Hello Friends!
So here’s MY BIG ANOUNCEMENT….
I will be moving to Decatur, Georgia in January, along with other world race alumni to help start a church plant!!!
I’ve never thought of myself as a church planter. In fact to be honest the term sounded dull and uninteresting to me…But the truth is this is everything I’ve been wanting!
There are 3 things that I am very passionate about. First is connecting to people on a heart level. I remember visiting a very structured English speaking church in Thailand and my two teammates who were with me felt very uncomfortable and unwelcomed. I, however, felt like a squirrel who had been dropped into a bucket of nuts that I couldn’t wait to crack! God has given me the ability to connect to different people groups easily. I don’t say that to pat myself on the back, it’s just something I’ve learned about myself.
Second is teaching people about God. Putting the cookies on the bottom shelf so to speak about how God works and who He is in a fun, active, off the wall kind of way. That’s probably why I get along so well with youth because I use stories and games as vessels to get the Kingdom of God across.
The third thing I’m passionate about is stories; sharing real life stories of risk, adventure, freedom, danger, courage and faith all for the glory of God. I’m a story teller at heart and I love to see and experience how the Father is and what He’s showing me and then relate that back to people through written word.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He’s going to do- He reveals to you who He is.”
I think that the life of a person completely yielding in surrender to the Holy Spirit will be naturally filled with all these things written above and I believe that that is a powerful story worth sharing.
What does all this mean?
Between finishing the race 3 months ago and now moving to Georgia 2 months from now, God has me in this time of cultivation. I got back from the race and I immediately felt the Lord begin to draw me out to deeper waters with Him. Because you see, leaving to travel the world for a year with nothing but a backpack and a tent was like a 100 foot drop into a baby pool; whereas now that I’m off the race it’s like taking a 2 foot drop into the ocean.
If you read the letter attached you’ll see that I have to raise $1000 a month for Georgia and my first deadline, the first $1000, is due in 19 days. It’s set up this way so that by the time I move over in January; I will be 2 months ahead on finances and rent for the apartment I’ll be sharing.
This is definitely a faith stretcher and raising a total of $12000 after the race was certainly not my plan! But with this new ministry being a full time job- I have no desire to find a part time job at night. I’ve worked at a church before with 2 part time jobs on the side just to make ends meet and it’s so much easier to burn out that way. So where does that leave me?
About 4 am a few nights ago when I couldn’t sleep and I was talking to the Lord about all this money stuff- I suddenly had an idea. The next day I contacted 5 friends whom I trust and asked their opinion on whether I was crazy or not.
3 out of 5 said no.
Just kidding! They all thought it was a very exciting, a very daring idea… So I’m going for it!
The golden thing about this is that it accomplishes 3 goals. First is that, if completed, it would finance my first FIVE months of ministry! Second, it stretches me in every possible way. I want to be pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged to make the most of every opportunity to show Christ, to love on people. I want to be held accountable for living a life worthy of what God’s called me to do. And thirdly, I want to share the stories of what happens with you and anyone else who the Lord puts within my sphere of impact.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”
In short- think on this thing. This is a life-giving project, one that keeps giving, keeps echoing, keeps laughing, and keeps touching countless lives with the love and kindness of Christ.
So here’s what I’m doing…!
I made a poster board with boxes numbered 1-100. People can choose a box. If a person chooses box #47 then they donate $47. If they choose boxes #12 and #18 then they donate $30. Now the exciting part is there’s a challenge for me connected to every number. Yep! 100 numbers, 100 challenges. These challenges range from random acts of kindness, to conquering fears, to stretching faith, to just for fun. But all of the challenges come from areas where I can grow in and be life-giving in one way or another.
When a box is claimed, I’ll reveal the challenge connected to that particular number. The person then donates by putting a check in the mail while I complete the challenge then share the story with the public using written word/pictures/video. The person who challenged me will also receive the story via email or messenger.
This is a very unique opportunity to not only fund ministry, but to embolden your faith and mine with action! So you’re invited to a daily play by play of what it looks like when a person goes out expecting for the Holy Spirit to do something.
James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
I want to hear my Jesus say to me, “Well done,” not “Well said.” So please join me and let’s have some fun together! Please share this project with anyone who you feel would like to follow along! Acteens, Challengers, AWANAS, Sunday school classes ect… Or anyone the Lord lies on your heart! This is a ‘whole body’ project! So feel free to forward this email to whoever you will!
If you have any questions about this project, the race or church planting, or even if you just want to catch up- I’m always available to you, so just give me a call!
Giving Information:
Donations ARE tax deductible and a receipt will be mailed back to you! You make checks payable to the 320 Network stands for Ephesians 3:20 which is what is the foundational scripture in starting this church plant. Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us,”
Mail checks to:
320 Network
2409 Summerlake Drive, Atlanta GA 30350
*Please put Sarah Buffaloe on the memo line!*
My Phone # in case you need me is: 256-348-2556
I’ll be posting all the completed challenges on my Facebook page as also if you’d like to stay informed that way as well! Here’s to having some fun and moving mountains together! Love you guys DEARLY!
For His Glory,
Sarah
