Our CHURCH is Moving!

Dear Friends,

I have some really important news for you, so please read this entire blog!

WE'RE MOVING, WE'RE MOVING, WE'RE MOVING!

As many of you know we started The Roots Community Church in our home last Easter 09'. Since then we have moved to the KOA Kampground Rec Center and it has proven to be a wonderful starter home for our small church. There has been many occasions where each seat was taken and we were out of space to accommodate new people.

This began a quest for us to find a larger home that would accommodate for more families from our community. But, locations for churches to meet in Davenport are not in abundance as the infrastructure for this community has not caught up yet with the number of people that live here.

In December I was put in touch with Steve and Bill Leary through Duke Real Estate about a Shopping Center they own that has a 4,400 Sq. Foot store front church on US 192 about 2 mile east of US 27 in The Shoppes of Vista Del Lago. When I heard about this opportunity I went over to meet with them and take a look. I was informed about the financial responsibility of this kind of a lease and knew right away that if this was going to work it would have to be a "God" thing.

So here is what God has done so far:

1. The landlords have agreed to take more than 1/2 off of the original lease price.

2. Carrie Milstead (Roots family member) will be opening a DayCare in the new facility.

3. Funds for the initial move and expenses were raised in one month's time.

4. The location of the building is in the center of our target outreach zone.

5. The former church has donated over $15,000 in equipment for us to get started.
(ex: Chairs, Video Projectors, Lighting, Curtains, Office Equipment, etc...)

I wish I had time to tell you all the little things that have been going on behind the scenes that have proved to me over and over again that God is in this. It has been truly amazing to see Him move in the midst of us. We are so blessed.

So, this Sunday...January 31...will be our last Sunday at the KOA.

Beginning on Sunday, February 7th at 10AM (same time as before) we will hold our worship gatherings at the New Facility:

8681 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy Kissimmee, FL
The Shoppes of Vista Del Lago.

So, now that you know that we are moving...what do we need you to do?

HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE TRANSITION SMOOTH:

1. Make sure you come to the first service in the new building on February 7th at 10AM!!!

2. Bring some friends and family members. (Our new children's area is going to rock!)

3. Pray about how you might start or increase your financial commitment to The Roots because this new building is a step of faith.

4. Pray for you friends who are far away from God...consider how this new space
might be the perfect place to invite them, so that they can hear about God's love.

5. Consider how you might get more involved in The Roots by serving on Sunday mornings as a Greeter, Usher, Media Arts, or Children's Ministry Volunteer.

I would love to hear from you in the next couple of weeks. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at jessecarbo@gmail.com

WE WILL SEE YOU THIS SUNDAY @ THE KOA FOR OUR LAST WORSHIP CELEBRATION IN THAT LOCATION AND NEXT SUNDAY, FEB. 7 @ OUR NEW LOCATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS AT THE ROOTS COMMUNITY CHURCH, CHECKOUT OUR WEBSITE

WWW.THEROOTSCOMMUNITY.COM

Would you hire me?

Would you hire me? If you have ever had the opportunity to hire someone you know that it’s an awesome responsibility and comes with a lot of rewards especially when you have hired the right person for the job. Not only does your team function properly but also you look really good because you made the right choice. Friends, I am the right person for the job.

Today, I am asking you to hire me. “Hire you for what?”, you may be thinking…well, I am asking you to hire me so that I can continue spreading the gospel in West Orlando (Davenport, FL) on your behalf. You can directly be a part of the mission of God from right where you are. You have an opportunity today to make sure that people continue to hear the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. You have the opportunity to make sure that there is a community of people who are out serving the homeless, the poor, the needy, the hurting, and those that need a community of love.

As the lead pastor of The Roots Community I make it my #1 priority to train and equip people to BE the church and not just PLAY church. Here is an excerpt from our vision document that further explains what we see and what we are creating.

Our Vision at the Roots Community Church is...to see the grace of God transform our lives so that we would have the mindset and will in the midst of pain and discomfort to love all people for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(IF YOU WANT THE BOTTOM LINE - SKIP DOWN TO THE BOTTOM)

Vision Expanded:

Nothing happens without it first being thought up or dreamed. The Eiffel tower was first a dream before it was built. The United States of America was first an idea before the Constitution was drafted. The Universe was God’s idea before He actually created it. God has birthed a dream in us to plant the gospel in the Central Florida region near Davenport, Fl and the Four Corners.

-I dream of a church where people are aware of the weightiness of their sin and the enormity of God’s love thus making the cross loom large in their lives.
(A Gospel Centered Church)

-I dream of a church where it’s people are loving, accepting, and hopeful.
(A Grace Based Church)

-I dream of a church that is creative in it’s approach to contextually preaching the gospel.
(A Creative Church)

-I dream of a church where it’s people “live sent” amongst the community creating opportunities where people can encounter a relationship with God for the first time or rediscover Him again. (Local Missionaries to the neighborhoods, schools, work, etc...)
(A Sending Church)

-I dream of a church that is a family as they adopt one another expressing the deepest and most ancient value of all…Love.
(A Loving Church)

-I dream of church where it’s people are discovering ways to serve in the kingdom of God.
(A Serving Church)

-I dream of church where leaders are being equipped so that they can influence the world with the gospel of Christ.
(An Equipping Church)

-I dream of a church that seeks to plant the gospel in other regions of the county, the state, the nation, and the world through church planting.
(A Multiplying Church)

-I dream of a church that builds a community center for the Four Corners Region. This building would be completely open the public and for their long-term use. It would be our gift to the community and a gathering spot for our weekly celebration time.
(A Selfless Church)

-I dream of a church that is one. With diverse economic statuses, racial divides, political agendas, and denominational organizations there is much to keep us apart. But the call of the kingdom is unity in Christ. I see black and white, Hispanic and Asian, rich and poor worshiping the One True God together.
(A Multi-Ethnic Church)

THE BOTTOM LINE::

So in order for this to be a reality, I need time. Time to put my hands to the plow and work very very hard as we join God in His mission. When you hire me, this buys me time to be about the Father’s work. This gives me the resources needed to take care of family and at the same time meet the needs of our community.

We have created a program to make this easy and affordable. The Twenties Club is the opportunity that one of my pastor’s and I dreamed up one afternoon as we realized that the burden of our entire financial need is too great for just a few to carry, but if many carried a small portion than the impact could be exponential.

Would you consider sending me $20 a week to further the mission of The Roots Community? I understand that in these tough financial times everything is tight and so if $20 is not do-able at this time than I would certainly appreciate anything you could afford. I know it sounds ridiculous but I would even appreciate $1 a week.

Here’s the hard truth: If I can’t raise the financial support needed to sustain the financial need for me and my family than I am prepared to work for a local company to earn a wage that will make up the difference. In case you are wondering, I have done that before and am ready to do it again. But, statistics show that when a pastor works a full time job and tries to plant a church at the same time the results are often devastating as one man can only do so much. That is why I need you to hire me!

Below you will see a PayPal button where you can make your first contribution to the Twenties Club. Each week you will receive an updated newsletter informing you what is happening at The Roots. I really do appreciate your considering this and welcome any kind of input that you might have. Whether or not you can participate I covet your prayers and thoughts.

Any gift whether weekly, monthly, or even a special (one-time) gift is much appreciated. Thank You in advance for all you do and for taking time to learn more about what God is doing at The Roots Community Church.

Because of Jesus,


Jesse Carbo
863.800.0547 - cell phone
jessecarbo@gmail.com
www.therootscommunity.com

Most Dangerous Place in America! By: Dave Gibbons

The Most Dangerous Place in America

Yes, the situations in Iran and North Korea continue to give concern to us and our government, but when it comes to our own backyard, where is the most dangerous place in America?

New York City.

Detroit.

Baltimore.

Chicago.

Los Angeles.

Large cities such as these have received a lot of attention as havens of crime, disorder and mayhem. I don’t want to argue that. Sure, violent crimes and societal concerns seem common in our concrete jungles.

But how about cities like these:

Irvine, California

Lake Forest, Illinois

Plano, Texas

Ellicott City, Maryland

Irvine, California was recently given the title, “Safest City in America” (over 100,000 people) by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on June 1, 2009. I would like to submit that suburbs just like this may actually be the most dangerous places in America.

The Burbs
The suburban enclaves with their middle class citizens and well- manicured lawns, gates, and guards protecting our Orwellian lifestyle and toys, Starbucks a few minutes apart from each busy intersection, and boasting some of the best schools in the country may actually be the most dangerous locations to live. Okay, we may not have the high murder counts or robberies, but I wonder if the suburbs have become breeding grounds for the accessible and shallow thrills of drugs and alcohol abuse, extravagant parties and proms, and mere facades of happiness and the American Dream. Just ask your local city drug dealer about his primary consumers. . . suburban teenagers and college students.

Okay, I’m not a researcher, but my gut impression from my travels and intersection with youth in the major cities of the world as well as the suburbs and rural communities is that they are all equally dangerous but just in different ways.

The dangers of the suburbs entail the lack of imagination (where do you find real art museums, innovative music venues and creative opportunities to explore nature. Sure there are exceptions but it’s not the norm); materialism; greed; isolation behind cookie-cutter neighborhoods and homogeneous clubs and churches; boredom: apathy; the fascination with the relevant more than the real; a love affair with popularity more than loving the poor; and a thirst for excitement superficially satisfied in the Friday night party. This takes precedence over a dangerous ride with God on the frontlines of His movement.

Ironically, guess what consistently is the hottest selling music in the suburbs? Hip Hop! Seriously. . . check out this article from Wall Street Journal in June of 2005. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB111521814339424546.html

Why do you think Hip Hop is so popular among Suburban youth?

Hip hop is a voice to which suburban kids want to relate. Perhaps some wannabe has a type of connection to reality through Hip Hop while others envision radical change and revolution, inspired to be at the forefront of a new generation of leaders who will not remain silent. It’s a type of music that breathes with the vibe of danger and rawness. Although you may not like the themes at times or the language, It’s honest and from the soul.

My concern is that our children are missing out on one of the greatest moments to live in the history of humanity. These are the times of global shifts and crises and once-in-a-life time opportunities. Our generation and the next can be so focused on our own survival and the satisfaction of pleasure that we miss out on one of the wildest adventures. Hip Hop music has become the voice of our youth. It describes a thirst for danger and a rawness that is visceral. It’s filled with angst and pain. These elements are the seeds of revolution found in the cities. My prayer is that the intrinsic frustration and boredom in the suburbs and rural cities of America will find its purpose in a radical revolution of love.

Perhaps instead of a one-week mission trip, the next generation will commit to a lifetime of roaming the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit like has never been seen before. Sure, our cities have been the focus of the church, but let’s not forget the quiet suburbs– the current breeding ground of potential zealots who are looking for something more to awaken them out of their boredom.

In response to what I wrote above my teammate, Dave Brubaker wrote: The verse I love for this (if you want one)—Luke 12:13-21. It really could be about the suburbs, the guy is so rich, he’s afforded the luxury of ISOLATION. He’s so alone in his gated community that when he needs financial council he has no one to confer with but himself (verse 17); he’s so out of touch with the poor and needy, he can’t think of a single person to share with when he’s got extra. The only idea that comes to mind is to make bigger barns (verse 18). Apparently God finds this so detestable, he kills the guy (verse 20), the words “your life will be demanded from you” are actually a financial term re: collecting a loan; in the case the “loan” that God is collecting is “life.”
Easy to judge this guy as a “fool” but the truth is, isn’t he “successful” by suburban standards???

Third Culture

Third Culture Video - Short from Newsong Church on Vimeo.

Down From The Mountain

So I have been home now for 2 days from our vacation in Costa Rica and I wish I could return. I haven't felt this low and unmotivated in a long time. I guess you could say that we have returned from the mountaintop to the valley and I am feeling it. There is a phrase that Costa Ricans (Ticos) live by..."Pura Vida" and it means "Pure Life". It would seem to me that in Costa Rica this would be manageable. The Pure and Simple Life is easily attainable in the culture that we experienced, or so it would seem. But life here back in the states often seems like "Complicada Vida" (Complicated Life). With financial pressures, cultural lifestyle pressures, starting a new church, managing our relationships, raising kids, meeting the needs of others, personal time for God and yourself, the list could go on and on...you get the picture...it can get comlicated sometimes.
This last week in Costa Rica has led me to think a lot about what I do and who I am. I spend a lot of my time running around spending time with people but I often find myself giving myself away, often when there is nothing left to give. I came to the conclusion that I do not spend enough time in study, in prayer, and simply just putting away distractions. I allow distractions in my life for fear that I might miss something Big or Important. But, I am learning that these distractions are merely distractions from what is really important. I am missing what is important. I need to be a man of prayer and study. I should be devoting much more time to thinking, reading, writing, and teaching. It's a call back to Pura Vida. A simple and pure task for what I should be doing in life.
What would Pura Vida look like for you?

Prayer Request

Dear Friends and Family,

The Roots Community has arrived at a crucial time in it's life. We are ready to launch publicly. God has allowed us the opportunity to partner with Him in His mission and it has been beautiful.

We are currently facing an opportunity to see God work in powerful ways and I would like to invite you to join me in asking God for favor with Haines City.

We are looking to rent a permanent facility in the downtown district of Haines City, Fl and the city is trying to stop us. I have a meeting on Monday, March 23 at 2PM with the powers that be. I am asking for you to pray that day for wisdom, discernment, favor, humility, and love. This is a leadership challenge for me personally. I have never had to do this kind of thing before. Rest assure, I am not afraid! I am confident in my Jesus that He is there with me and that the Holy Spirit will go before me.

Our desire at the Roots Community is to serve the people of Haines City, including the government officials. So, needless to say, we are not looking for a fight. Although it may be within our "right" to have a church in that city...we do not want it to resort to some type of legal action...this would not prove to be a good way to start serving the city.

So, please pray that God would move in a huge way.

Know this too. We are not assuming that the building IS God's will. We believe in the Revelation of God's will and that He will in His time reveal his vision for us, step by step. We are called to obedience, one day at a time. If this is not where He wants us...we will still be apart of advancing the gospel in that community (See Paul's example in Philippians 1:12)

So, because you are my dear friends and family I thought I would ask you to pray. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Coveting your prayers,

Jesse Carbo

P.S. Feel free to advance this email to anyone you think will pray for us.

I am re-posting a blog that my coach posted on Friday. It was incredibly powerful and really convicting. Please take a moment and watch this:

Penn & Sharing Christ
I know the video we showed on Sunday has been passed around a lot, but I want you to watch it again now. While you do, wrestle with the question how much do have to hate someone to not share Christ with them? Not much. You just need to love your comfort, convenience, reputation more than you love that person. Feeling convicted? Good you should take comfort in the fact that you are God’s child and that he will discipline those he loves. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3.19) Let me give you 3 practical ways to be zealous and repent:

1. Begin to intercede for someone who is outside the faith.
2. Invest humbly and authentically in their lives.
3. Invite them to join one Sunday during our Practical Atheist or on Easter Sunday, April 12th.

Thanks for your friendships and partnership in the gospel.