February 2006

“Building for the Future”

To Community Covenant Church,

The Bang, Bang, Bang of the nailer is echoing in the background as I write this report. Ron Guthrie is putting the last few rows of shingles on the west side of the roof. With years of planning, designing, drawing, rethinking and then redrawing, our building addition is well underway. It has been exciting to watch the progress.

The combination of professionals and volunteers have worked together like clockwork. It has been pointed out that some of us work more like grandfather clocks that need winding every few hours. But since we only lose a few minutes every hour, they still let us come and work. We are blessed. It?s sometimes hard to remember that the decision was made in 2001 to establish a building and finance committee. Since that time it has been exciting to see God walk with us through the ups and downs of planning and designing the building.

The goal in all the planning was to design an addition whose size and cost would improve, not hinder, current and future ministry. I am convinced that we have met that goal in a wonderful way. The first indication for me was when we capped the new fellowship hall. The words spoken by most were ?This is going to be great?. All the dinners, youth games and special music productions were imagined in a split second. When you stand in the building, you do not imagine boards, windows, siding, and carpeting, you imagine ministry. You imagine children laughing, teens playing and families eating. Most importantly you imagine all of them listening to the good news of the Gospel.

Our Theme for the year is ? Building for the Future.? The emphasis of this theme is 10% building and 90% ministry. This fall we are going to pull together another Summit Meeting to begin setting our sights on the next five years. As we look to the future please pray for this summit meeting and for Godly direction. Joshua was given the privilege to lead God?s people into the land God had promised. In his instructions to the people the day before they were to cross the Jordan he told the people ? Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.? (Joshua 3:5) It is vitally important that as we move forward in this expanding ministry that we spiritually prepare ourselves for what the Lord wants to do. Encourage each other to give yourselves 100% to the Lord in this preparation.



Pastor Craig