http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196 Check out our new blog! Come back daily to see new posts and subscribe to our RSS feed. AdvancedMinistry Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Trusting God when you do not see exactly how everything is going to turn out can be challenging. I am a planner and I like to know how exactly everything is going to run. I want everything to go just as planned and know what the out come will be. But when you are stepping out in faith you do not always know where you will land. You have to know that if you are truly trusting God He will follow through with His game plan.  If we were honest, some of the time we struggle with trusting God not because we are concerned about advancing the cause of Christ but rather protecting our own name. If we put away our pride and truly depend of God’s understanding we will not be worried about what our name looks like but rather focused on making Jesus famous.  My challenge for all of us, including my self, is to put away our ambition and our own understanding of success and trust God with all of our heart knowing that he has HIS best interest and plan in mind.- Caleb http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=33914 33914 Tue, 8 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000 This past weekend I was listening to Pastor Steven Furtick from Elvation Church and I wanted to share my take away from this message with you. This was a substantial message and it truly challenged me.  So often we continually ask God for the ability to do or have things that we believe that God wants us to have.  We need to realize that the things that we are waiting on God to give us have already been placed inside of us.  If you are asking for joy, He has already given us joy if you have accepted Jesus. If you are asking for peace, He has already placed the peace in your life its just your ability to trust that He is in control. If you are asking for Him to release you from fear, he has already given you the ability to over come when he gave you His Son! This is just a simple challenge, I pray you are encouraged! -Caleb http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=33913 33913 Tue, 1 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000 Hey Everyone!Thank you for joining our prayer team. Prayer is the most critical resource needed for us to be able to reach New England. We are believing God for incredible miracles in Boston. We are praying for God to give our city hope. Thank you for taking the time to pray with us.UPDATECurrently we are working on nailing down the details for the Youth Football camp that we are hosting this July. We currently have over 100 athletes signed up! That is a miracle. We were originally planning on having 50 athletes total. We have totally blown past our goal. Now we are working diligently to find enough people to help coach during this week. PRAYER NEEDSHere are our current prayer needs.Worship Leader - We are still looking to find a worship leader for our church plant. We have some incredible musicians that love Jesus from Berkeley school of performing arts here in Boston, however we are still lacking a front person. Please pray that we find the right person that has a passion to help people connect to Jesus.  Youth Football Camp - Pray that the Youth Football Camp would run smoothly and that it would a be a big win for our community. Our goal for this camp is to build relationships with people and raise awareness that we are here to serve the community. We are also needing to find more people to help volunteer for the camp. The dates are from July 9-13.Single Mom’s - This month we are praying for all the single mothers in our community. We are praying that they will find Jesus, and that they will be encouraged. Raising children is difficult enough, but doing it by yourself is a whole different ball game. Let’s take a few minutes to pray for them and that God would help us serve them effectively. Meeting Location - It is a challenge to find a meeting place here in the city. We need a place that can hold the main weekend services and all of our kids environments. Please pray that we will have favor in this process. YOU CAN HELP US!We are trying to build our prayer team to 300 individuals. We currently have about 120 people praying for us. If you could please take a few moments and shoot 3 phone calls, text or emails asking your friends to join our prayer team, that would be incredible! We need to infuse Boston with prayer and we need their help! Encourage them to sign up to become a prayer partner online at www.thelink.tv- Caleb McNaughton http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=33849 33849 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000 About a month ago I was in Dallas hanging out with the North Texas Youth Alive crew. They had been doing several school assemblies and they were killing it. They are so good at what they do. During the afternoon that I was with them, a couple of us got a little hungry so we took off to Sonic. This sonic had an inside ordering area and few places to sit down and eat. While we were in line a bunch of the employees frantically skated out of the back with brooms and other cleaning supplies. With a sense of panic in their eyes they began to clean the tables, straighten the chairs and sweep the floor. It was hilarious to see someone on roller skates try to straighten a carpet while tucking in their shirt. That takes some serious talent. One little worker ran over and took out the trash all while looking out the window. I heard several of them say “They are about to come in”, another said, “Why do they have to come right now?” It was inevitable for those employees on that warm winter afternoon. The boss was coming. When they saw that the boss and owner were about to walk in the door they began to try to do what they knew what they should have been doing all the time. It wasn’t that they did not know how to, it was that they chose to ignore it. This made me laugh at first because they all thought they were going to loose their jobs, but then then it made me realize that this could be true as well in other businesses, non profits organizations and ministries.  So the question is, what is happening in your organization when the boss isn't around? What should be the standard and consistent product? What should you be doing when no one is watching? Who is going to be the leader to set the bar?  If you are the boss and you don’t set the bar, your people will set it for you and in this case the bar was not very high. Lets set the bar as leaders and empower our people to work like the boss is always there. When we do this we honor God with our work ethic and excellence. I believe it is dishonorable to God to know what to do but decided not to do it. These employees knew what to do because they were doing it when they were about to get blasted by their boss and owner. As Christ followers let’s lead the way in our businesses and organizations. Lets set the bar and create a culture of strong work ethic and excellence to give our real living God what he deserves. Our very best. Live like the boss is watching, because he is.  http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=33781 33781 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:03:00 +0000 I am moving in two weeks! This dream is becoming a reality for me. I am packing my belongings, and jumping in the car. This is the real deal now. Recently my mind has been focused on Jeremiah 29:7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." More than desiring to have a big church or an explosive ministry I want to build up Boston. I want to give people hope. We have to keep our focus on the one. The individuals who are lost, hurting, confused and unfulfilled. We are going to Boston to help people, not just to start a Church.  If we focus on helping people and giving our city hope God will see to it that our Church grows. We are spending time on our face before God asking him that he would use us to love the one and encourage us to give our city hope. Be The Link. Please join our team in praying for Boston. http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=32552 32552 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:34:00 +0000 Crazy! No, insane is the word I would use to describe this whole planting process. God has blown my mind over and over again since I said yes to the call to plant this Church. God is going to do something special in our city.  This Past week I completed the ARC (Association of Related Churches) 2.0 training in Birmingham Alabama. It was a tremendous help in preparing my mind personally for this plant. We are praying to have a long term partnership with this incredible organization.    TEAM Over the last few months God has added several people to our team and we are so excited about their heart for Boston. We now have about 25 people who are committed to the vision of The Link and who are going to help us physically launch the Church! That is incredible because we are still 11 months from the public launch.    FINANCES Financially God has given us some incredible partners. We have raised about 40% of our budget so far. If you would like to personally contribute or know of anyone who would want to participate please have them check out www.thelink.tv/partner   PROJECTS This July we are partnering with Parkway Pop Warner Football Association to host a Youth Football Camp. We are humbled by this incredible opportunity to train and develop young athletes from all over Boston. This is our first major project in the city and we are needing your prayer to pull off this massive camp. If you would like more info in getting involved with this camp you can email me at calebm@thelink.tv.   We also have several student ministry missions teams coming to Boston this fall to help raise awareness and let people know there is a new church who wants to help them and their family! How cool is that!?  God is up to something great, and we are just a small piece of that. He is giving the burden of the Northeast to many people. Please pray for us as we take the next step in planting this LIFE GIVING church that helps connect people to what matters.  Be The Link.  - Caleb http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=32551 32551 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:30:00 +0000 Pregnancy can be an all mind consuming time in a woman’s life.  It is so exciting. At times all I can think about it whose little nose is my baby boy going to have? What will his personality be like?  Will he be a chocolate or vanilla ice cream fan? I am so blessed that God has allowed me to experience and anticipate such an overwhelming joy that is about to be birthed in my life. At some point most women develop a desire to be a mother. It becomes a need in their lives. It’s like a piece of their heart just waiting to be sewn together. I feel so connected to the heart of God in this way, and I can’t help but think about the city of Boston. There is such a need for God in this city. Like the heart of a mother, God is waiting for the His “unborn” children to be pieced together to His heart and experience His joy. Boston is one of the most “unchurched” in America, and I have always had a passion for the city and its people. Just as I am about to give birth to a child, God is also birthing not only a church plant but beginning a movement. What an amazing opportunity that God has given me to be a part of what God is birthing. I am so excited for what’s to come. http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=31340 31340 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:24:00 +0000 Dave and I (Keena) are going to be grandparents for the first time. Our daughter, Kara and her husband, Ryne are expecting their first baby in April. We are so excited! We have enjoyed walking down this journey with our kids.  Getting on the internet to see which organs are developing each month. Seeing the amazing 4D ultra sound pictures as the baby develops. It is crazy how you can already see his facial features. We are trying to decide whose eyes, or nose, or mouth he might have. The baby is continually preparing for his birth and his mommy is continually protecting and nurturing.  We are also very excited our new church plant “The Link”. It too, is going through a continual change to prepare for launch. At first it was a desire and a vision. Now it has become a passion with a heartbeat. We are watching as we pray for God’s guidance and provision. It seems that when God says “its time” that doors fly open. The same doors that we could not pry open a few years ago. I am constantly amazed at God’s timing. He is never late or early. He is right on time. God is preparing us for this journey as He draws us closer to Him every day. He is teaching us to listen and patiently take steps of obedience before Him. We can already see some facial features of The Link. I cannot wait until the “arrival”. http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=31339 31339 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000 I (Dave) had the privilege to be in Boston a few days ago with Courtney our 15-year-old daughter. She was born there but has basically grown up in Texas. So, she needed some time to get to know what the next chapter of her life is going to look like. She had a few days off from school so we took off to Boston. Right off the plane we experienced one of our most favorite foods, pizza. This particular pizza, “Bean Special”, is as unique as the local establishment that makes it. Bean pizza may not sound appetizing but Courtney said that pizza would never be the same. Next we explored the North End; a renowned bakery, and a great Italian restaurant. We celebrated a birthday party combined with football party with some passionate New England Patriot fans. We wrapped up the expedition with a quick trip to The Cape for some incredible seafood from local café that has been featured on the Food Network and a walk on the beach. It was a great weekend! As we left, I mentioned to her that one of the things that I love most about the Boston area is its uniqueness and diversity. Each street, each neighborhood, each town and city has its own vibe. The Greater Boston area has everything…almost. What is the missing element?  Most of these streets, neighborhoods, towns and cities are missing a healthy, life giving church. We are coming to Boston to plant healthy churches that multiply. I am committed to this assignment. Our team is committed to this assignment. We are committed to this incredible city! - Dave http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=31316 31316 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:23:00 +0000   In this adventure of planting The Link I have adapted a new motto.     This motto stems from conversations where people make statements like,   “New England is the Church Planting graveyard” or “It is impossible to  plant a church in Boston, it just doesn?t work here, people are too busy.”     It is at that moment, when you are meeting resistance and pessimism, that you have two options:  1. Crumble like an over baked chocolate chip cookie.  2. Get motivated.     I’ll take the latter. What’s sad is that 9 times out of 10, these people are Christ followers. Now I know this is not an easy task and we are going to have to have a new approach to reach these people but come on!  We have CHRIST on our side!     So as a result of these conversations I have adopted this new motto.   “Haters are motivators cause all things are possible through Christ.”      Check out what Paul is telling the people of Ephesus in Ephesian 1:19-23:     “19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God?s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God?s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the bene?t of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who ?lls all things everywhere with himself.”     Paul was trying to help the people of Ephesus gain spiritual wisdom and encourage them to realize that God is on their side. There is no leader, organization, or culture that can stop Christ. No matter how hard an area is, or how big of a struggle there has been there is nothing to great for our God.     This Biblical truth not only applies to this church plant but also to your life. Realize that Christ is with you. Everything comes under the authority of Christ. There is nothing to great for God. No addiction is to big, no pattern is to strong. You have the opportunity to see dead things come to life and strong holds be broken. God wants to infuse his life giving power into cities here in the U.S. and people groups all over the world. There is hope because Christ is far above any other thing in this world.     This city will change because of the power that we have available to us through Christ. We already have victory through the sacri?ce that Christ made and the power that raised him from the dead.     Haters are gonna hate, but let them fuel our motivation to work hard and excel so that we can see GOD change peoples lives. Nothing is to big for Him. http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=31020 31020 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:58:00 +0000 This fall has been amazing. God has given us some incredible opportunities to spread the word about The Link in so many different venues. We have been given the opportunity to cast the vision of The Link to literally thousands of people already. In October, while on a scouting trip to Boston, I went to a friends house party. While I was there at the party I got to share Christ with a couple. They recognized the need for Christ in their lives and they committed/recommitted themselves to Him. And now, since making that commitment, they have joined our launch team. (How cool is that?!) To put it simply, God is in this. But this is just the beginning...In January we are starting a big push to begin to develop partnerships, raise funds and to add individuals to our launch team. I know your dying to know how you can be part of the action. I'm glad you asked. Here are 5 simple things you can do to help:1. Join our Payer team.     - This is what we need the most. Spiritual covering.         2. Consider supporting The Link Financially. 3. Talk about The Link to your friends and family.     - People you know may be interested in being part of the cause.4. Let us if you know of anyone who might be a good fit for our team.     - We are always looking for a great addition to the team.         5. Post something on Twitter of Facebook about The Link.    - We need your help on getting the word out. I cannot wait to see everything that God does this next year. I know that planting this church is worth our time and investment because it is all about helping connect people to Jesus. Let’s be The Link. http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=30235 30235 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:17:00 +0000 I am tired of hearing the word CAN'T. Many times we disqualify ourselves from what God has called us to do before we even try. We fill our minds with so many excuses about how we are not good enough, or that we just can’t. But God desires us to realize that we can do it through him.  Growing up my Dad always told me that, I need to remove the word CAN’T from my vocabulary. I struggled with this and any time I would say “Dad I CAN’T...”  He would respond, “Have you tried?”    Trying applies to every area of your life. Working in business, overcoming an addiction, making new friends, taking a step into ministry. Whatever it is, take a step of faith and TRY. When you do, watch and see what God will do.    If you believe in your heart you can’t, you probably won’t. Not because you actually CAN’T but, because you have already convinced yourself you can’t. So TRY. One of my favorite scripture verses of all time is Philippians 4:13 For I CAN do everything THROUGH Christ, who gives me STRENGTH.   So I challenge you to replace “CAN’T” with “CAN” and allow Christ to give you the strength that you need toTRY. That does not mean everything will go perfectly with flying colors, but it does mean you have enough faith in God to TRY. And if you fail, get back up and try again.  http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=29816 29816 Mon, 5 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000 Yes, it's true. We are planting a Church in Boston. This is not just a pipe dream or some theoretical talk. It is the real deal. It’s so crazy what God has done in our hearts. Every time I think about Boston, my heart just gets wrecked. It’s hard for me to even describe in words the miracles that God has already done over these last few months. (I’ll be posting some of these stories very soon.) Our hearts are full of hope, excitement, fear, and expectation. We simply want to see God do something incredible in the lives of individual people in Boston, because ultimately Church planting is about one thing...changed lives. Currently we are working on developing partnerships with churches and individuals to see this dream become a reality. My Dad and I are in Reading, PA this week hanging out with a bunch of Pastors and Church Planters. We have met several Pastors who have a desire to see God do some powerful things in Boston, and we are so excited to see what God has for us in the future. We will be blogging regularly. So, sign up for the RSS feed on the left hand side of the page or come back here for regular updates. Thank you for your support and prayers as we go on this adventure together.  http://www.thelink.tv/index.cfm?i=15211&mid=25&blogid=8196&comments=29312 29312 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:26:00 +0000