Neither, do I...

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!

Today Was Pastor's Appreciation Sunday At Dream City Church...

This Sunday we are going to pray for Israel! 

Why Do We Need Another Church? Have you ever wondered why another church would open in a town like Alvin? Maybe you've thought, "Don't we have enough churches already?" I've been asking that same question, but recently, God has given me a clear answer. And to explain it, I want to take you back to an ancient story about two men—David and Solomon. David had the vision for God's temple, but Solomon had the calling to build it. Vision and calling—two sides of the same coin, but both essential for God's work to be fulfilled. Vision Prepares the Way for Calling... Calling takes ACTION. David dreamed of a grand temple where the presence of God would dwell. It was a God-given vision that burned in his heart. But God told him, "You are not the one to build my temple." Why? Because David was a warrior who had shed blood. Instead, it was his son Solomon who would have the calling to bring that vision to life. This story teaches us something profound: Vision carries the calling. But it takes both for God's work to be fully realized. David’s role was to prepare for the next generation—gathering materials, laying the groundwork, and investing in the dream—so Solomon could one day build the temple. Vision prepares, and calling builds. When Vision Gets Stuck Here's where things often go wrong. In many churches, there’s a strong vision at the start. People dream big about how they will impact the world for Christ. But over time, that vision gets stuck. Why? Because the generation with the vision sometimes refuses to release control to those with the calling to act on it. Instead of moving forward, they cling to the vision. They talk about it, preach about it, but they never let anyone take action. Eventually, the vision becomes stagnant, and the church becomes focused inward—self-preserving rather than kingdom-building. When vision stays in the hands of those who don’t take action, it dies. On the flip side, if those who are called to build get stuck in merely TALKING about the vision without actually doing anything, the calling fades too. The church begins to focus on comfort, avoiding the risk of building something new, and over time, it becomes stagnant, even irrelevant. This hits close to home for me because, I have worked in churches, where we had a strong vision, and God was calling us to build on it. But over time, there was resistance—resistance to the changes, to taking bold steps of faith, and to empowering the next generation to lead. We were moving, taking action, and trying to honor the vision, but the fear of losing control eventually stalled the work. That’s when God made it CLEAR: sometimes you have to step out and start building something NEW... That’s why Dream City Church exists. We saw the need for a place where vision wouldn’t just be talked about, but where it would be put into action. A place where the next generation would be empowered to step up and take their place in building God’s church. So, why do we need another church in Alvin? Because there are people who are hungry for a fresh move of God. People who are tired of hearing about grand visions but never seeing them come to life. Too many churches are stuck—holding onto control, clinging to tradition, and never releasing the next generation to take action. Dream City Church is here because the call to BUILD can’t wait any longer. We’re not just talking about the vision; we’re acting on it. We’re preparing the way so the next generation can take it even further than we can imagine. Dream City is a church that’s passionate about taking the vision of Jesus and running with it. A church that empowers people to grow, to act, and to move forward in faith. A church that’s not afraid to release control and trust God to lead through the next generation. So here’s the question: Are you ready to take part in something bigger than yourself? Are you willing to invest in the vision and calling of what God is building here in Alvin? This isn’t just about another church. This is about building something that lasts, something that will impact future generations. Like David, some of us may not see the full fruit of the vision in our lifetime, but we can prepare the way for the next generation to do even greater things. Are you ready to build? I know I am! --PZ

This was an amazing time away for us. — It was one of the most fun family vacations we've had (most of the kids were old enough to ride roller coasters!). — At the same time, Cara and I woke up early every morning while the kids slept to talk and pray for wisdom from God about the next step we felt the Lord was leading us toward for the church we were pastoring at the time. We knew God was getting ready to do SOMETHING BIG, but we just couldn’t put our finger on it... We assumed it would be the continued growth and blessing of the place we were serving. Then, two weeks later, we were both fired by the board of that church because they no longer wanted a pastoral leadership structure. Wait, what? How was this your plan, God? This didn’t make sense at all... God, I thought you were telling us to get ready for MORE. And He was... we just couldn’t see it at the time. After the punch to the gut, we made the decision not to throw mud or try to get even. We chose to be people of peace, shook the dust from our shoes (as instructed in Matthew 10:14), and trusted Jesus with whatever the next step would look like. And you know what? God absolutely gave us a special kind of grace and favor. People rallied around us, we held church at our home for the next three weeks, and because God showed Himself faithful, Dream City Church was born! This post is from one year ago today, and I’m blown away by the caption Cara used on this photo of us on the balcony overlooking the Ozark mountains... "I love dreaming about the future with you." “Dreaming”—Dream City Church How funny it is to look back and see how God was dropping these breadcrumbs all along the way... We didn’t know it then, but the very conversation we had on that balcony overlooking those mountains in this photo was preparing us for the dream that was coming. I’m sharing this to say: If you’re going through a season where it feels like a setback, just keep trusting in God. This is our story, and there are parts of it that we didn’t like, but God used those parts to bring us where we are today. The pain of losing what we thought was God’s will was the very catalyst that brought us to God’s will! He was bringing us to this NEW place with many of the same people we were already pastoring. These people saw the vision with us, and when trouble came, they ran to us, picked us up, and God used them to reaffirm our purpose. We will be forever GRATEFUL to them. We have more relationships and are more ingrained in this community and this area than we ever were—or ever could have been—had we stayed where we were. God had to pop that proverbial "bubble" around us and set us FREE in ways we never could have imagined. And He wants to do the same for you! I want to encourage you—don’t give up! What happened to us did SUCK, but giving up wouldn’t have made anything better! Start looking around for the breadcrumbs God has dropped in your path, and follow His voice (His Word). Ask for His wisdom! Side note: God's wisdom is useless if it doesn’t lead to action (in other words—it’s one thing to “know it,” but it’s another thing to “do it!”). Then take that next step! What are the breadcrumbs around you pointing to? What’s the one thing you know the Lord is speaking into your heart, the wisdom He’s given you that you need to follow through on? I know this: if He spoke to you, you can—with His strength—absolutely do everything He’s called you to do! Prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness, even when life takes unexpected turns. We may not always understand the path You’re leading us down, but we trust that Your plans are greater than anything we can imagine. For those reading this who feel stuck, hurt, or unsure of what’s next, I pray that You fill them with courage, peace, and the confidence that You are working all things together for their good. Open their eyes to the breadcrumbs You’ve placed along their path, and give them the wisdom to take the next step in faith. Help them to not give up in the face of setbacks, but to lean into Your strength and trust that You are leading them into something greater. Just as You were with us in our darkest moments, I pray that You would walk with them and guide them through their own seasons of uncertainty. Let them feel Your presence in every decision they make and remind them that You are a God of new beginnings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. --PZ

Howdy everyone! Pastor Z here! Today was AMAZING! What Jesus does every week is simply amazing! Here are a few thoughts I am having after another POWERFUL Sunday at Dream City Church! - We set another Since Easter Attendance Record, Again this week? ’m starting to think we’ll need to add extra rows soon—or maybe just set up lawn chairs. Seriously, it’s incredible to see so many new faces and to know that God is doing something big here. We’re just getting started! Maybe we should just set up lawn chairs at this point? Seriously though, it’s amazing to see the growth—so many new faces, and it’s clear God is doing something big here! - Worship Was Off the Charts! Today’s worship...wow. Is there such a thing as "too much Holy Spirit"? Asking for a friend. If you missed it, you missed out on a slice of heaven. Don’t worry, we’ll save you a spot next week. - Today's Sermon was a BLAST to preach! If you didn’t catch today’s message, I preached out of Ruth 4:1-8 and Ruth 4:14-17 and, yes, I did open by talking about emojis, including the 💩 emoji. You’re welcome. We all have that "IT" we’re dealing with in life, but God’s bigger than our 💩, I mean problems. You can watch on Dream City's Facebook page! - Don’t Be So Hard on Ruth and Naomi! Just like them, we can miss God’s purpose for our lives, and sometimes, life goes from bad to worse before it gets better. But remember, their story didn’t end in the 💩, and neither does ours! - Position Matters! Boaz stationed himself at the city gate to make his move, and we need to be in position too. If Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get in line to see Jesus, maybe you can climb out of bed next Sunday, yeah? #NoExcuses - Selfishness Doesn't Work in God’s Kingdom That guy ahead of Boaz—yeah, we don’t even know his name. Why? Because he cared more about his own estate than others. Boaz put others first, and guess what, we know his name and his story. Lesson: Put people first or risk becoming “that guy.” - God’s Plan > Our Plan Trust me, God’s GPS doesn’t need recalculating. His plan is always better than ours. - God Can Restore Anyone If He can take Ruth, a Moabite, and Boaz, the second in line, and turn them into the lineage of Jesus...yeah, He can handle whatever is going on in your life. - Surrender to His Plans, Accept His Restoration This is the part where you stop fighting God’s plan and start letting Him work. Spoiler: You’ll thank Him later. - Ruth and Boaz Changed the World! We wouldn’t get King David or Jesus if God hadn’t used a Moabite widow and Boaz. It’s amazing how God uses unlikely people to change the course of history—and He can do the same with you! - 7 Salvations! The highlight of today—SEVEN people gave their lives to Jesus! Can I get a hallelujah? The presence of Jesus was thick in the room, and heaven was celebrating right alongside us. - Other Wins: We’ve got new people stepping up to serve, the church is growing, and God is meeting every need we have as a church. All I can say is, “Jesus, you’re good at what you do!” - Volunteer Shoutout: Can we just take a moment to brag on the incredible volunteers at Dream City Church? Seriously, you guys are the real MVPs. Every Sunday, you show up—rain, shine, or chaos—and make church happen like it's no big deal (but it is). - DC Kids Team: You all are basically superheroes. You’re not just keeping kids entertained—you’re pouring Jesus into their hearts and creating an environment where they’re excited to learn about God. Plus, dealing with all that energy deserves a gold medal! - Greeters and Ushers: From the smiles at the door to helping people find their seats, you set the tone. You make everyone feel at home, and you’re the first impression people get of our church. And let’s be honest, you make us look really good! - Worship Team: Week after week, you lead us into God’s presence with your passion and dedication. And the way you manage to hit those high notes or drum solos at 9 AM? That’s a whole other level of talent. - Sound, Media and Production Crew: You’re the ones behind the scenes making sure everything looks and sounds perfect. Without you, the worship lights wouldn’t shine, and the message wouldn’t hit online like it does. You may be behind the scenes, but we see you! - Parking Lot Crew: Rain, heat, or cold, you’re out there with a wave and a smile. You’re basically the first wave of joy people experience before they even step inside the building. And I know those cones don’t move themselves. - Brewers and Breakfast Bring-ers: You keep the caffeine flowing, and for that, we are eternally grateful. You’re the unsung heroes making sure everyone is awake and ready to worship! And a big thank you to everyone bringing donuts and breakfast treats! - Nursery Team: Shout out to our nursery team—if it weren’t for you, there are some parents who would never get a moment to pause and listen to what Jesus is saying in our services. Your love and care for our babies are making a huge impact, allowing parents to engage with the service and experience the presence of God. What you do in that room is significant and deeply appreciated. - Prayer Partners: Our prayer partners are the spiritual warriors behind the scenes. You pray before services, during services, and all throughout the week—covering people with intercession. You prepare the atmosphere for what God is about to do, and you minister to people when they need prayer the most. Your dedication is paving the way for breakthrough, healing, and salvation in ways that only eternity will fully reveal. We couldn’t do this without your faithful prayers! - A Big Thank You to Our Generous Givers! To everyone who gives financially to Dream City Church, THANK YOU! Your generosity is changing lives every week—seven salvations today is proof of that! You’re helping us make a difference in the community, and we couldn’t do this without you. If you haven’t already, I want to encourage you to listen to what God is saying to you about giving. Obey His voice, and watch how He’ll bless you in return! If you'd like to give, you can do so at HERE (https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=966b8f58-0a3c-4b6c-ac6d-ab8bffd1d758). Your gift is making an eternal impact! - Dad Life: Side note: Being a dad is WILD. One minute, I’m preaching about eternal salvation, and the next, I’m cleaning juice spills or having deep life conversations while attempting to assemble LEGOs that come with zero instructions. Dads, you know what I’m talking about, right? Kids think we know everything, but half the time, we’re just trying to figure it out on the fly. Shout out to all the dads out there navigating the chaos with grace (and maybe some duct tape). - Random Thought of the Night: Why is it that kids can’t find their shoes when we’re already late, but they can hear you open a cookie from two rooms away? It’s like they’ve got built-in dessert radar. I mean, come on—priorities, right? - Next Sunday: Show Up Sunday! Alright, church fam, mark your calendars for NEXT SUNDAY because it’s Show Up Sunday! I want to personally challenge you to bring a friend, your family, a neighbor—heck, invite the mailman if you see him. We’ve got something special planned, and you don’t want to miss out. The energy in the room is going to be next-level, and I believe God has a word for everyone who walks through those doors. So don’t come alone—invite someone who needs to experience the presence of Jesus! - Don’t Forget: Someone is watching, whether there be a coworker or our own children, how we live our faith out every day, and they learn more from what we do than what we say. Let’s show them how to live with boldness, kindness, and a whole lot of love for others. Next week is going to be another incredible Sunday—let’s make sure we’re filling the room and sharing the love of Jesus with as many people as possible! Thank you guys for letting us be your pastors! I love you so much and we love Dream City Church! The best is yet to come--PastorZ