the painted door │ chicago

The Painted Door, an introduction

Grab some popcorn and enjoy. But eat fast; this flick only runs about 7 minutes.

The Painted Door, an introduction from Mark Bergin on Vimeo.

looking good

Many thanks to Patrick Mahoney for his design of the vision-casting and fund-raising brochure pictured below. It looks great and captures the heart of what The Painted Door is all about. Now to print, fold, and distribute these by the wheelbarrow-full.

Joining Dr. Piper

I've made the decision to pursue affiliation with Converge MidAmerica, John Piper's crew. If I can get through their assessment, it will help The Painted Door tremendously. Converge offers great support for church planters, including full-service book-keeping and matching grants for fundraising. We'll also come under their non-profit tax-exempt umbrella, sparing us the headache of having to pursue that status independently.

What's more, it is apparent that God has been using Converge to reach Chicago for some years now. Church-planting director Gary Rohrmayer has overseen the launch of many churches throughout the area. We want to join what God is already doing. Adding this affiliation to our existing connection with Acts 29 will provide The Painted Door great opportunities for networking and partnership while also enhancing our credibility in the region. It's a no-brainer, really.

One sweet pad

Somehow when that white post and for sale sign went into my front yard yesterday, this idea of planting a church in Chicago became suddenly a bit more tangible. The house is painted, staged, and ready for purchase. Now we wait, and pray in the bidding war.