You haven’t heard much about the iBuild capital campaign that helped us get successfully into the new building. So you might be asking, are we done? Is there a still a need for more building funds/savings?

The answer is a resounding YES.

First from the building side. We focused the majority of our energy and finances on the portions of the building that faced the congregation and most of that work is finished. We are presently working on getting the offices up and running and have a few ongoing projects to complete that. Additionally, the new growth has spurned the need to build one more nursery which has a price tag of about another $3000+ to help the YOUNGEST of those in our congregation. In the near future we would love to begin working on the new Annex/Youth room, but right now our priorities are getting in the offices and getting a new nursery functional.

Financially, we have done well so far but through the process of getting the building open our cash reserve/building fund is now less than $25,000. Which is really only about a 2 week operating budget. We will work hard to rebuild that and fund the other projects as rapidly as possible.

Right now we are technically subleasing the building from the Methodist Church so our rent is higher than it will be what it will be when the official lease transitions to our name. Additionally, once the transition is complete (Which we hope will be in the next few weeks) we will have a 8 month period of no rent which will also be a huge help.

All that being said – There is a need, and an opportunity to continue to fund the iBuild Campaign so please consider continuing on in your commitment, starting brand new, or even giving a 1 time offering over and above your normal giving to help us finish strong.

We will be taking up a special iBuild offering during our weekend services, but also feel free to donate online using the GIVE link on our home page.

Thank you for furthering God’s kingdom through your giving.

Journey you are an amazing group of people.

2nd – If you haven’t voted be sure to vote you can do so today at any of the 5 early voting locations from 8:30-4:30 today or you can vote at your appropriate precinct tomorrow from 7am-7pm.

3rd – Use social media, email, phone calls, etc to encourage your friends to get to the polls. Drive them there if you have to. Encourage them to vote for Eric Jaffe and vote for their conservative values!

4th – Let the footwork begin.

Strategy for Today:

Be present at as many high traffic areas as possible. If you have even 15 minutes that you can serve, grab your “Elect Jaffe” Sign out of your yard and goto the nearest high traffic major intersection near your home and let the waving begin. If you need additional signs call me 904.483.6881 and I will help get you a sign. If you would like to join us for Rush Hour tonight. Call as well and we will tell you where we will be meeting.

Strategy for Tomorrow:

Be present at as many Polling Locations as possible. Grab your sign and head to the polling location closest to your home. Hang out there as long as you can waving and welcoming voters. Note you must stay 100 yards from the entrance. Poll workers will help you and usually they have a marker to show where the line is that you should not cross.

A couple of notes: If you need signs, or palm cards to wave and/or distribute – call me 904.483.6881

If you have time tomorrow afternoon at 7pm, feel free to go let us know that you can go to 1 or more polling locations to pull the Jaffe Signs. Also pull any other Jaffe signs you see at that time as we might need them should there be a General Election run-off. We can coordinate picking them up from you sometime shortly thereafter. “Temporarily leave up any large signs, but please pick up any small bandit sized signs!”

A sincere thank you for all your help and support along the way. It means the world to the Jaffe family. Our hearts are with you. Help us finish strong.

May God’s house be full. Might our churches be prepared to receive the new guests that will walk through our doors this weekend. Anoint Pastors and teachers to preach your word with boldness and power this weekend. Cause many to respond and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ this weekend.

Prayer for Journey – Pray that the mailers we sent out will be received well by the community. That they will touch the hearts of the people who receive them and compel them to get to church this weekend. Pray for those at the church who are making final preparations for the weekend. Pray that everything including the technology would come together well.

Personal Prayer for the Jaffe Family – Pray for us as we prepare not only for the weekend services but for election day on August 24th. Pray that the Christian community will get out and vote their values on August 24th.

Aside from the fact that I am running, I truly feel it is one of the most important election cycles in my lifetime. Every race is affected and every race is important as the people who are chosen will effect the future for ourselves, our children, and future generations. Will our country continue to slip into a liberal “progressive” reality? Or will Christians and others who hold conservative values get out and express those values in the ballot box?

This past year I want to Washington, DC for the first time. The monuments and other sites dripped (sometimes with blood) of people who loved this country dearly and were willing to give even their very lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Might we as a people continue to fight for our values in a peaceful revolution that happens in our polls. What a unique gift we have as compared to other countries and societies. Because of those who have gone before us we can simply express our values at the polling places. Let us use that gift – its simple – it only takes a minute – and it can change the future for the better!

So friends – get informed and get out and vote. You can vote now at 5 early voting sites in the county http://clayelections.com – or vote at your precinct next Tuesday August 24th at your local precinct.

Want to get involved? The Elect Jaffe Campaign will be meeting up for a rally at 10am this Saturday in the Winn-Dixie parking lot.  Come out and join us. It will be a fun time with friends as we let the community know who to vote for. There is also opportunities to serve on election day. visit http://facebook.com/electjaffe and check out the events section and see how you can get involved!

For me it was an interesting start. Molly now has a car, woke up early, and was gone. I woke up at 7:22 and wow – where’s my baby. The kids are growing up and Mary Jo and I are learning to cope, but also enjoy her new found freedoms.

It’s sure to be a busy week as this weekend Journeychurch.org is having the official grand opening of our new facilities so there are many final preparations to welcome what we hope will be a house full of guests. We will be kicking off a new message series – The Gospel According to Lynyrd Skynyrd with a message based on the song “Sweet Home Alabama” it’s one you will not want to miss.

Also just 8 days from now is the primary election where I am running as a candidate for Clay County School Board District 1. Check out http://facebook.com/electjaffe  – This long race is beginning to come to an end. I find myself incredibly up beat and excited as we round third towards home. Be sure to get out and vote early at one of the county’s 5 early voting sites http://clayelections.com

So I lift up a prayer for everyone in transition this week. Might it be a time of settling in to the path that God has set before you.

The official Grand Opening of Journey Church is 1 week away on August 21st/22nd. We have stepped out in faith into a beautiful new facility and are asking God to fill it. Fill it with His Presence, Fill it with Salvations, fill it with life, love, hope, forgiveness and more. Our prayer is that it would be a lighthouse to the hurting. A missions base for sending out believers to all parts of the world to share the good news and a bit of a leadership factory where fully devoted followers are made.

We are calling a church wide fast Wed, Thurs, and Friday August 18-20th. For some of you that will mean fasting all 3 days, for others skipping a meal, or making some other sacrifice during that time while remembering to seek God and pray.

We would ask that you specifically pray for the following:

1. God’s Spirit would go throughout the community and cause people to respond to the flyers, the tv ads, the facebook ads, and the personal invitations to join us for the Grand Opening.

2. That we would see an attendance on the grand opening of over 1250 people and that 50 people would make decisions for Christ. Pray for an ongoing anointing for salvation that many would come to know Jesus during our season at 6225 Lake Gray Blvd.

3. Pray for an outpouring of leaders to rise up and serve inside and outside the walls of the church.

4. Pray for the finances of Journey Church that they would be strong and that from day 1 we would have the resources we need to effectively pay for the new space.

Thank you for taking the time to join us in this short season of fasting and prayer.

Be sure to invite people to join you as we open this new facility and enter this new season at Journey!

Our new location is much larger than our previous location featuring a 600 seat sanctuary, first class children’s church facilities, improved technology, abundant parking, and a convenient location just 1 block north of 295 off of Blanding.

The official address is 6225 Lake Gray Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244. If you are coming from Clay County or 295 simply make a left at the Pier 1 Imports and travel about 3 blocks up on the left to find Journey Church.

This is a wonderful opportunity to invite your friends, family, and co-workers to check out the church. Take a few moments to scour your contact lists. Send e-mails, hit people up on facebook, make some phone calls, physically shake some hands and invite them into join you. Pick them up if you have to and drive them to church!

Would you join us in believing for an average weekly attendance in excess of 1000+ people by the end of August.

When you take a look back in time, you will see people who have changed History as we know it. Have you ever wondered it you could be a part of something much larger than yourself. During our His Story series, you will learn how to be a History Maker and change our city's culture as we study God's word

MP3 File

Finally we are getting in our tallies for this year’s baby bottle campaign, and we are very encouraged.  Last year Clay County raised almost $18,000.  So far this year we have raised over $12,000 in Clay County!

Journey Church made a tremendous contribution to this campaign.  Your church turned in 58 bottles filled with change that totaled $962.53!  Abundant thanks to your church family for this gracious gift.  You are helping us keep our doors open to not only save babies, but to ministry life to lost women and men.  Our one year anniversary is September 1, so be on the look-out for an update of our activity so far.

Thank you again, and God bless you all ~ Cheryl

Cheryl Gonzales
First Coast Women’s Services
Clay County Center Director

Tim Keller writes, “there is no way you will be able to grow spiritually apart from a deep involvement in a community of other believers. You can’t live the Christian life without a band of Christian friends…”

Are u feeling spiritually disconnected? Plug in, serve, attend a small group, meet some new friends

Do you know somebody who is disconnected? Pray for them now. Send them a note of encouragement. Let them know how much you love and muss them. Invite them to join you in church this weekend.

May our wounded brothers and sisters not be forgotten. Let us reach out to them today.