For those of you who are just joining our story, I want to say welcome, and thank you for reading! My family and I moved from Michigan to Phoenix, Arizona, in February of 2018. It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 months—nearly a year—already! We moved down here to follow the Lord’s call to help plant a church. We joined together with Pastor Joe Soria (wife Joy, son Ethan), and a small team of hard-working former-midwesterners to launch Arise Church in April 2018. My husband, Matt, does a lot of behind-the-scenes work, including computer-based programs, sound & lighting education & formation, and sets our sound system up each week. He also plays the drums on our worship team. I lead the worship music ministry and meet weekly as a part of the leadership team to pray, plan, and help grow this church to be what God has uniquely called us to be in this community.
It is both a joy and a challenge to help build a church from the start. Anyone who’s helped with a church plant or portable church knows the wear that set-up & tear-down can be each week, as we have been renting space in an elementary school in a Peoria neighborhood. But, many hands make the work light. It’s amazing how strong our little church family (as I like to call it) has become. I am amazed at how God is working in the lives of people here, and it has been a privilege to be a part of that. The people of Arise Church have been a blessing to me as I can only hope and pray I have been and will continue to be to them.
Part of church planting involves raising funds. As missionaries in this city, we have had to raise money both for our church and for our family personally. My husband does work full-time outside of the church to help support us financially, but it’s not quite enough to cover our expenses. We live simply, and are still living out of our RV until we can afford to be in a house. We have a few people who generously give to us each month, and we are so grateful for that! Currently, we are looking for 6 more people who can give $100 a month for the next 6 months or so. We are hoping that in 6 months or so we will be able to be more self-sustaining (after we get on a cheaper insurance plan & redo some of our budgeting). The reality is, right now, we are behind on bills, have put all we can on credit, and are late in paying our rent. So your financial giving will truly make a difference. Just this week, we didn’t know how we would get groceries, and at just the right time, we received a check in the mail, which allowed us to buy groceries (thank you to that family-you know who you are)!
Please consider giving monthly for the next 6 months. It would bless us in a way that both lifts a burden and allows us to serve without restraint, knowing our basic needs are taken care of. By partnering with us, you are, in a way, helping be a missionary to those in this area as well.
Your prayers are important as well! We are so thankful for those who have committed to praying for us regularly. Thank you.
You can mail your check to us to the address below, or you can give online by going to arisechurchaz.org/give. After you put the dollar amount in, you can select “Matt and Tori Walker Support.” Or on a check, be sure to say “Walker Support.”
Thank you! May God bless you as you seek Him.
Tori Walker
Arise Church
In c/o Matt or Tori Walker
PO Box 1292
Sun City, AZ 85372
Matt & Tori Walker
2398 W Williams Dr
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Monday, November 19, 2018
Saturday, November 17, 2018
faithful one
Have you ever had a season of your life where you felt there was a repetitious theme trying to infiltrate it’s way into your head? If you’re like me, there have been many over the span of a few decades. I can think of several words that have encapsulated the subject matter of each of those seasons, and the lessons that accompanied them.
I believe that recurring themes can be one way God reaches us & speaks to our heart. The lessons I have learned and the revelation imparted to me are not just for me, but for those around me as well. So I try to share as transparently as I can with others, in hopes that they will be inspired, encouraged, and ultimately be drawn into something more meaningful with God as well.
Faithfulness.
“Faithful” has been my word for several months now. (One theme, many lessons.)
And I believe it’s a word for those around me as well. Remember God’s promises; remember his goodness; see his faithfulness in all things, through all generations and continuing on. He is at work RIGHT NOW in your situation and mine, and he’s not going to quit. God never leaves us, gives up on us, or leaves us to figure “it” out on our own. That doesn’t mean we sit idly until something “magical” happens. No. We must pursue Him, be in His word, and worship him in all circumstances. We must be willing to allow his spirit to transform our hearts.
God is the same yesterday, today, and always. He is faithful and good. He loves you. He loves me. And greater things are yet to come. If you’re in a place where it’s hard to see that, hard to believe that, then rest in his promises, knowing that our faithful God will see it through just as he always does. He is faithful!
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
“Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”
Psalm 36:5 NIV
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Education at Home
Getting an education at home.
My husband and I have strived to make our daily experiences “teachable moments” for our kids, from the start. Teaching our kids good manners, including them in (some) budgeting and minor financial decisions, character-building, and other life-skills are all a part of everyday, ongoing, learning. Of course, taking on “homeschooling” has brought a much deeper expansion and commitment to educating our kids at home.
It’s not all glam. (Did anyone imagine it to be?)
Staying at & working from home is new to me.
It’s not always as organized as I’d like it to be.
It doesn’t always go how I plan.
Some days I feel like the kids are getting a better complete education at home.
Some days I feel like I am failing them.
Our small living quarters can get very messy, quickly.
I wish they had a similar friend group like they did before.
The balance of mom/teacher/chef/maid is a constant challenge.
This season has several new elements for us, hat are causing us to stretch, learn, and grow. Though it’s many hardships and challenges, we have realized that we have drawn closer together as a family. Our faith has been strengthened. Our relationships are being remolded into something new, stronger, healthier. I am so thankful for this season and for all that God has allowed me to experience. What a blessing it is to be able to be with my kids everyday! What a blessing it is to be able to manage their education! What a blessing (and responsibility) to be able to give them a healthy and solid foundation on which to build heir lives.
It may not be traditional, nor look like what others are doing, but we are “doing our thing,” educating our kids at home, and what a great privilege that has been!
Tori
My husband and I have strived to make our daily experiences “teachable moments” for our kids, from the start. Teaching our kids good manners, including them in (some) budgeting and minor financial decisions, character-building, and other life-skills are all a part of everyday, ongoing, learning. Of course, taking on “homeschooling” has brought a much deeper expansion and commitment to educating our kids at home.
It’s not all glam. (Did anyone imagine it to be?)
Staying at & working from home is new to me.
It’s not always as organized as I’d like it to be.
It doesn’t always go how I plan.
Some days I feel like the kids are getting a better complete education at home.
Some days I feel like I am failing them.
Our small living quarters can get very messy, quickly.
I wish they had a similar friend group like they did before.
The balance of mom/teacher/chef/maid is a constant challenge.
This season has several new elements for us, hat are causing us to stretch, learn, and grow. Though it’s many hardships and challenges, we have realized that we have drawn closer together as a family. Our faith has been strengthened. Our relationships are being remolded into something new, stronger, healthier. I am so thankful for this season and for all that God has allowed me to experience. What a blessing it is to be able to be with my kids everyday! What a blessing it is to be able to manage their education! What a blessing (and responsibility) to be able to give them a healthy and solid foundation on which to build heir lives.
It may not be traditional, nor look like what others are doing, but we are “doing our thing,” educating our kids at home, and what a great privilege that has been!
Tori
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