In early 2003 the tribe of Hess launched out into full-time ministry and moved to North Carolina.
We feel in love… it was such a great place to live and though we felt that moving to Arizona in mid-2004 was the path God placed before us we nonetheless missed North Carolina.
Later on we moved back to the east coast settling in Virginia where we’ve been ever since. Pretty much since we moved to this side of the country we’ve tried year after year to move away yet we never felt the release to go.
Needless to say for quite sometime we’ve felt stuck; not knowing for sure what the future held and where the Lord was leading us.
If you’ve been around the site for sometime you’ve probably noticed throughout various posts I’ve hinted that there has been something on both mine and my wife’s heart but we’ve never acted on it…mostly because we knew the timing wasn’t right.
However, in recent months Myra and I have been feeling that now is the time and we either need to step out and attempt something bold or just sit down, shut up, and focus our attention on other things.
Earlier this month we filled out and returned the Church Planting Application for the Anchor Mission USA (AMUSA).
AMUSA is an organization we’ve been tracking with for sometime. Our decision to pursue partnership with AMUSA is because of three things:
- For the sake of accountability and fellowship we desire to be connected with a movement that resonates with us.
- We’re a mix of various things: Assemblies of God Pentecostal, non-denominational Charismatic, a little Messianic, with even some sprinklings of Anglicanism. AMUSA is a fellowship that accepts diversity and views it as a great strength.
- We believe in the work that they are doing.
The future has yet to be determined and this is only the initial steps towards whatever may spring forth… anything could happen and we’re open to whatever comes from this. Next month we have face-to-face meetings scheduled with both Josh Stump (AMUSA Director) and Dale Hall (AMUSA Associate Director) where we will sit down and spend sometime exploring this possibility together.
At this stage, assuming no God changes, we are looking to move back to North Carolina in early/mid 2013, ten years from when we originally moved there, to plant a church, Lord willing in partnership with AMUSA. At this moment we’re looking towards the city of Greensboro, not far from where we lived during our time in North Carolina.
All that said I ask that you remember the Hess family in your prayers as we make every effort to step out and test the waters.
As things unfold with AMUSA and this church plant I’ll keep you posted.
Grace and Peace to you,
Jason & Myra Hess
UPDATE: 11/2012
The church plant while going ahead is no longer going to be in Greensboro, North Carolina but rather in Newport News, Virginia.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Praying!!! Ever met Dale? He’s awesome! Something he said once is a big reason I chose to embark on the monastic path.
I’ve only connected with Dale via facebook… seems like a great guy though.
I only met him once in real life, LOL, but what he said had a huge impact on my life.
You’ll enjoy hanging out with him.
I truly know of no others that would be right for this. Diversity is a strength and I’ve always appreciated that from you both. However, I found like 3 typos man. And that hair, they’ll be calling you an uncircumsised philistine! Or a Nazarite. Or a band member from Nazareth.
Welcome back to the site! I’ve missed your fun loving humor filled comments. In all seriousness…thanks for the support.
Jason is an uncircumcised Philistine! I knew it!