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As a coach, I have walked with churches through many hard, but holy, conversations, but when I started coaching Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN last fall, I had no idea what would unfold. When tragedy struck their school and church in March, we paused coaching indefinitely, but in May, they decided they were ready to reengage.
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Pastor Ryan Anderson, now my dear friend, shared that in the midst of the unimaginable brokenness and sorrow, God had made the Gospel more precious to them than ever and they had been filled with new resolve to share the good news “from Nashville to the nations.”
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In a few weeks, Covenant Presbyterian Church will roll out their retooled missions vision to start the new year, a vision forged through fires of affliction. This is the future they are trusting God for:
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“Covenant Presbyterian Church has become a place where the Gospel is the best thing we have ever heard, and our lives are radically different because of it. People’s lives are so completely transformed that we find it irresistible to live for Christ and tell others, both near and far, about His greatness.
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We see Nashville looking more and more like the City of God as we spread the Gospel in word and deed. And from Nashville, we believe God’s Spirit will send us to every corner of the earth, so that every nation would know who Jesus is. We look ahead, with expectant longing to the day when God will reign over a renewed world, dwell with His renewed people, who love him supremely, where every day will be better than the one before, forever, and ever… and our astonishment will never end.”
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Recently when praying with Pastor Ryan, we asked that God turn Satan’s designs to destroy Covenant into schemes of love that cause waves of grace to break upon Nashville and upon those who have never heard. May it be so.
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At Sixteen:Fifteen, we are cultivating good soil in churches to bear gospel fruit – from Nashville to the nations. I have no doubt that much good fruit will result as Covenant engages a people group currently without access to the Gospel.
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Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us, to cultivate good soil in more churches like Covenant Presbyterian Church? We are currently at 62% of our year-end goal of $250,000! You can learn more about our ministry and donate at www.1615.org/donate.

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Matthew Ellison, President

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