September 2006

“Building for the Future”

All is quiet in the building this morning as I write this article. With years of planning, designing, drawing, rethinking and then redrawing, our building addition is just about complete. With the punch list in hand there are a few things left for us to do. I hope you can take time to help finish the last few details. 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. Two events are coming to help us celebrate and plan for the future. September 24th is our day of celebration and dedication. We will gather with one worship service at 10:30am. A celebration dinner and 1:00pm dedication service with open house will top off the day.

On October 15th 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. In Jeremiah 29:12-13 we are encouraged to seek and to call on the Lord and he will listen. Over the next months we are to spend time dreaming about "what could be" as we expand our ministry.

Please join us in prayer on Wednesday night from 8:00pm to 8:30pm in preparation for our visioning meeting. We will meet in our new prayer room located in the middle of the lower level.

We are truly thankful for what God has done.
Have a great month!

Pastor Craig