Inspire Church

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Report

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Dear VPF,

I wanted to personally reach out and thank each of the pastors and churches in the Virginia Pastor’s Fellowship for the financial support you have provided to Melissa and me over the past year. It has truly meant more than I can adequately express.

The past eighteen months have been some of the most exciting and encouraging times we have experienced in ministry. Inspire Church remains small but steady, and we are seeing people discipled both one-on-one and through small groups. 

Melissa and I have been working this Spring with two families that were ready to draft separation and divorce papers, and in both cases we have seen God do what only He can and restore what years of bad choices have led to. We are so blessed to be able to walk alongside families and help them fully rely on God for restoration of marriages and seeing husbands lead their families well. 

There is a renewed vibrancy within the church, and it is an incredible blessing to serve and lead this congregation.

Over the past month, our Sunday attendance has consistently been between 55 and 60 people. We were able to run five small groups from mid-January through the end of May, with an average weekly participation of 38 people. It has been encouraging to watch people grow in their faith and build meaningful relationships within the church family. This Spring Melissa and I hosted a group of 11-15 young adults in our home for a small group on Sunday evenings and through that we have been able to retain all of them and they are growing in the Lord and it is great to see them carry that into their workplace. 

Our church is losing 2 incredible families that have been with us for 2 years as they go to their next duty stations.  Both families have played a vital role in many ministry areas of our church. I am praying that God would bring us more military families that we might invest in them and then be a launching pad for them to do greater ministry wherever God would send them.  

This past Sunday provided a powerful reminder of what God can do. On May 31, we welcomed 35 first-time guests to our service. Three families were visiting the area for vacation or a graduation celebration and found us through Google. The remaining families were local residents who discovered our church through social media or simply by driving past our building. It was exciting to see the joy and enthusiasm of our congregation as God brought so many visitors on a single Sunday. We received several connection cards and have already begun following up with those guests. We are praying that we can be a blessing to them and to many others the Lord may send our way.

Looking ahead, we are actively preparing for Vacation Bible School, which will take place August 3–6. Our prayer is that this will allow us to reach into the neighborhoods surrounding our church and connect many families with the hope of the Gospel.

Melissa continues to work remotely for GHN Architects and Engineers in Springfield, Missouri, where she serves as Business Administrator. This position has been a blessing to our family and provides flexibility that allows her to be deeply involved in ministry. In addition to her work responsibilities, Melissa leads our worship ministry, facilitates a small group, and disciples several ladies each Friday morning.

God has also opened doors for our church to serve our community in real ways. One opportunity we have is partnering with a local elementary school to address food insecurity among students. Throughout the school year, our church helps provide weekend food support for 12 to 15 families each month. Church members donate nonperishable food items that we package and deliver, along with notes of encouragement from our church, to Pattie Elementary School in Dumfries, Virginia. It has been a great way for us to demonstrate Christ’s love within our community.

Melissa and I are deeply grateful for the love, prayers, encouragement, and financial support that the Virginia Pastor’s Fellowship has provided. With great humility, I would like to ask if it would be possible to continue receiving stipend support through the VPF. Thank you for investing in the work here in Woodbridge and the surrounding area. I would be happy to provide any financial documentation that may be helpful, or connect you directly with our financial administrator for any additional information you may need.

Thank you again for your encouragement, your partnership, and your belief in what God is doing here in Woodbridge. We are grateful for your investment in our family and ministry. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

By God’s grace,

Joshua A. Clifton
Pastor, Inspire Church

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