The Stillers are 5-1, the Pirates completed their 16th straight losing season, the Penguins are back on ice, and the leaves have turned all sorts of beautiful colors and begun to fall from the trees.  In other words, it is autumn in the ‘Burgh. 

We just celebrated (last Sunday) Iron City Church’s 1st Birthday.  After months of slumping attendance numbers we had a really good turnout on Sunday, including about a dozen first time guests.  I’ve spent a lot of time in the past few weeks thinking back over the last couple of years of my life: the call to start a new church, our move to Pittsburgh, God’s confirmation that this was the place, and all the buzz of activity that has gone into the last year and ten months.

You can find any number of reports about specific survival rates for new churches.  No matter how which percentages are correct, I know that there are a lot of church plants that never see their first birthday.  I thank God that we have not only made it, but God has already used ICC to bring new life to dozens of people through a relationship with Jesus, to connect with hundreds by coming to check us out, and by causing untold numbers of people all over the area to re-think what church is all about.

If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be here now, doing this, I would have called you crazy.  However, as of today, I can say with no reservations that there is no place I’d rather be than Pittsburgh and nothing I’d rather be doing than leading Iron City Church.  Thank you God for this life and for this calling!