I recently heard a person say, "The church is not relevant to today." Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but I am an expert on the subject of "church." And I'm here to tell you that the church has never been MORE relevant than it is today.

I love the church. I love to be with the church. I love to talk about the church. I love to study the history of the church. Get it? I love the church!

Unfortunately, a high proportion of people who "go to church" have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routines, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible calls the church "the bride of Christ" but the many congregations today seem more like a ragged Cinderella. There needs to be a reaffirmation to the nonnegotiable, essential elements for which God designed the church.

It thrills me beyond measure to think that I get to serve God through pastoring His church. Although I am also involved in some other ministry activities, I wouldn't trade my ministry in the church for all of them combined. The church takes first place in my ministry priorities, and everything else grows out of my commitment to the church.

For that reason, when God told me to plant a new church in the Robson resort community of Pebble Creek (west Phoenix, Arizona valley) I responded immediately. Within the gated-walls of Pebble Creek, more than 13,000 people reside—and there are no churches available to them. We want to change that.

Almost 200 people pray for us every day. Could I count on you to pray for us as well?