THE VISION
• A home of our own (an end to our wilderness period)
• A home with all the comforts of home including:
• On-site ticket-less parking, comfortable seating,
• Safe and secure classrooms for our children,
• Modern, working, heating, air conditioning, restrooms,
• Great sound, including a system for those with hearing loss.
• Our offices, bookstore, tape library, copiers, duplicators, and resource materials in one location and available to the entire body and our visitors before and after every service.
• A place for daily corporate Bible study, fellowship, communion, prayer, praise, ministries for all ages.
• A base for evangelism through concerts, seminars, etc.
• Anything and everything else The Lord has in mind for us.
THE PLAN
(Read Exodus 35, 36) Lacking any definitive commands concerning facilities in Scripture we look to Biblical principles that will apply and examples of successful building projects we can follow.
• The project before us began with God not man.
• The leaders were instructed to build.
• The congregation was gathered together and given clear instruction concerning their opportunity to participate.
• Their offerings were gifts unto the Lord :5
• The offerings were to be freewill offerings :29
• While all were made aware no one was compelled to give.
• Only those whose hearts were willing :5, 22, 29
whose hearts were stirred :21, 36:2
took part in providing for and participating in the building.
• Responses varied based on God’s provision and direction.
• Some participated financially :5
• Others brought needed materials :6-9 :21-24
• Still others offered their various skills and talents :10,26 :31-35
• Finally they had to be restrained from bringing (my favorite part), for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done-indeed too much. 36:6-7
FOR YOUR DAILY PRAYERS
• That we would be good witnesses and that God would be glorified in all our conversations and negotiations with the owners, realtors, lawyers, bankers, city planners, building department administrators, etc.
• That those in positions of leadership would be directed and empowered by our Lord as we pray, plan and prepare for the ministries we’re engaged in presently as well as the increased opportunities the move will bring us.
• That all those serving would continue to do so willingly and joyfully and that God would add daily to our number those who share our vision to serve as He served
• Finally that God would continue to move on hearts to give willingly, generously, and cheerfully and that we would end up needing to restrain people from giving as they did in Exodus 36
* an interesting example/principle relating to prayer and fulfilling Gods will can be observed in Matthew 9 and 10.
Matt 9:37-38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Chapter 10 begins with Him calling them together empowering them and sending them out in answer to their prayers.
Cinemark would like us to close on the property before the end of June, something we would love to be able to do.
At this point we have somewhere between a third and a half of what we need for a down payment.
The Elders and board members are available to answer questions, address concerns, and pray for any of your needs after the Sunday morning and evening services. Their numbers are listed in the bulletin if you would like to speak to one of them during the week.
Blessings,
Pastor Sam