Pastor’s Corner April 2013

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

The Manhattan Project, 2013

The first Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first atom bomb during World War II. It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This first Manhattan Project began modestly, but grew to employ more than 130,000 people and cost nearly US $2 billion.

The new Manhattan Project, now launching, promises to be more explosive and impacting than the first one, yet a whole lot cheaper! This Manhattan Project aims to plant a church in Manhattan, Kansas and a campus ministry to Kansas State University. The goal of this new ministry is to plant a Christ-centered, Reformed Church, in this strategic city in Kansas for the spread of the gospel and for the glory of God. Along with this church plant will be a specific, organized campus evangelism and discipleship ministry called “Reformed University Fellowship”.

Our own Pastor Brian Hough and Pastor Jon Dunning (Associate Pastor at Oak Hills PCA) were recently evaluated and unanimously approved by our Presbytery to lead the Manhattan Project. Pastor Brian will serve as the Church Planter and Pastor Jon as the Campus Minister. Obviously this is bitter sweet news as we all love Pastor Brian, Laura, and their children very much and will miss them. Not only are the Hough’s leaving to begin this work, but Elder Travis Shanahan and his family will also be moving to assist in this effort. These are two very special leadership families we will miss greatly. But this is also a wonderful, exciting Kingdom development. I believe Pastor Brian, Pastor Jon, and Elder Travis are well prepared for this mission and we, the Redeemer family, will certainly do whatever we can to support the Manhattan Project. They won’t be too far away. Many of our students currently attend K-State, and more than likely, more will attend in the future.

One of the great encouragements about the plans for this mission is God’s provision of a special out of state donor who is giving a significant donation to support this Church Plant/Campus Ministry effort. Pastors Brian and Jon will need to raise funds for long term expenses, but enough money has already been pledged to fund a very strong start to the Manhattan Project.

Pastor Brian will be providing much more information about the Manhattan Project in the upcoming weeks. The Hough’s and Shanahan’s plan to relocate to Manhattan at summer’s end (July). We are already working on finding God’s person to lead our youth discipleship ministry and are very confident God will direct us to the right person soon. In the meantime, join me in praising God for this Kingdom mission while praying for the Manhattan Project, Redeemer, and all that He will do in the future for His glory.

In the Lamb,
Tony Felich