The History, The Threshing Floor

At the urging of God, seven committed families began a journey to launch The Threshing Floor.  Armed only with our common faith in Jesus Christ and an unusual friendship, these seven families stepped out of their comfort zone and answered the unique call to serve Jesus in a revolutionary fashion.

In early 2005 a small group of families separated from our local fellowship so that we could explore the direction toward a different kind of ministry. Different in that none of us felt called to leave our secular careers, but we did feel led to start a ministry. We earned the name The Band of Merry Men in our previous church, because we were seen as a unit inseparable in many ways, a family, if you will that prayed and played together.  We even celebrated holidays together.
We quickly discerned that in stepping out into the unknown it would be wise to have parents that would guide us in our journey.  Locally, none of us know any ministers that had successfully launched a bi-vocational ministry.  The Lord then introduced us to a couple from Fallon, Nevada, Mick and Claudia Casey who happened to be traveling through Dallas.  The Caseys owned and operated several ranches and businesses during the week and led a church in town during the weekends. As they talked about their ministry, the Lord said two things, “They can help you” and then “They will be your parents.”  We shared none of this with the Caseys at the time, but did talk about coming out to Fallon to get to know them all better.A few weeks later four of us flew to Fallon, stayed at the Casey Ranch and talked for two days about Jesus and ministry.   We broached the subject of parenthood which unsettled Claudia, who left the room for awhile.  Peaceful when returning, Claudia said, “I get it, He means adoption” From that point forward planting a Threshing Floor in Dallas was the topic.
That Sunday we went to their church to experience their ministry. Seeing their ministry to the lost and broken of Fallon gave us hope that our own desire to be an outreach minded fellowship and retain our days jobs was possible.
Since we were leaving our previously held formal ideas of church, we felt led to examine the scriptures of how the earliest church people lived, fellowshipped and ministered.  We found our launching pad in Acts 4:32-25.

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
NIV

This scripture spoke to us in several ways – showing us that the early church operated as a family, caring for one another’s needs first, that the church had transparent relationships and ministered as a team.  This scripture became our marching orders to take our time, energy and money and focus them on care for one another first, second our neighbor and third partner ministries or missions. What we did not know at the time and do now, that it would take one year for seven families to become that team spoken about in the book of Acts. 

In the course of the year, as we tended and nurtured the seed that God had planted in our hearts, we learned if we do not care for one another, then there is no ministry beyond that. We also learned God has designed us as our brothers keeper not only as a part of scripture, but as a priority before all else.  As we walked alongside one another through financial, personal, marriage and family challenges, we truly learned what it means to be one another’s family.  The Lord took our Band of Merry Men and tested our commitment to one another, forging in us a bond of love that is seldom seen in today’s culture of independence.
We all stand in amazement at what God has done.  He truly cares for us and eagerly desires us to be healthy and whole in all ways possible. It is also clear that He works through relationships that He orchestrates if we let Him.

In November of 2006, The Threshing Floor North Dallas was officially launched, our pastors ordained and our focus widened.  As one season came to a close, we knew that the next chapter was in the works.  The seven originating families wish only to be spent by God for His purposes.  We are available for Him, for His Kingdom and for His people.  Our availability is all perhaps that recommends us, as we are not unlike that motley crew of original fishermen disciples, unschooled and ordinary, yet hoping that God will manifest His extraordinary love through us to a world that hungers for His acceptance, reassurance, purpose and love.

As our country changes, indeed as the world careens along towards its prophesied darkest hour, the promise to the Lord’s people is that our light will grow brighter, that we can act as a beacon of hope and a wellspring of life to a hurting world.  We believe that The Threshing Floor, and many churches similar to ours, are being birthed and positioned for such a time as this.  We believe God uses His people wherever they are planted; more and more we hear of little bands of people like us who are open to God using them outside what we expect church to look like.  These little groups seem to share a hunger for the function of the Kingdom of God versus the form of set services and programs. 
Our church may not look like the church of the present day; in fact, our commission seems to be that we look like the church of old, of the earliest family of believers.  We hope to serve and love in a way that brings glory to God and offers life to all that the Lord of the Harvest brings our way