Do you ever have doubts?

This week has been full of awesome wins! Stephanie and I have joined a small group at Restore and we are beginning to get connected. We are both looking forward to growing in community.
I have been given the opportunity to join one of the pastors of Restore in leading a Men's small group at Park University. This was our second week, and I can already see that this group will make a huge impact on their campus. They are hungry to learn, and will be a catalyst for change in their community.
Another win I am celebrating is our Expand Love team at Restore. There is a group of us on staff that are leading an initiative to help us as a church expand our love for God. This will be done through various activities and programs over the next year. I am really excited about this opportunity to serve the church and Expand my love for God and his people.
On a personal note, I have started a part time job as an Avid tutor. AVID is a college readiness program. It is a program that specifically aims at students who may not have a stable support system. I will be working in two high schools and one middle school. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Kansas City's education system as we work toward the church plant in the urban core, where about 50% of students will not graduate. There is also an opportunity to mentor some boys at Oak Park High School through Engage, which targets boys that are having a hard time at school. To learn more about AVID go to www.avid.org.

Like I said, this has been an awesome week of wins, but there have been moments throughout the week where it was like there was a small voice saying "You can't do this". There have been moments of self doubt in the midst of wins, and it's in those moments when I realize I have made this about me. If I can be honest, its so easy to forget that this is God's work...not mine. Doubts rise when I make this about me. I know this is something we all wrestle with so I hope my honesty can bring some encouragement. Let's remember that God is on mission and we get to join him. So let's be honest, without Him we will fail, but with Him we are able.
Please keep Stephanie and I in your prayers. We thank you for your prayers and support.

Email me at darrylanswer@msn.com if you have any questions or want to join us in this ministry.

A new chapter

Stephanie and I have transitioned out of our position at First Baptist Church, and this week began a leadership residency at Restore Community Church here in Kansas City. This journey began with Restore a year ago, and now after months of conversations, and our completion of a church planters assessment we begun the leadership residency .
The intention behind the residency is to learn church planting and leadership development from Restore, and in return Stephanie and I will teach them all we know and continue to learn from our friends and partners in the inner city. The end result will be the planting of a reproducing church in the inner city that empowers people to live out justice, reconciliation, and redemption. Another result is to see more movement towards true unity and reconciliation in the Church of Kansas City. Stephanie and I will be with Restore for two years before we move into the community and launch the inner city church.
 We are both really excited about this opportunity, but we also acknowledge that there will be challenges along the way. Not only will we be learning about church planting from Restore, who are about to launch their third location in March, but we will constantly be wrestling with how we apply what we learn to the urban context.
During this time we will be raising support, a total of $30,000 for each year of training. These funds are to cover our living expenses. We have been sharing this ministry with friends and family and are continuing to ask people to join us as prayer partners and as financial partners. If you would like more info on how you can join us feel free to email me at darrylanswer@msn.com.
I will be using this blog as a weekly journal so become a follower on the page, and I will also be sending a monthly newsletter to all who decide to partner with us on this journey. Again feel free to contact me with any questions.

If you feel led to support us financially you can make checks payable to Restore Community Church.
Put "Urban Ministry - Darryl & Stephanie" in the memo line

Restore Community Church mailing address: 5559 NW Barry Rd, #305, Kansas City, MO 64154

Thank you all.