An•tic•i•pa•tion

When thinking about the possible future that awaits us as we plan for the church plant, the best word that describes it is anticipation. The definition is perfect for what I’m feeling; visualization of a future event or state. I can’t help put visualize all the possibilities for the church plant in Suffolk.

I stop every so often and check with God to make sure I’m not just day dreaming of the ways we can reach the Obici Hospital area of Suffolk. I ask Him if this is what you are showing me or am I just fantasizing? You see the best way to reach the lost is to let them know you truly care about their needs (physical as well as Spiritual). A recent Barna Report states:
“George Barna, who directed the research study, commented that the low awareness of the Christian leaders evaluated coincides with other recent studies showing that Christianity is losing its grip on American culture. ‘You cannot make a difference in someone’s life if you do not have entrée in that life. In our society, even clergy compete for people’s attention and acceptance. One of the reasons that the Christian faith is struggling to retain a toehold in people’s lives is because even the highest-profile leaders of the faith community have limited resonance with the population.’
‘The survey statistics suggest that perhaps Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith,’ the researcher continued. ‘People pay attention to what they deem important. These figures may be another indicator that millions of Christians invest more of their mental energy in cultural literacy than in biblical literacy.’”

People around us need to know that we are only people as they are. Since we are living in a world where few people grew up attending church, we, as Christ-followers, need to show them we are like them with a twist. The twist is that we are God’s children, and we have a gift to share with them. We are called to love not to judge. We are called to show people what Christ is all about. The only time Christ condemned anyone in the New Testament was the “religious” leaders who thought that they were something they were not; holy. The word holy means to be complete. And only Christ can me us complete. The moment we ask Christ to save us, He makes us complete in Him. Thus we are holy.
I can’t want to see how God will use us to reach this community for Him. As we learn from the SBCV and those who have planted churches before us, I can see that the future is great! I know that Satan has his scoop zeroed into me and my family. He is doing his best to discourage us, but I know the One who calmed the wind and rain will protect me and my family. Satan can only hurt us if God allows it. And if God allows, then He has a purpose for it.

The next chapter in this adventure of church planting may take place in February of 2007. The second week of February, I would like to start a cell group in the target area. My desire is to take the year I’m in the SBCV Church Plant Apprentice program to form a group of Christians that will be equipped to help with the start-up of the church plant and to reach out to the community with the love of Christ.

My anticipation is on what God will do through me. I’m only a working glove and He is the hand in the glove moving the fingers to hold on to things and moving from one side to the other. He will be doing it all, and I’m only riding along.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. God bless.