Tonight I announced some significant and exciting news for the next season of Liberty Church!
From the outset our church was birthed with what we call our “2020 vision” - to impact ten communities in ten years, by the year 2020. By the grace of God we’ve already impacted Lower Manhattan and Union Square, with plans for Brooklyn in 2013. That vision was always going to mean sending off people we love, and is a challenge for us to remember cause over our comfort.
The first part of our exciting news, that’s probably going to be no big surprise to some of you, is that Sebastian and Aimee Buffa are going to be moving back to Sydney to plant a church. The leadership of the church are in agreement that this is God’s plan, and personally we’re looking forward to seeing Seb reunited with his daughter Monique. It was always the plan for them to head home, and although they’ll be missed the reality is that Sydney really needs more strong churches.
The church they’re planting early in 2013 will be a sister church and, though it’s not a Liberty Church, they want to be an active partner church helping us raise the finance to plant more churches as well as serving together in places like Zimbabwe through our work with Children’s Cup. Right now the plan is for them to hand over the leadership reins on the first anniversary of our Union Square community beginning weekly services in mid September.
As we release two of our best we’re honored to be welcoming one of California’s finest to the Liberty team. Parker Green is no stranger to our church and as of September will be the Pastor of our Union Square Community. He has preached here on several occasions, he’s a phenomenal leader, and also a gifted discipler and preacher. I’ve watched the call of God grow on his life over the last 12 years- since he’s both Andi’s brother and an anointed man of God in his own right. We’re so glad to be installing a new pastor who comes with many years of relationship just as Sebastian did. Parker will be in NYC next weekend to celebrate with us ahead of arriving in September.
There’s no doubt the Buffa’s have done a great job. Union Square was pioneered when our whole church was just months old, and the community is in greater health than ever right now in every way. Needless to say, they’ll be back plenty and very connected to us as we partner together to plant churches locally and globally. We’ll honor them properly and send them off blessed after we pray for them on the first anniversary weekend in September when Parker is commissioned as Pastor of Union Square.
And of course in the midst of change, it’s good to be reminded that Andi and I continue to be the Lead Pastors across the church, preaching as much as ever- and we’re not going anywhere! What a great day to be alive!
Paul & Andi
