Closing the Doors of Doxology

On February 5th, in a beautifully lit ballroom with antique hardwood floors and glowing Edison bulbs hung perfectly to light the richly warm brick walls, Doxology gathered for the last time as a church. 100 people gathered in this beautiful space to pour out something precious, to let go of something incredible. 

I'd like to tell you why. 

Over 10 years ago an amazing group of people created a church like no other called Doxology in Corvallis Oregon. They met in a night club downtown and welcomed any and all who needed a place to wrestle with God. It became a shaping experience for many who invested in the mission to 'Introduce the City to a Person', Doxology was known throughout the Willamette Valley as an innovative and courageous church, willing to do things that hadn't been done before. The ministry this church was a part of was phenomenal. So much so, that when I heard they were looking to replant and rebuild their church 2 years ago I jumped at the opportunity to lead the replanting effort.  Dox quickly became precious to my family and I as we poured all we had into this beautiful community. 

When I sit down and try to understand and explain why Doxology closed, the easy answer is that we didn't have enough capital in the bank to sustain the planting efforts. But, it is more complex than that and I think many can sense this, so allow me to share from a passage that has been helpful for me. 

John 12 describes Jesus in the last stages of his life, before offering up his life for humanity, spending some time in a home with friends. As they are reclining around the table one of the guests, Mary is overcome with the beauty of the moment seeing her once lost brother Lazarus sitting, eating and laughing with his rescuer Jesus. Driven by gratitude she runs to get her most prized possession a flask of perfume. This was not just any flask of perfume this was special perfume imported from India, costing a life savings. This perfume was precious it was likely the thing that had brought her joy in owning it, comfort in knowing its value and hope for a use worthy of its specialness. The story tells how she takes this flask and breaks it over the feet of Jesus. 

The thing most precious to Mary broken and poured out to fragrance the feet of One going to His death...

Waisted? 

Judas thought so... "why was this not sold for the poor?" 

Mary didn't seem to think so... If you read the story she breaks the jar, pours out the perfume and the room is filled with the aroma of her love as she kneels down to rub what is most precious to her into the feet of Jesus with her hair. 

Waisted? 

Jesus didn't think so.  “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me." (Mt. 26:10)

Over the last two years we have seen God do some incredible things among the church community, friends and City. We saw God draw some unchurched, dechurched and unbelieving lives into communion with Himself. We celebrated new inroads in the City and saw a number of people get baptized. More than anything I am proud of, I am proud that we were a faithful presence of Jesus in the difficult City of Corvallis. We showed people a picture of Jesus that I believe honored who He really is. 

We like Mary tasted a bit of heaven as we saw the power of Jesus bringing new life and healing and we are so filled with gratitude for this. Doxology for myself and many others was more than a church, more than a community. If was an expression of Heaven, a thin place where heaven and earth would consistently draw near each other. And that is why I don't fully understand why God put his finger on something so precious, so valuable, so comforting and said it is right for us to pour it out on the feet of Jesus. 

All I know is holding onto anything other than Jesus is ugly, even if it's a beautiful Church. So we humbly loosened our grip and offered up what was never ours. 

If there is a fitting picture, it is the picture of open hands, the church was never mine, always His and I trust Him. 

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
                                                                                                                        - Job 1:21

As a family we stand in awe of God and all that he allowed us to be a part of over the last two years. We ask that you join us in prayer as we seek to see where God may be leading us to further expand His Kingdom.

If you would like to send any financial support or letters of encouragement to bless our family in this season please mail to:

6985 NW Concord Dr.
Corvallis Oregon 
97330

Optimistic Jesus, Are you?

 “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” -Winston Churchill

Jesus in this way is an optimist and he invites us to be the same. Ephesians 3:20 gives us the reason for such optimism; simply put, God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” 

This verse is a dramatic statement. We as creative humans are pretty good at looking around us and finding something new to want or experience, there is no shortage of longing for more. Wanting more is not my problem, sometimes I find myself caught in this space where I want something, I can even picture myself enjoying it, but don’t really have any legitimate way of acquiring said thing, so it stays just there, I leave it at that, a want, a dream, a what if. Most of the time I move on and completely forget about the item or experience. This is called contentment, leaving things behind that don’t belong to us as we journey forward with Jesus. But is this how we should handle our spiritual aspirations?

All too often I come to Scriptural promises with this same attitude; sure it says that 'Jesus came to give life in abundance' but is that for me? Maybe I’ll conjure up an image of what I believe abundant life to look like (a life full of joy, courage, risk, reward and genuine meaning and impact). But the question is close at hand even as I dream, 'Is that promise for me?' I often will clearly see the vision of what could be but quickly become overwhelmed by the mountain that seems to lead me there. The trail is dark and unclear, I don’t even know if I could get there if I tried. The sacrifices are too real the possibility too small.

And so, I often pocket dreams of the life that could be, the life of untouchable joy and unshakable peace. The life of embodying Jesus through selfless love and justice which leads to the richest satisfaction. I put it on the shelf because I doubt it really could be mine. The realness of the now and the faintness of what could be force me into a vile twisting of contentment. Apathy. 

The words of Paul assault this apathetic posture by stating firstly, Our optimism about our life should not be bound to what we can imagine or envision, much less the path to get there. We have a very limited ability to see clearly all that God has planned for us, but He can see. And His vision for you is far greater than you can imagine. Read Ephesians 3:20 again if you need to. God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” 

Secondly, when we dream about our spiritual future our dreams should not be tethered to our limited strength. We should not be hedging our spiritual goals and aspirations with easily met goals. I am all for small achievable goal setting, but what I mean is this, when it comes to spiritual possibilities we are not primarily working with our strength, we are working with the “power [that is] at work within us.” 

This power is the same power exuded when Jesus was raised from the dead. This power is resurrection power. This power is one that goes where all hope is lost and enlivens life. This power is the power that goes to the cold places that are locked off to all others because of the death within and warms that place with new life.

This power is at work within you and I. Working to do far above what we could imagine or ask for.

            TRUTH

What area do you want to see that power move, change or enliven this year?

                 What is your #1 Spiritual goal this year?

Don’t keep your goal private share it, talk about, it pray for it.

*If you are reading this together with others in your community please take a moment to practice the following expression of shared faith.

What is everyone’s personal Goal for the coming year and what is everyone’s spiritual goal for the coming year?

Spend a few minutes praying for each other and these goals.

The Church: Thriving in Wreckage

Yesterday, as I dropped off my ballot at the Benton County courthouse I passed a man who had just dropped off his, we collectively shook our heads at each other as I said "God help us." He just laughed and said "seriously!"

Last night some people went to bed realizing that either candidate was only partly what we had hoped would emerge as our future leader. Either we would be getting a cutthroat politician or a cutthroat businessman, each admirable in small ways and each falling well short of our hopes.

Others stayed up late into the night watching the media squirm as the probability of electing Donald Trump became more and more of a reality. As the final votes are tallied and confirm his surprise victory many are left in the wake of this battle as the losers. 

Obviously the Clinton camp of hopefuls is feeling stunned this morning, but I wonder how many of the Trump supporters are fully confident. As I look at our president elect I see the flaws glaring, flaws that were so repulsive I couldn't in good conscience cast my vote in his direction even though I see the significance of the supreme court appointment in his future.

Today I woke up nervous, not for policy or war, but nervous for those injured in the wreckage of this campaign. Those who today are feeling more marginalized by a national affirmation of a man who was careless in comments and destructive with his words. I hurt for those who are of color and feel less cared for today, those who are impoverished and feel voiceless, those who are Muslim and fear mistreatment, I hurt for the illegal immigrants who find themselves caught in the middle without easy options. I feel for anyone who has been marginalized by coarse talk and objectification. 

The nation has spoken, Trump will be our 45th President but let's not kid ourselves he is not the complete package. The collateral damage proves this.

So as the Community of Jesus we cannot expect him to be the complete package. When we elect a broken leader we are responsible to prop up the areas of weakness. 

Today the Church must stand together and play our part. For too long we as a collective have assumed that we will always have the option of appointing a leader who will reflect our values and lead us towards a better tomorrow. Yet many woke up today realizing that our president Elect is only part of the package. He may be a great business man and I pray he will bring some fresh ideas and decisive leadership. But we MUST not entrust him to do what he cannot. He will not be the moral compass we all want in a leader. We cannot expect him to bring justice to the farthest reaches of need, he cannot. We cannot expect him to love with the kindness of Jesus, he will not. We cannot assume he will honor women and elevate them, he has not. We cannot expect him to champion the minorities, welcome the sojourner or visit the imprisoned. This is not what America voted for. 

America has spoken, making a statement against perceived political entitlement and corruption. America voted for a bombastic leader who is sure to create plenty of wreckage. 

If the community of Jesus is truly to be The Church, than we must play our part by bringing healing and comfort into the wreckage. 

Wreckage touched by the Church is often where the Kingdom of Jesus is most powerfully seen. 

Today if you are a follower of Jesus and you don't quite know how to engage, or you are having any hint of buyers remorse or just hoping for our nation to come together. Don't entrust Trump to fix the wreckage. That's not what we voted for, wreckage is the church's specialty as we embody our King. 

I believe that, amidst the wreckage of this broken presidency the Kingdom of Jesus will grow exponentially as we faithfully comfort and care for the afflicted. 


Action: If you know anyone who was injured by the words or actions of our future president, who today may be feeling marginalized please reach out to them, say a prayer for them, text them, let them know that you are with them and haven't moved on. Lets stand with those who grieve today and be the Kingdom that is unshakable. Today our work is to stand next to, and bring stability
to those who are shaken.   Lets join with Jesus in this beautiful work.

Echoes of the Gospel throughout downtown

Well an update on the happenings of the Libby's is well overdue. I wanted to take moment to share with you a slice of what God has done over the last few months. I think it is important not only to share the prayer requests but also to share the provisions of God that have encouraged us and pushed us forward in trusting God for even greater things for His Kingdom.

I last posted about my bi vocational venture and shared how my heart desired to be back in full time ministry and God has heard the prayers of us and in June I was able to quit my second job and focus all my energy on reestablishing the church in Corvallis.

Since coming on full time we have restored the weekly Sunday Gathering. We spent the summer worshiping outside in a beautiful tree grove. During this time we were praying that God would provide for us a location that would be central to the city and strategic for mission.  With lots of frustration we searched without much success, until last month when we learned of a promising location in a historic building right in the heart of downtown Corvallis.

Two months on, we have had two weeks in a row of meeting in this beautiful space. Surrounded by brick walls and windows that open up to the downtown area the sound of our worship pours out into the streets for blocks and the truth of God's Word reaches the ears of passers by; it is a miracle.

We are so excited for all of God's provision as He is bringing more missionally minded team members on board. Chaz Luchterhand has join the Doxology Team as a Pastor Resident focused on the College population in Corvallis.

We are really excited.

Thanks again for the prayers.

David

Box boy Pastor

Today I found myself on the crest of a beautiful hillside clinic overlooking an upscale section of town waiting in the lobby to hear my name called. People came and went lots of grey haired individuals began emptying the waiting room while I waited, until my name was finally called. I followed the young nurse back to the bathroom… awkward.

Yup, today for the first time in nearly 10 years I had to take a drug test. It is almost surreal to think of myself back in the public work force, yet this is what God has led us into. In high school I worked at Roth’s grocery store stocking shelves, green bowtie and all. And now my life has come full circle today I completed my testing for a job as a shelf stocker at a local farm supply store in Corvallis. As strange and embarrassing as it is to be pursuing entry level work, I know that it is where we are and what is needed as we follow Christ to Corvallis, seeking to rebuild and re establish a beachhead for Gospel ministry in this beautiful yet progressively secular City.

If you have followed our story you will be aware of the statistics that make Corvallis one of the least reached areas in the nation making the very atmosphere of the area culturally rich, yet lacking in any eternal hope. There are over 30,000 OSU students who we want to see exposed to the Gospel and desire to see the City introduced to Christ.

We are encouraged to see the Lord moving and making a way for our family to move to Corvallis. We have stories of God’s provision that continue to urge us forward. Yet other challenges remain. One such challenge is finances. Both in preparing our house for our move to the city

and month-to-month expenses. More than anything I want to be able give myself fully to the work of leading this church and reaching this city.  I am praying boldly that the Lord will provide for our family to have our house move in ready and me on full time by July 1.

I believe that God is able, as the apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi to supply for all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19

I believe it because He has already been doing this. He has answered our prayers by providing both a house and the funds for a downpayment! God is moving and we can't wait to see how else He will provide for our family and new Church.

Will you join me in Praying about our July 1st goal?

Doxology has organized a large ingathering of funds to get us to Corvallis and relaunch the Church for Sunday May 3 called the ‘joy offering’.

Will you join in supporting the work of introducing the City of Corvallis to Jesus?

You can take part in the mission financially by joining in with a one-time gift designated toward the ‘joy offering’ 

Or

 

You can be a long term (6 mo / 1 yr) partner with our family by designating your monthly gift to ‘the Libby family’

Give by Mail

Make checks out to 'Doxology' and mail to:

    Doxology

    PO Box 2605

    Corvallis, OR 97339-2605

Or give online:

doxcorvallis.org/#/give

We sincerely appreciate your interest and concern as we are following the movement of God into a challenging and rich season of ministry. Thank you for your prayers, they are most essential and thank you for your practical partnership as well.

Sincerely,

David and Rachel + 4

Written In

Recently I found myself walking the Stations of the Cross on the beautiful grounds of an Abbey just outside of Mt. Angel Oregon. The morning air was cool and crisp. The blue sky was bright, with silky fog filling the beams of sunlight that broke through the dense forest covering. I walked from station to station pausing to observe the beautiful statues, taking in the imagery which depicted different scenes of Christ's suffering. Many thoughts of thankfulness came to mind as I was reminded of His willing surrender and open hands, yet sorrow filled my heart as one of the images captured the hatred in the eyes of the Pharisees in the background.

It broke my heart to see the familiar pride and hatred so perfectly caught by the sculptor. I was gripped by the thought that the Pharisees were convinced they were doing the right thing. They had an air tight argument they repeated to themselves until they felt justified in their actions. They didn't just think it was ok, they believed it was the right thing to kill Christ. Scary!

Scary to think that we all, no make that I. I am just as prone to justifying evil action as good or right. By building religious framework around an action that will profit myself. God forgive me for my potential to call good evil and evil good.

My heart was low as I reflected on this sobering reality, when I came to an image that showed Christ stumbling under the weight of the Cross. He was so weak He was unable to carry His own Cross. The obvious reason Christ could not carry His cross was due to the often deadly scourging He had already endured. Therefore, He was unable.

Just think about that for a moment, Jesus, Lord of Glory, Maker and upholder of all things was unable to uphold His own Cross.

This is amazing humility. It blows my mind that Christ would lower Himself not only to step down from Heaven to walk our streets but lower Himself to take on our own frailty and weakness.

He was WEAK and couldn't do it Himself

I know is may sound sacrilegious to say that Christ was weak and couldn't do something Himself but look at the Gospel accounts, to me it is obvious, He was so broken and weak from the scourging that He needed help even to get to the place of His own execution.

So what do we see happen?

Luke 23:26 "As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him cary it behind Jesus."

He was weak and unable so they got a man to help Him.  A man.

I think it is amazing that the all powerful Son of God would humble himself to encounter the ugliness of human suffering at its darkest and so experience it that he was weakened by it.

Jesus on His grand mission of redemption, so humbled Himself that He invited a man into His heroic story as a partner. And Simon a man from northern Africa lifted part of Christ's weight.

Know this:
Simon felt the pain of the massive beam on His shoulders
Simon was not comfortable, he likely struggled and shed his own sweat as he followed the silent frail convict to His death.
Simon likely walked away from the Calvary's hilltop hot and messy with the very blood of Christ on him.

It blows my mind to think that by God's sovereign choice He wrote it into the story of redemption that Christ would use the assistance of humanity to accomplish His work. But this was the depth of His humanity, and is the essence of His redemptive plan. He secured our salvation at Calvary and He writes humanity into His mission of showing and proclaiming this love.

Christ the author of life writes us, broken and twisted humans into His mission as integral pieces to reach and rescue those who are in the world but are without hope. So many individuals are deeply loved by God, yet are at odds with Him. They don't even know where to start or how to reach out to God. The beauty is that God has reached out toward them when He came and laid down His life to restore right relationship with us. In fact, He is reaching out toward them through you and I today.

It may seam overwhelming to think that we are God's reach to those who desperately need God, we are after all are weak ourselves, still struggling and sinful. But let us look at Simon of Cyrene who simply took up the bloody Cross of Jesus and followed. He followed in discomfort, struggling under the weight of the Cross as he simply followed, one step after the other placing his feet in the footprints of Jesus.

All we can do is follow, carry the burden of loving others and proclaiming life in Jesus.

We will for sure spend our sweat, our energy, we are likely to struggle, stumble and even sin along the way but, all I want is to be a hot mess dripping in the blood of the Son.

God has written us into His plans.


How are you actively joining Christ's mission?

Who is within your reach the need to experience the love of Christ and the truth of the Gospel?

Big Announcement

So what is going on with the Libby's?  We are excited to finally say we now know what God has been up to. For the last 6 or so years I have known that God was preparing our family to lead a church community. So we started praying, praying for wisdom, praying for guidance, praying for God's timing and praying for our future church. And we are pleased to announce we have finally met those whom we have been praying for for years. God has called us to join an amazing church community in Corvallis Oregon called Doxology and serve them as their lead Pastor.

We have had the privilege to preach at a number of great churches around the North West as we have candidated for similar roles but have prayerfully decided to pursue this role in Corvallis to a church that is small in number yet has beautiful ambition and a rich love for each other and for Christ.

Not only are we excited about leading this special group, we are equally excited about ministering to a community like Corvallis, with so many College students and professors around Corvallis, the city is a place where the Gospel needs to be represented in power and beauty.

Corvallis / Benton County is know not only for being one of most dense population of scientists in the nation but is also known more sadly for-

"Lowest church attendance per capita of any county in the nation" - Gazette Times
"The least religious county per capita in the United States." - Gazette Times

These stats are daunting, yet we want to be a part of changing this. Doxology has been on a journey of their own losing key leadership in the last year left the church considering closing the doors, but a remnant of strong committed believers have begun rebuilding the church, determined to see the gospel go forward and statistics changed for the glory of Jesus.

When I heard about this struggling church and learned what it is that makes their heart beat I immediately knew God had been preparing me for these people and this mission. We are excited for what God has planned, we genuinely believe God is going to work miracles in Corvallis.

We know the challenges remain but I believe the light shines brightest in the midst of Darkness.

Here are some of the practical challenges:

1. Doxology is a struggling church rebuilding and only has the funding to bring us on part time. I am praying that we might be fully funded to be able to devote 100% of our time to pastoral ministry. Please join me in this prayer.

2. It is essential that we move to Corvallis to have the deepest impact in the community. I am currently going to be commuting 1 hr. each way. I have a goal of raising $20,000 to help fund a down payment for a house.

3. Please pray for the sale of our house, it is scheduled to close on the 16th of March, we pray there are no complications.

4. Please pray for our family to feel secure in the midst of all the changes. We hope to let the kids finish up school in Salem before we will hopefully be moving to Corvallis in the summer.

I would ask that you would consider supporting our family as we venture out. We truly believe that God is calling us into an amazing work in Corvallis we are grateful that Corvallis is near to many of our friends and family. Would you please be praying for us and those we lead? And possibly consider a one time gift toward our move or a monthly gift to prop up our monthly expenses?

You can mail Checks direct by requesting our current address via email dlibbyministry@gmail.com

or send to

Doxology (For the Libby Family)
PO Box 2605
Corvallis, OR 97339-2605

You can even use the Church's Paypal 

doxcorvallis.org/#/give

Thank you for your interest in our family and what God is doing in our lives. Please feel free to check out the church at doxcorvallis.org. 

Sincerely, 

The Libby Crew