Small Steps of Progress

The journey of planting a church has many mileposts. Some bring greater joy than others. There are the memories of our first Sunday together July 31, 2011. We crammed into a napping room inside a daycare. We packed people into that room and some had to stand in the kitchen. We had to move to the Junior High cafeteria the next week. That is a great memory.

Another milepost is that many of those people who came that first Sunday have since left to find another place to serve the Lord. In the past ten months we have seen numerous people come for a season and then move on to other churches. We know Faith Community is not for everyone. In that time God has drawn several families who were not saved to join the family of God and Faith Community family.

I remember all too well our first baptism. Tom and I are not only brothers in Christ now but we are friends as well. He and his wife are active in our student ministry. I recall that baptism in a hot tub. O what a day. Since then we have celebrated baptism in that hot tub numerous times and will do so again in a couple of months.

This weekend we celebrated a small step forward. Friday night we got a deal on some office furniture. I am set up with a desk two matching book shelves and cabinets and a filing cabinet. Saturday carpet was laid in the lease building we are renovating. Last night we unpacked some of our new chairs and enjoyed having our Power Band prayer meeting in the new facility. Their was a great deal of excitement among the people. We remember the journey we have been on. It has not been an easy one but we have encountered God along the way.

This morning Melanie, our children's minister, and I loaded up chairs, bulletin boards, tables and bookshelves we received for free from the lady who owns the daycare. We moved those things into the new lease facility. This Wednesday night we are having our first official services in our new location. This is a step of progress for our infant church.

In the next few weeks a stage will be constructed in the warehouse and soon afterward we will move our Sunday morning service to this location as well. Our landlord okayed us to use a grass area next to the buildings for a play area for the children. This is all coming together.

The ladies huddled together last night with decorating ideas.  All of these are steps of progress in moving the right direction. I am humbled this morning by God's provision through the owner of the daycare and many individuals who have sacrificed so Faith Community could make this transition. To God be the glory. Great things He done.