Ripples

And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
Acts 8:29-31

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Ripples. You have the small pebble and the water is calm.
Just ‘because,' you toss your little pebble, and watch the ripples go out in rings.

Let me tell you a little about Independence House Church, of which I am a member. We have watched the ripples from our little pebbles, and some of the ‘Philips’ who have shared some evenings with us over the years. And it all began when John and Linda Gredy first opened their door to some very gifted strangers.

In those early days, we realized we were looking for something that is beyond the talents of some very good cooks. I found myself meeting some gifted artists in that ’artsy sense, and was surrounded by beautiful paintings, listening to gifted musicians, and teaching professors, and I left each Wednesday evening recharged, and anxious for next week…

But still, Independence House Church was actually asking a big question, “What are we doing here?”

God answered, and it was a bit like the story of Philip and the Ethiopian of Acts 8:26-32, but today’s ‘Philips’ were coming to us to share where they have been, and where they were headed. They were the ripples of our cast pebbles.

Having shared in the Apex experience, we enjoyed the fellowship of “before and after” over a warm cup of coffee, and as Dr. Gredy shared of his own friends and the connections with others, we began to hear from those who were willing to go into some dark and rough places to share with people who were asking, “How can I [understand], unless someone guides me?”

One such friend, Pete Frank, told him about a need for bicycles… for village pastors in Vietnam! Pete came to our house church and shared his story.

Suddenly, because people like to talk and drink coffee, Independence House Church had an answer to the need! The Cafe was born, and the donations bought bicycles!

When you get coffee at the “Cafe” in the foyer of New Community Church (compliments of the gracious and generous Paul and Diane Cope - owners of Beans N’ Cream in Cedarville) and you donate in the box, let me tell you where that money goes and how it has helped some ‘Philips’ who have gone into the Gredy home on some past or present Wednesday evenings. They are RIPPLES on their way to some scary shores….and deserts.

HERE ARE SOME … NOT ALL OF THE RIPPLES of Independence House Church:

Pete Frank of Marian, Indiana, shared his bicycle ministry for Vietnam and Cambodia. Many came to Christ. Pete was driven out of Vietnam by the Government, however, the ministry still grows in other Asian countries.

Have a cup of coffee. It helps others in those countries.

Another young man who came to IHC as a senior at Cedarville University, was Zack Anderson, who shared his hopes after graduation. That was ten years ago. Now he is in Laos, teaching English.

Drink more coffee.

Todd and Dawn Entner, along with their young children, have come back to share of their lives in Beijing on several occasions. Like Pete Frank, the Government forced them to relocate to Thailand.

Drink more coffee.

Chuck and Rhonda Clevenger, were big stones in the IHC ripple history. Following Chuck’s ‘retirement’ from Cedarville University, they packed up their belongings, sold their dream retirement home, and moved to Globe Arizona to join their daughter Carla, her husband, Joel Shanks, and their children, to serve and be a part of the people of a Reservation that needs Christ, too!

Drink more coffee.

Jason and Victoria Bender have come to IHC to share about making prosthetics in their ministry in Myanmar, but are currently in the States for now.

Drink more coffee.

Closer to home (as in current brothers and sisters of IHC) we have recently heard from our own Allie Sepanski, who spent her Summer in Belgium, and plans a return ministry after graduation.

Drink more coffee.

You may have been greeted at the door of NCC by our own Jim Riggle of IHC.
Jim just returned from a ‘scary’ ministry in Nepal, equipping and teaching brave young pastors to go out to the hostile villages to share Christ in a dark place.

The story of Independence House Church is just a ripple among the rings of sharing the Good News, and drinking coffee is only a little part in the life of our house church, but as the ripples go out, we would love to have anyone bring their pebbles to add to the ripples that we are making!

In the mean time, DRINK MORE COFFEE!