Joe & Becky Cruse

I trust your day is off to a great start! It’s day #2 and we are counting down to Sunday November 1—the first official service on the new property for City Worship Centre.

First of all, let me start by saying thank you to those that have responded to my daily email updates and also to those that have sowed financial seeds to help us relocate to our new home. We are praying for a 100 fold return on your seed and believe God is a rewarder of those that seek Him as you fund the building of the Kingdom of God here in Austin! We really appreciate your prayers, your love gifts, and your encouraging words.

Though it has turned cold with this last front, we missed the really bad rain and thunderstorms—thank you Lord! Over the next few days, we are working on the floor of the tent and are finishing up the electrical needs. Our Kid’s Centre teams have been working to get the nurseries and kids church ready to roll for Sunday morning and are doing a great job. Also, the video guys are doing advance preparations to get the studio operational once again.

There are so many little things that need to be done and sometimes we want to feel the burden to get everything done immediately! However, we must wait on the Lord and follow His leading. If the tent isn’t completely finished out by the weekend, we will still have services on the property—even if it’s under the trees! I hear the weather this weekend is going to be absolutely beautiful!

I wanted to remind you of a familiar passage of scripture that would be good for us to pray and agree on—especially in times like these:

Isaiah 40:28-31 says,

“28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”.

Friends, we are not interested in building our own kingdom and our hope is not in our own ability but our hope and our faith is in the Lord! So, even in busy and stressful times, we can find our strength renewed and we can run the race He has called us to run without getting weary or quitting before the finish line.

We are praying for you today as well. May God’s favor, grace and blessing be upon you. May you find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. May you soar far above the worries and cares of this world and may you know His presence like never before.

If you are within driving distance (or flying distance!!) and could join us, we would love to invite you to celebrate with us this coming weekend.

We would consider it an honor to have you join the celebration! Equip classes begin at 9:00 and the service is at 10:00!

The address to the new property is 13550 Hwy 290 W—Austin TX 78737. We are only about 5 miles west of the old location—just west of the Polo Club.

Until tomorrow—much blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

How are you today? 3 more days before our first “official” service @ 13550 H 290 W! Last night, (Wed Recharge) we had a powerful time of prayer and worship in the log cabin and the glory of God came in like a flood. Ps Joe and I got hit with the joy like we haven’t had in a long time! Thank the Lord for His joy! I tell you—that is what the world needs. When things get heavy and life seems unbearable—you need a good dose of the joy of the Lord!

As we were being prayed for last night, the Lord spoke a word to us that went something like this: “This is all I want you to do. Yield to me, trust me—I don’t need your help. I just need you to yield and let me work through you. Let no man (or woman) say, ‘see what I have done’, but it’s by My Spirit says the Lord.”

And friends, that is how we accomplish anything big for God! We just simply yield ourselves and put our faith in His ability! It has nothing to do with our ability but it has all to do with our faith! I love the NCV translation of Hebrews 11:1 that says, “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”

Are you believing God for some big things? Is your faith being tested? Remember that God is working in you so He can work through you and He wants to show Himself strong on your behalf. Trusting Him is the key. I love the old hymn that says, “Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him, how I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust Him more!”

Today, the team is getting the portables ready to use for classrooms and studio and dirt has been hauled in to begin the foundation on the floor of the tent. Pray for good weather over the next several days. We really do need dry weather to finish the floor so we can bring in the stage and finish the trussing for lights. The temporary sign went up today on the front of the property and it’s a big one…I don’t think anyone could miss it!

Would you agree in prayer with us for supernatural strength for our staff? Many of the team have been burning the candle at both ends. Some teach or work in the offices during the day and then help all afternoon and evening. We are praying that God’s grace will be sufficient and that God will give them 100 fold for their investment of time, talent and resources into the Kingdom of God! We have the greatest staff on the face of the earth! Thank you Jesus!

We will close for now and update you with more details tomorrow. Thanks for praying with us. It really means so much!

Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

Good Morning! Yes…4 days til the move and things are moving right along! This is your friendly update from CWC and request for some prayer agreement today.

Yesterday, the old space was cleared and cleaned while some of the guys were working on the children’s building. You know…it’s amazing how much “stuff” you accumulate after 8 years in the same place. I suppose it’s good to move ever so often so it makes you go through the junk and lighten the load. However, I don’t think we intend to move from this land so I guess we will have to do a better job of staying “light and junk-free!”

We are still drying out the ground under the tent. Also, we are waiting on some finances to come in before doing the groundwork. Sometimes, you want to get ahead and just “get it done” but God’s plans are always perfect and His timing is “spot on!”

The trussing and lighting has arrived and the electrical work is almost finished. It really is amazing how much gear it takes to provide quality sound and lights.

Temporary signage was put up yesterday along Hwy 290. Here’s an interesting fact—did you know that over 100,000 cars travel this corridor on the west side of Austin everyday? God is so awesome—how exciting it is to be in one of the hottest growth areas in the state! The right place at the right time—that is just like our God!

Here’s a verse for you to claim as you pray for us today and for your location in life—

Acts 17:26-28 (NIV) says—

26”From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us 28′For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.”

Friends, you are right smack dab where God wants you! Don’t look to the left or to the right—He knows where you are and His plans are for your good.

Would you agree with us in prayer today that God knows us and knows where we are and He won’t leave us or forsake us with unfinished business. Pray that the finances continue to come in to finish the sanctuary and we will be praying for your needs today as well.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow….much love and blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

Okay…I got busy and forgot…here is yesterdays’ (Tuesday) accounting–

Good Morning! Hope your day is going well…we are checking in with you today to update you on our progress and countdown to the move this coming Sunday for City Worship Centre.

So, this is day 5 and we are excited to wake up to beautiful weather here in central Texas-Thank you Lord! The tent was secured and anchored yesterday (in the pouring rain) and is ready for the next phase. Man, when you stand under it…the thing that catches your eye is the enormity of it! It really is quite a bit bigger than our building and we will be able to seat 350 comfortably.

We really do need to have a few days of good weather to “catch up” with our plans but the weather reports aren’t favorable. They are saying we could have more rain and storms Wed/Thursday so we shall see. Pray for good weather! We need several days to dry out before putting the carpet down and the trussing up for lighting.

The offices are almost completely back to normal and are located in the log cabin. Yesterday, the guys were working in the children’s building. We are putting some storage areas in and also fixing a place for Ms Vikki to run some of the music/choir classes. We will continue in there today, waiting for the ground to dry out under the tent.

Yes, it is a huge project but we have some of the most incredible people, church members and students, who work tirelessly to see this part of the dream come to pass. Speaking of seeing, Let me remind you of a passage from Genesis 15 where God takes Abraham outside of his tent to see–

5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Friends, sometimes, we just have to have a different perspective. The thing God has called us to is bigger than we can really see and it must be viewed from God’s perspective! What has He called you to? Does it seem bigger than you? Remember that the heavenly perspective is what we need to keep focused on!

The land for us is not the end all—it’s only the beginning. It’s the opportunity to touch more people, train more people, reach more people, save more people! If we just set our sights on getting on the land, we miss the bigger picture.

As we agree in prayer today, let’s agree that we keep the heavenly perspective and remember that God is “PRO-VISION!” He is El Shaddai, our Provider, He is more than enough! “Thank you Lord, that all of our needs are met in you today, by Christ Jesus—Amen!”

Blessings for today—will write more tomorrow…stay tuned!
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

Well, this is the week! Six days and counting…. We trust you are ready to receive unexpected sources of supply, ready to meet those who need the “good news” of the gospel, and ready to “make a difference” in your “Jerusalem”!

“SO WHAT WEEK IS IT”, you might ask? It is the week before we take possession of the land God has given us and I thought it might be fun to chronicle this week with little notes of specific things to pray about instead of one big prayer directive! So—here goes:

Last night was a big test for us. The tent is beginning to go up and a fall storm blew in with a vengeance! Ps Joe was up at 3:30 this morning, checking things out and praying in tongues!

Because of our rocky soil here in central Texas, it is quite a job to anchor the stakes but all in all, the tent weathered well. A few minor adjustments need to be made but God was good and so today, despite the rain, we will continue to forge ahead.

Yesterday, many stayed after church to dismantle lights, sound, chairs, etc so things are ready to be moved out to the property just as soon as possible.

I’m reminded of a scripture passage found in Luke 7:

24″Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock”.

Would you agree in prayer with us today that the weather would clear and we can progress with putting the tent up as scheduled? We believe we are building on a sure foundation, both spiritually and physically and your prayer of agreement will be a great blessing today.

In closing, let me ask you—what foundation are you building on? Your hopes, your dreams, your plans need the sure foundation that only Jesus can provide. We are praying for you today that as the winds of adversity blow, “your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock”!

More updates and pictures to follow this week…stay tuned!

Ps Joe and Becky and the team