Dear friends,

What a joy it has been to share life with you these past few months. One hidden grace in the effort to raise support is contact (both deep and wide) with the Body of Christ. You have all given dimension and flesh to Paul’s words to the Galatian church: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” You have all “done us good.”

Here is a brief update on things. Josie is now 20 weeks pregnant—we are excited and terrified all at once (mostly excited). You know the feeling? We are thankful to God that Josie and baby are healthy, and thankful that He is teaching us so much about parenthood already. Pray for Josie as she finishes her final weeks at her teaching job because she has built such great relationships over the years.

I am finishing up my studies at Covenant Seminary in 6 weeks. Final papers, projects, presentations are all looming ahead. In addition, we are set to move to Columbus the last weekend of May: crazy. Pray for us in this time of transition.

We have decided to rent an apartment initially, with the intention to buy a home in Grandview when financial support is fully in, and when the right one is for sale. We feel it is important for our gathering stage in the church plant to have a home that is welcome and in the midst of the community. We could use your prayer for discernment here.

We are still trusting the Lord to provide the necessary financial support to start planting by June. As it stands, we are well short of our goal. As many of you could probably surmise, this is not the easiest moment in American financial history to be raising funds. But God has called us to plant, and recessions have never been one to hold back God in His mission. We covet your prayers in this area.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I really do hope this letter finds you well, and I look forward to sending more like it. Know that this support relationship is not one-way. Please let me know how we can pray for you—feel free to drop a line anytime (614-917-3379). Let’s make every opportunity to do one another good these days.

Together in Christ,
Joe and Josie Haack