Let’s Build a Church!

Words in a blog post can NOT articulate how excited I am. I arrived at the office yesterday only to find huge machinery being delivered to the land. It just kept coming and coming. By days end, the machines were cranking and trees were crashing to the glory of God! Sorry if that bothers some environmentalists but trust me, God loves trees but He loves churches far more! :>)

I could not sleep last night. I have been up since 3:00 am. Friends, “It is on” for Jesus – let’s build a church!

One of my favorite passages in the bible is the image rich text of Hebrews 11:8-10. It says:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Six years ago, God called Amy Lynn and me to obey Him and come to this land in central North Carolina. Six years ago God called Amy Lynn and me and three little Kelly Kiddos to start walking up and down Franklin Street at a July 4th parade and handing out free bottles of water to hot sojourners parched in the summer sun. Six years ago God called us to launch a Core Vision Team in the Upper Room of our home. And six years ago, God called us to launch newhope with a Grand Opening Worship Celebration at East Chapel Hill High School on January 27, 2002!

And now, 6 years later and 2 additional kiddos, we can’t believe God is building a 36,000 square foot, phase 1 building, on 36 acres of land in the heart of central North Carolina! Six years later, we can’t believe God has saved over 400 new persons in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17), baptized close to 300 adult believers, and continues to change the lives of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of adults and children alike week in and week out!

How do I describe such a work? One word – GOD!

Make no mistake about it, as Hebrews says, we are building a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is GOD. (Hebrews 11:10) The foundations of this church are the rock solid promises and power of God. The builder is God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

So, if you are looking for me over the course of the next 11 months, you will probably find me prayer walking on 36 acres of land near the Streets of Southpoint mall, simply in awe of an awesome God who has given birth, designed, and now builds His church.

I bought a new camera last night and I promise to keep you posted right here every step of the way!