YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) met this afternoon for several hours with Twin Cities church planter George Stagg (pictured in the heart of Uptown) who is seeking to establish a Grace Brethren church in the Uptown/Lake Calhoun area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
George is encouraged by several developments–several individuals have come to Christ, and there are now three small groups that meet weekly–one in south Minneapolis, one in Uptown, and one in Woodbury. The three groups combine for worship and fellowship celebrations in the Uptown area in a rented facility (former tattoo parlor) Sunday evenings.
As you pray for George and his fledgling group, please pray (1) for an outpouring of God’s Spirit that will result in new conversions for Christ, (2) a good woman friend for George’s wife, Anna (the Staggs have four children), and (3) wisdom as George explores some creative outreach alternatives, including a possible “School of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9)open forum where representatives of various worldviews (including Christianity) would have a platform for explaining their perspectives.
George has formed some good relationships with several fellow church-planters from other groups and with the Greater Minneapolis Association of Evangelicals. Pray for him as he seeks to make significant contact with unbelievers through book reading groups, teaching math to immigrants, joining a local comedy club, and other efforts.