getting plugged into a community to do life with! Please mark down on your calendars for our next Gathering in Michigan on October 4th from pm in room I would love to see you there! I'll be back in town T he deadline for our October Plunge is October 1st.
Again I can't encourage you enough to come down here on a plunge if you are still praying about coming. It will give you the full vision of what God is doing down here and help flesh out your role in it! You can find out all the info you need about it at kensingtonchurch.
Kevin Valentine Ps Below are some pictures of the spray park in Dr. Phillips about 15 minutes from Winter Garden that we went to yesterday.
It is awesome and is FREE during the week. The kids love it, and so do we:. September 4th, , pm. Hello again from Orlando-Land - We have been here two weeks already! August 19th, , pm. We are now Floridians God is already on the move down here, we have over 50 people already down here from MI. We are settling in to new neighborhoods and a new way of life Lots of sunshine, hot hot hot humidity not bad in the shade tho , a thunderstorm for minutes most afternoons, Chic Fil-A even one with a play place for the kids!
The transition has been kinda crazy with so many of us down here trying to figure out life in a different state. Its hectic getting ready for school to start next week. Lots of paperwork and such to fill out. As far as the Orlando Campus goes we are hard at work putting together small group plans and regular meeting times for all of us down here.
A couple of great stories have begun to surface. One is from a family that has been attending the troy campus for the last 3 or 4 years. Melissa and I and the kids and another family ,the Semps, are going over there this Sunday to meet them and swim in their pool, BBQ, and welcome them to Central FL even though they beat us here!
Another is from a young woman named Chelsea who was initially interested in Orlando but early on figured it would be too hard as a young girl right out of College to head down and be a part of all of this. Three weeks ago she got a call from a school down here that wanted to interview her, flew down, got the job, packed up her stuff, and is living in Claremont about 10 minutes away. As of now we are already starting to attract locals from the area to what we are doing.
So far this truly has been the adventure of a lifetime for all involved. We covet your prayers as we reach out to many new people God is placing all of us near down here. We are also in the process of looking for and hiring staff and would love your prayers for that as well.
SO for now I will leave you with some Pics of the drive down and our first pic inside the state lines of Florida! Go Gators???
August 3rd, , am. Well, this is it! As this note is posted we are driving out of the state of Michigan and heading to Orlando Although Michigan still has my heart just like the Detroit Lions do!! As I look back on the last year of our lives it has been a whirlwind. We have left a church that we loved and thrived at to begin a new life with Kensington Church starting a new challenge that Kensington has never before done. In coming to Kensington we reconnected with old friends and mentors and also began building a new family of people to do life with.
It is with those who are willing to sell it all and follow the call of Christ to start a new work in Orlando that are fast becoming our new family. I still can't believe so many are willing to take the risk and dream big dreams and move with us. It is following Christ at its finest. Michigan has been amazing. I spent my college years playing golf there, I met the girl of my dreams there and married her there!!
All of our children were born at the same hospital and all brought home to the house we sold two months ago. Michigan has been awesome! My wife has never lived more than 30 miles from where she grew up. Where God guides He provides!
And Provide He has. We are stoked about going and we are sad about going. A weird mix of emotions were stirring as we spent our last few days there and began the venture into the unknown.
We are making a trip of it along the way. Later today, we'll be in Kentucky and stop at the Mammoth Caves for the big tour. We will keep you updated as time permits. Thank you for your prayers for us and for those who are also already there and will be heading down in the next few months July 10th, , pm.
I have a friend who is a pastor at a great church who has a unique way of speaking into the responsibility we all have when following Christ. He quotes Proverbs which says this…. In this short verse you have a great principle for following God wherever he asks you to join Him in His work. Our Part? To make the horse ready for the day of battle. His Part? The reality is you and I are human and can only do so much. We cant make our house sell in MI, only God can haha.
Victory in our situations comes from God, not us. Your house selling, your promotion, your kids growing up and loving Him, your neighbor accepting Christ, a sunny day, a new job in Orlando All good things come from Him. Yet according to this verse we still have the responsibility of preparing the horse for the day of battle.
We are to do everything humanly possible, do everything in our power, do as much as we can do to prepare for the battle ahead but yet realize, at the end of the day, victory can only be had by God showing up and winning it for us. Our part is to prepare, His part is the victory. Our responsibility is to exhaust our resources getting in position to go, His job…. Kick open the doors to make it happen. Our part is to work hard as if working unto the Lord….
His job is to bring the victory in whatever situation we find ourselves. This looks different for all of us. A convicted felon who was on probation for arson was holding his two children and his girlfriend's two children in the apartment.
The man's girlfriend had called the police following an argument in which the man assaulted her. Officer Valencia was attempting to gain entry into the apartment to retrieve the children when the man fired through the front door, striking him in the head.
The man then barricaded himself inside of the apartment for several hours and ultimately murdered all four children, ranging in age from one to 12, before committing suicide.
Officer Valencia had served with the Orlando Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife and two children. Matthew Thank you for your service.
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