Dear Ministry Partners and Friends:

I closed the service one recent Sunday night with a typical invitation for anyone to meet in the foyer for prayer afterwards. As Bryan and I proceeded to the “prayer room,” I saw Natalie slowly leading her friend toward us.

We had been praying for this gal for some time. She was struggling with Jesus Christ and his death on the cross being the only way for humanity to be forgiven of sin, reconciled to God, and welcomed to heaven one day. Even so, Christ’s love had been showered on her from all angles. Natalie spent hours gently answering her questions and objections with respect to the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Chris and Becky’s small group warmly hosted her, and others, over the past several weeks, caring for her in word and deed. Others welcomed her regularly to our Sunday worship gatherings and community dinners. And, by the power of God, it happened. “I believe,” she said, as she and Natalie came into the prayer room. “I believe in Jesus Christ.”

God and the angels celebrated in heaven that night (Luke 15:7). And many in the Cornerstone family raised their eyes, shook their fists, and breathed a sigh of joyful relief, as one would after a battle fought and won. As Bryan, Natalie, and I prayed with the newly converted soul, the weight of what happened hit me: a person’s entire eternity had just been radically changed. She had been headed for unending separation from Christ, yet now was rescued by Him, forgiven, and brought under his loving lordship to spend eternity with Him and all His people.

We are learning that bringing Jesus Christ to the lost involves much more than a pre-fabricated, cookie-cutter conversation. While all of us must be prepared to defend the truths of the faith, we are also learning that one critical defense for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a community of people where that gospel can be observed and experienced. In the case of the gal mentioned above, Jesus Christ and him crucified were brought in the necessary message and the necessary community witness. But the battle is not over, as God daily reminds us here in wintry Wyoming.

Here are a few snapshots of how the Lord is building his church through the struggle:

We have been experiencing a refreshing and surprising influx of young men being transformed by Jesus Christ, who are then fired up to grow and disciple others. This joyful influx is challenging the leadership to rethink how to more effectively corral, equip, and launch the next generation.

One young single guy recently remarked: “I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and support during this trying time in my life…I can’t explain how beautiful it was to see Christ’s body functioning efficiently and powerfully. I have never in my life felt so connected to a group of people and I hope to be able to support all of you the way you have me.”

Over 30 visitors attended our Christmas Eve evangelistic service.

A pack of Cornerstone guys survived our second annual men’s snowmobile retreat, along with Pastor Jim Otto and the men of Teton Valley Bible Church just over the border in Idaho. The Lord worked in a surprising way among us. On the final evening of the retreat, the Cornerstone guys got together for 3 hours to confess struggles, encourage one another with the gospel, and pray for each other. This was a major bonding and sanctifying moment for us guys, who are all at different places spiritually, fighting various battles.

A few letters ago, I shared about our Sunday school kids no longer having adequate meeting space. Well, God answered our prayers, and that situation is changing. The current building manager at the community center decided they would allow us to use a large room that was previously unavailable to rent. We will soon have a room large enough to serve around 20 kids!

Christ continues to work in many other ways here. I wish all of you could witness Christ grow his crop of transformation here! As we labor for Him, we regularly find ourselves in two situations here: 1) We are entirely dependent on the power of the risen Savior, and, 2) Things happening are only explainable by a risen Savior. So we ask you to please join us in calling on Him for his power:

1. Above all, thank our Lord Jesus for how he continues to transform individuals in the church here, so that together he is more displayed by us. Thank Him that He, indeed, continues to build his church here (Matthew 16:18).
2. Pray that we would all be actively laying aside encumbrances and sin that so easily entangles us from joyfully running hard for Christ (Hebrew 12:1-3).
3. Ask God to give us strength and success to grow in self-control, denying ourselves, and being more disciplined in our respective lives, out of love for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:27).
4. Pray for great wisdom among the leadership as we continue to be faced with difficult ministry decisions; ask for greater wisdom from God (Colossians 2:3). We need it badly.
5. Beg God to grow the leadership in comprehensive Christ-likeness, that we, as a leadership, would be examples in all areas of our lives, letting go of everything that hinders us from being follow-able as we follow Christ, growing greatly in humility (1 Peter 5:3).
6. Ask God to move us to pray more, that we would have a passion for communing with him in prayer, and that He would strip away whatever hinders us from being prayer warriors
(1 Thessalonians 5:17).
7. Pray that every single married couple would grow in living out the gospel; for husbands to grow as shepherds of the home and for wives to grow in their roles (Ephesians 5:22-25). Pray for all the parents to have growing wisdom to biblically care for their children. Pray for salvation of the children.
8. Beg God to give us all a greater passion for the lost, that we would break in our hearts for unbelievers and stop fearing the world and loving our comfort (2 Timothy 1:7).
9. Pray that we would all have more of an eternal perspective that demands an explanation in this temporal world.
10. Pray that God continues to provide finances for the ministry to move forward (Philippians 4:19).

We hope and pray that 2011 will be our final year of needing outside financial assistance. In the meantime, your sacrificial giving continues to meet great needs. If you would like to team up with us financially, please make checks out to “Cornerstone Church.” All of your offerings are tax-deductible. Checks may be mailed to: Cornerstone Church, P.O. Box 980, Wilson, Wyoming, 83014.

For the honor of Jesus Christ,

Eric, on behalf of the Jackson Hole church plant team: Leslie, Matt & Sera Mumma, Melissa Johnson, Neill & Natalie Herbert, Chris & Becky Buczinski, and Bryan & Ashley Chassard