Over the last three weeks, Russ and I have been wrestling with some big decisions about Church At The Grove. On Monday, my wife asked me a very soul-searching kind of question: "Do you think God just might be waiting on you and Russ before He does anything else?"
"Thanks for the gut-check, Honey." Yes, in fact I do think God was waiting on us. God's got big plans for the Walnut Grove community and the communities all around it. He's got big plans for the 100,000+ people right around here. He wants them to come face to face with Him. He wants them to be confronted with His incredible grace. He wants them to be overwhelmed by His love and by the love that His people extend. And, for many of the people around here, Church At The Grove is their only hope to connect with Christ.
So, here we go...get ready for two services...get ready for a second opportunity for the people of this community to explore faith through the Sunday morning environment...get ready for God to move in some pretty incredible ways...because He wants to...He's just waiting on us.
Don't believe me?
When you get a chance, read the book of Nehemiah (really...read it...especially before this Sunday). The place where God had freedom to move and work as He chose (Jerusalem) had been destroyed. People lost all hope. Seventy years it lay in ruins. Seventy years God had to wait for one man who was willing to risk something...to take a chance...and rebuild a place for God to work freely. Nehemiah stepped up, gathered a few leaders, and started building. And God did incredible things...eventually providing hope again for the Jewish people and those that lived all around them.
All across the United States, people have lost hope. In many areas, the Church lays in ruins. A place where God once had freedom to move and work as He chose has become ineffective at offering hope to people inside AND outside its walls. Many new churches are stepping up, gathering a few missional leaders, and starting to build communities of people where God is once again given the freedom to work and move as He chooses. Church At The Grove is willing to risk some things...to take chances...and be part of building that community. God wants this area to fully experience His power, understand the love of His Son, and extend His grace to the world...He's just waiting on us.
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1 comment:
Craig,
I feel,Amy is correct! God has been waiting on you & Russ! He was waiting on all the people who helped make The Grove possible as well!
Think of this -- the very first service a family walks in out of the blue seeking something. (What 2 minutes before the service began?)
They're not sure why. By the end of the very first hour, it is decided this is the place they will find something. Answers, friendships, who knows?
While everyone involved getting The Grove started was busy doing just that, this family waited paitenly knowing something great was about to happen.
That may have confused some involved. "Why are you trusting us we have no idea what we are doing"
The answer came -- "That's why they trust you. Go with it"
The once lost family that walked in on that first service found a church family they would come to love & could share with others.
That's a big deal when your talking
about people who as a rule stayed away from church.
It's not religion they were looking for it was a spot, a group of people where they could ask questions & learn.
God is working in great ways through all at The Grove & will continue to do so!
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