Letters from the Pastor

December 3, 2009 Update:

Dear Supporters and Friends,

We continue to be amazed at the Lord's work here in Tallahassee , we are so grateful for your prayers and support of this ministry. Our work would not be possible without your support. The last few months have been both rewarding, and trying.

God allowed us to continue to develop a core group of people that are committed to this work.  The team meets every Sunday, praying and studying the scripture in preparation of opening the doors to our renovated facility (more on that later in the letter). God has also given us a couple of good musicians to aid us in worship. In the past, we bought music that complemented our singing. These musicians and singers are a part of Door of Hope- we do not have to hire outside people. We are blessed to have them. However, as many of you can attest, no work goes without trails and tribulations. The last Sunday in May, we were asked to leave the community center where we held our Sunday worship service. This is ironic-- it was the same center we used every day for other outreach ministries. The owners welcomed us with open arms during the week, but not on Sundays for worship. Our leadership team took that as a sign that the Lord was leading us to make some major changes. We did not worship for the months of June and July, but started back the first Sunday in August and have been going strong every since. We also received many death threats and obscene phone calls during this time and at one point, we had to get the authorities involved.... I spent the month of June and July traveling and sharing the vision, work and strategy for Door of Hope.

Please pray that we will be able to obtain a “certificate of occupancy” from the city in the next three weeks. At that time we will move into the first phase of our church. It is our prayer to have our first service on Sunday, the 20th.  We would like to thank all the churches that have worked tirelessly to help us during these renovations. Four Oaks Community Church, Wildwood Presbyterian, Grace Bible, and the men of Door of Hope. We want to extend a special thanks to Trent Wright of  Wright Homes and a member of Four Oaks, for his leading of all the volunteers over the past month and a half to help finish the work. Also, to Bill Davis, of Davis Construction Co., for his expertise and pulling permits. Most of the work by all of these churches and individuals has been donated.

Please keep up to date with Door of Hope on our web-site  or contact me personally, my information in on the contact page. Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

Living in sufficient grace,

Joe

Letter of Introduction:

Dear Friends,

Permit me to introduce myself and, more importantly, the work God has called me and my wife, Beverlyn, to in the city of Tallahassee.  My name is Joe Elliott and I have lived in Tallahassee for three and a half years, with my wife Beverlyn and our three children.  During our first three years here, I served on staff as Assistant Pastor at Centerpoint (PCA) mission.  In addition to my duties at Centerpoint, I also began a Reformed ministry on the campus of Florida A&M University, one of the largest Historically Black institutions in the country.  Two years into this work, we sensed the Lord’s calling to plant a Reformed work in an area of Tallahassee that is predominantly black and poor.   Beverlyn and I went to assessment in May of 2005 to see if we were qualified.  Needless to say, it was confirmed that the Lord was calling us to be leaders in a (PCA) church plant.  I say leaders because we have been on a team with two different (PCA) missions, and both were cross-cultural plants.  Because of the area we are planting in, we asked MNA to give us a ten year timeline, and they granted that time frame to us.  I am now the organizing Pastor of a new PCA church plant on the south side of Tallahassee, FL.

Tallahassee’s demographics are approximately 45% white and 45% black, give or take a few, with approximately 10% of other nationalities.  When you speak of a city divided by the proverbial tracks, you are speaking of Tallahassee.  The city is literally divided by a railroad crossing.  But, no matter what side of the tracks one may live, it is our belief that Christ died for all those He will call to Himself.  With this truth as our hope, we pray that God will use Door of Hope to bring many to a right understanding of the gospel.  For the sake of the gospel is why we make this appeal.

In January of this year we were able to secure a building in the area where we are planting.  Unfortunately, the property is in dire need of renovation, and the estimated cost is approximately $121,000.00.  This will enable us to re-roof the 6000 sq. ft. building, put in offices for staff, and house several ministries that have already agreed to partner with us as a means of spreading the good news.  Several churches in the city have already committed over $31,000.00.  We are asking that you come alongside us to see the gospel of Christ change lives.

If you would like to learn more about this mission please visit our web-site at www.dohctally.com.  There you will find our core values, philosophy of ministry, see pictures of the property, and much more.  I am available to speak to your church about the work God has called us to on the south side of Tallahassee.  My contact information is: office #850-576-4673, cell #850-567-5631 or you can email me at joe@dohctally.com.

Living in Sufficient Grace,
Rev. Joe Elliott

 

Prayer Update Letter:

Dear Friends,
Our small group meeting this past Sunday was nothing short of a physical example of our Lord's ministry while He was here on earth. Pastor Joe Elliott gave us the "plain truth" of the gospel and his vision for the south side of town (and beyond) through Door of Hope Church. This is the nitty-gritty of what ministry should look like...providing physical needs while loving the people exactly where they are and being sensitive to God's guidance in showing them what God looks like. Joe, church members and a handful of volunteers are providing classes, five days a week, from 3:00-7:00 p.m., in tutoring, life skills (e.g., how to clean house) and play groups. Their main emphasis is for the young children...whose lives are still being formed by those around them. Joe's hope is that the cycle of frustration, entitlement and worldliness be broken by the love and truth of the Gospel.

His request of us? He's trying to form a group of 200 prayer partners that would commit to praying for this ministry every day...and if you feel so led, then tell him so by visiting the website at www.doorohc.com and let him know you will partner with him. The website is an excellent way to keep up with their petitions, praises and progress...please give it a visit.

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." (Matt. 25:40)

by His grace alone,

Connie


"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day, as if nothing had yet been done." C.S. Lewis