Four years ago, I spent the 4th of July drunk at a brewery. Last year, we sweat through the 4th handing out over 600 bottles of water at our city’s celebration. This year? We are simply overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness.

The past few months at The Vine have been amazing. Busy, but amazing. God is building His church. We’ve seen people saved, baptized, and discipled. And after a fast-paced year, we’ve entered this summer intentionally slow. It isn't because of burnout or lack of vision, but because of a desire to sustain what God has started.

A year ago, I told our core team we’d be running at an unsustainable pace for a short season. That’s church planting. But now, we’re learning how to breathe. Filling the calendar isn’t what proves our faithfulness. Equipping the saints is. And by God’s grace, that’s exactly what’s happening.

Some Wins:
Over 80% of our people are mobilized in the ministry of the church. I am so thankful for servants who are sacrificial with their time, talents, and treasures. And for the first time in my pastoral ministry, the church gave more than the budget required! Praise God!

As a highly relational church we may not have the flashiest ministry, but this is just two ways that show there are real lives being shaped by the gospel.

Since our launch last September, we’ve been walking through Hebrews together and Lord willing, we’ll wrap it up this fall. It has been awesome to see even new believers dig deep into the hardest truths of Scripture and continue to walk away knowing that that Jesus is better.

We’re also celebrating with Paco Silva, who was recently endorsed by the North American Mission Board. Paco is leading a Spanish-speaking Bible study with 12+ adults and has faithfully been engaging Mount Pleasant with the gospel. As God leads us toward becoming a fully bilingual church, He’s providing every piece we need. 

In the coming weeks, Paco will launch a capital campaign to raise $10,000 for an online pastoral residency that allows him to stay and serve here at The Vine. This is a massive step forward. I’m honored to shepherd this church alongside him.

As for me, I continue to serve as a tri-vocational pastor, if that were such a thing. The Lord is teaching me to pace myself, to empower others, and to trust Him with the fruit. I’m learning that less hustle can sometimes mean more growth. My family is loving this season of ministry! Heather has now led a solid group of ladies through at least 5 books of the Bible and they have began making their way through Job. 

On a personal note, please be in prayer for my family as we begin the foster-to-adopt journey. This is a calling God placed on our hearts even before we were married. We are stepping out in faith, trusting the Lord with the process, and excited to open our home in obedience to His call.

As we approach budget season, I’d love the opportunity to meet with our current financial partners and prayer supporters to discuss what next year’s partnership might look like. If you'd be open to a conversation, whether to continue, increase, or adjust your support - let’s connect!

Also, if you (or someone you know) feel led to put boots on the ground with us in Mount Pleasant in the coming year, we’d love to get a conversation started. Our team is eager to host you and we have a lot of opportunities in our community to share the gospel. I know this makes me sound more important than I am, but if you could please schedule a time to meet with me about next years partnership, you can do so here: Book a Meeting with Pastor Tim

Lastly, I would love to share prayer requests/updates via text with your church. If you know of anyone who would like to receive updates, please have them text keyword "KINGDOM" to 903-500-8351 and I will add them to our prayer team distribution list. I can also be contacted directly via that number, as it is the church phone.

Here’s how you can pray with us this month:

  Pray for Paco Silva - that he would raise (or have pledged) the $10,000 needed by September for his residency.

  Pray for our church’s rhythm - that we’d keep a healthy, sustainable pace as we make disciples and avoid burnout among our church family.

  Pray for bold gospel witness - that our people would take every opportunity to share Jesus with their neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

  Pray for my family - as we begin the foster-to-adopt process. Ask for God’s provision, wisdom, peace, and the right placement at the right time.

Thank you for your continued support! We could not do this without your partnership. Your investment in The Vine is bearing real fruit. We’re watching God do what only He can do, and it is hard to believe we’re just getting started.

Grace & peace,
Pastor Tim Williams