MAY 2023
“WE HAD A BABY!”
First thing’s first - we had a baby! Laura and I are overjoyed to introduce you all to Brynn Taylor Knecht. Brynn was Born Wednesday, May 24th at 3:53pm, healthy and happy!
CHURCH UPDATES
May was spent primarily in preparation. This month we had our hands full getting ready for Brynn’s arrival, and preparation for Pastor Evan’s summer sabbatical; both scheduled to come the same week that month! But amongst the periods of planning, there were plenty of moments to celebrate as well.
One I’d like to highlight is the addition of two families who joined Liberti through membership. On Mother’s Day we didn’t just get to honor moms, but we officially welcomed two families into a covenant relationship with the local church. Both of these families are a part of Laura & I’s home meeting and are planning on being a part of our launch team for Liberti Bristol! That is two more families committing to being on mission to see God’s kingdom grow in Bristol. Committed to live, speak and serve as the presence of Jesus there in hopeful expectation that others would see him, hear his invitation, and come and follow him.
And with that, I want to make an invitation to you. Many of you have already committed to joining us through one means or another. But right now I’m inviting you to stop. Pray. And ask God if there is more He is calling you to do to help see His Gospel message reach the people of Bristol. If you haven’t, would you pray for us and for Bristol right now, that God might move in the hearts of its citizens in such a way that they would seek to become citizens of His? And would you pray for us and for our team, that we would have continued favor with God and man as we interact with our neighbors and share with them our purposes there to be In and For Bristol.
This summer while Evan is away, I will have much of my attention focused on Liberti NE, but this fall when he returns I will be sent out, with all my energy focused on Bristol. Building up the team, putting year one’s strategy in place, and raising the funds needed to see that plan provided for. So again, right now, pray for that. But also, ask if financially supporting that is something you should get behind. We believe that God is and will provide for that which he has ordained, but we believe that it will happen through people like you. Prove us right!
At the end of May, Liberti Northeast had its congregational meeting where we announced my transition in the fall. At that time, Laura & I’s weekly home meeting will transform into our launch team gatherings and the door will be open to any who are interested in learning more about what we are up to and how we plan to achieve these goals. Over the last few years this group that God has brought together each Wednesday night has slowly become a family and we only want to see that family grow. Right now, would you ask if this family is one you should be a part of? We need mission minded people and if you are one, our door is open to you.
PERSONAL UPDATES
It is still surreal to say that we had a baby, but we are so pleased to be entering into this new stage of life with a beautiful girl added to our home. Brynn took us to the hospital early Wednesday morning, around 3am, and she was born about 12 hours later. The birth went about as well as one could hope and we were able to go home that Friday afternoon. So far Brynn has kept us on our toes, but we are confident that we will all learn how to live together and that we will find our new rhythms soon. Pray for Laura as she physically recovers and for me as I try to find the new balance that is required for a new father trying to manage the many responsibilities on my plate.
For the next few months Laura will be home. While she has a job to go back to, she is actively searching for one that will give her greater freedom to be the kind of mom she wants to be. At the same time, I am working to figure out how best to divide my time between my passion for Bristol, my business with Kind Contracting, and my love for my family. Please join us in praying for success in these areas.
As we begin to shift towards a greater focus on raising support for the Church and for our family, please consider being generous towards our goals. If you are looking for a unique way to support us and our church planting journey, may I suggest going on a vacation! If that sounds interesting to you, check out our RV here and maybe even book it for a weekend or a week. We would love to host you!
_________________________________
Partner With Us
Liberti will be a church in the heart of Bristol with a heart for Bristol — who seeks to live, speak and serve as the very presence of Jesus to our neighbors there.
PRAYER
Would you commit to including Liberti Bristol in your prayers? Would you pray for softened hearts? Would you pray that God would open doors and opportunities for us to be ambassadors for His kingdom? That we would have eyes to see opportunity and the willingness to pursue it — even when it’s difficult?
PRESENCE
We desperately need your prayers, but we also need your presence! Liberti Bristol needs mission-minded people like you; willing to do the work and take the risks to participate with God in the expansion of His kingdom! If you'd like to consider joining our launch team, then I invite you to stop by our house on a Wednesday night. Every Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30PM, our team comes together as a family — adults and children — for a time of fellowship and prayer. Come meet us and see if this is where you belong!
PROVISION
And finally, provision. Listen, we believe that God will provide for that which He has ordained. Liberti Bristol isn't a project of our own, but rather it's our effort to be obedient to God's call on our lives and to be his ambassadors and priests, declaring the good news of God's Kingdom; inviting others to repentance and to come and see that He is good. And so, we believe that God will provide for us. But we believe He'll do it through people like you! Would you consider being a part of God's provision to us? Be it a monthly, annual or even a one-time donation? We need your help to make Liberti Bristol the church that this neighborhood needs it to be!
