Remembering the Poor

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Toronto and Back

We just got back from Queen Elizabeth Theater in Toronto. We made our first of hopefully many more trips to come to hear Rob Bell's, Drops Like Stars tour last night- September 16th.. We arrived to the almost full venue at quarter after 8- fashionably late I guess since traffic on the QEW was backed up for about a half hour. The crowd of mostly young, college age people was estimated at about 1,000. Rob spoke until about 9:45 about art, suffering, passion, and God. It was interesting and made you think about some things. We have an exclusive interview being posted to the site tomorrow. We were able to sit down backstage after the event and talk with Rob about the tour, his ministry, and what's next for him. Check back tomorrow for that.

Discipleship or Evangelist?

That is the question I have been pondering recently as I have looked at THRIVE! and what we can do to improve it. Our concept was that the word of the Lord would spread quickly throughout W.N.Y. but at the same time our goal is not to separate ourselves from society. So I am excited about what we are planning for our October 2009 edition. Also our August/September edition is out and at bookstores and churches near you. Talk to you soon.

Here we are

THRIVE! Magazine's eighth edition was just released a couple weeks ago with the best picture of the peace bridge's new lights I have seen to date, thanks to our new photography partners exposurebuffalo.com. Make sure to contact them to check out the best architecture photography I have seen of Buffalo. The picture highlights what we at THRIVE! believe to be happening across Western New York in the faith community. Partnerships and bridge building is happening  to expand the kingdom of God in our region in a way that brings about restoration to the spirit, soul, and body of every person in Western New York. I wonder what that would look like. Poverty would be ended, joblessness would be eradicated. Sick bodies would be made well. Businesses would be prospering enough to give money away to begin new businesses. Crime in our schools would be non-existent. Drug addictions would be cured, alcoholism would end. Families would be re-united and healed. Divorce would be unheard of and the beauty of the Lord would be revealed to every eye under heaven. That is what we are going for and we will see the fullness of this happen when the Lord returns.

THRIVE! is now officially partnered with 20 churches in Buffalo for distribution as well as 5 key bookstores (Bender's, Buffalo Christian Center, Lighthouse Bookstore, and Life Resources) in the area who are offering THRIVE! on their magazine stands for $2.95. We are currently working with Tops, Borders, and Barnes and Noble to possibly begin offering the magazine at these locations as well, for sale that is. We have been giving so many copies away for the last two years but really a lot of sweat and work goes into producing this, plus a lot of money. So we are asking for as little as $3.00 to offset the costs a little bit. Is that really too much to ask?  

Send me your feedback and please if you are a journalist, web developer, artist, etc contact me personally about contributing to the cause of every person in Western New York.

Experiencing True Bethel

I had a great time writing an article about True Bethel Baptist church and their "Senior Servant" Darius Pridgen. Look for it in our June-July edition coming out June 14th. The name of True Bethel with the acquistion of 998 Broadway is changing to Experience and now I know why. The service was something to experience with the wide range of emotions and great preaching by Darius. Check it out by subscribing to THRIVE! today.

Finally!

Finally our spring edition is here! It sure is a good feeling to have completed our 7th edition. There are so many great things going on right now in WNY, it is hard to fit everything in each edition! We so appreciate your support and feedback as we develope WNY's Premiere Christian Magazine. Special thanks to our church partners and advertisers who help make THRIVE! possible. If you are having trouble finding a copy or if you want to make sure you get your copy at your home, you can now subscribe to THRIVE! by clicking here and sending us your information via our website, then you can pay via paypal below or we can send you a bill. Thanks so much for your support. We hope you enjoy this new edition.

Transition

I don't know of a better word to describe this season of my life than transition. New job (THRIVE! is now full time), new church- my wife and children and I are helping with the Northgate Churchplant www.northgatebuffalo.com, new baby- well 6 months now. Everything is new and different, but really great overall. Just getting my head around all the changes is the difficult part.

Personally however, I love change. I get bored with the same old, same old. I like a new adventure, a new season. So here we are in the midst of this economic shaking and we can't get away from the thought that God is calling us to take this magazine full time. People have thought we are out of our minds to do it now. But if not now, when? I don't put my trust in the economic systems of this world we are putting our trust fully in the grace and peace of God.

It has honestly just been amazing for us to watch God meet us as we have stepped out with this. So many doors have opened for THRIVE! and we know this is just the beginning. We know we are starting small but we are excited about what the future holds. For the longest time we felt their was a ceiling on what we could do with this and still hold onto the security of my day job. It was as if Jesus was asking us to come and walk on the water with him, so we did. Talk to you soon.

Kyle Patterson, THRIVE! Magazine