As you all know, we are entering our Birthday week as a church. Hard to believe it has already been a year! As we approach this historic date (we launched on March 4th, 2012) there is one word I want to stress: Gratitude. If we are to ever move forward and do greater things for the Kingdom and for our community, we must remember to keep a heart of gratitude. After one year, here are some key things that we should be grateful for:
1. We Still Have Our Doors Open
Most studies show that somewhere between 40%-50% of new church plants close their doors...within the first year! And while there are many factors as to why church plants fail, I want us to be grateful that we are seeing God's blessings in our efforts to reach our community. I always tell our church that I want to be the kind of place where our city would weep if we close our doors. Be grateful for a start to another year of ministry.
2. Partners in Ministry
Do you realize that we would not be where we're at (or have our doors still open) if it weren't for the support of several churches? Here are the names of churches/organizations that have helped GC get to where we're at today:
National Association of General Baptist, Freedom Church (Gallatin, TN), Strong Tower Church (Westmoreland, TN), Revolution Church (White House, TN), New Walk Church (Tampa, FL), New Walk Church (Greenbriar, TN), Skyline Church (O'Fallon, IL), Relevant Church (Locust Grove, GA), Genesis Church (West Plains, MO), Real Life Church (Mountain Home, AR), Bridge Church (Ava, MO), General Baptist Investment Loan, Life Church (Ava, MO), and if I left anyone out I apologize! But I hope you see the power in working TOGETHER for the Kingdom!
Not to mention the MANY people/individuals who gave to GC to help us get started. It was also amazing to have great churches invest in myself or our leaders such as Elevation Church (Charlotte, NC), Newspring Church (Anderson, SC), and great mentors such as Pastor Nathan Oakes from Victory Hill Ministries (Scottsville, KY) and Pastor Jeff Smith from Genesis Church. My wife and I received top notch training and encouragement from New Walk Church in Tampa, FL as well. It is truly overwhelming how many people are linked to the movement you are seeing in a small rural area just north of Nashville. BE GRATEFUL CHURCH! At the end of the day, he who has friends is truly blessed indeed! Thank you supporters!
3. Families Who Believed in "Perhaps"
Several families/individuals took a HUGE leap of faith to help us start this journey. Without them, I have no idea where we would be today. These families started with us in our home and at Westmoreland's Park Street Station. These are the OG's (Original Generators):
Nick/Kandi Tuttle (solid rocks, friends, and life companions!)
Joey/Randi Phillips
Chad/Chasity Gregory
Megan Hall
Steven Newhouser
Stephanie Fisher
Danya Powell
Corey Shelton
Mike/Amy Kowicki & family
Teri Kirby
These people had no clue what they were getting into! I stand amazed at families and people who believed in a dream that didn't start as their own. But I know that after one year, it is just as much theirs as it ever was mine. The people on this list will never know how much they mean to me and my family. They listened to me babble on and on about 'what we're going to do' and 'how we were going to do it' and actually believed it! Haha, I am so grateful that God sent people willing to sell homes, move their families, put their dreams on hold, and believe in something greater than themselves. Church, what you've seen in the past year is nothing short of a miracle that was shaped by a small group of people who believed in "perhaps". We always reference the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer. His armor bearer didn't know if God was going to show up and bring them victory or not, but he believed the words of Jonathan; "perhaps the Lord will go before us and bring us a great victory". Thank you for believing when you couldn't see.
3. The Greatest Team on the Planet
WOW is all I can say about our Dream Team. In a brand new church, we are seeing right at 50% of our adults serve each week. The national average is about 15%!!! Please know we are not content with that number, but it is still something to celebrate that so many people have found their passion and place within our church. I say it every week, but I am so serious because I've seen it...life change truly happens when you serve regularly. I will defend that to it's very core. You want to see a strong marriage? Just look at the couple that serves together at church. You want to see a student who is sold out to Jesus? Look around at the students that serve every week at our church. The greatest stories of life change come from people who get involved and stay involved. Thank you team for impressing me every week with your passion, devotion, and gratitude. We truly "get to do this"!
4. Life Change
Last but not least, we MUST be grateful to see over 400 salvations, 200 baptisms in just one year's time!!! Just one year ago, in our first 2 services we saw OVER 20 salvations each week!!! So amazing! And we know that the best is yet to come!
We must never take these things for granted...never. So as we enter this week, be grateful church! Be grateful for God's mercy, His grace, and for the very fact that He even allows us to be a part of what He's doing. Be grateful for His calling.
Celebrate, rejoice, reminisce, and then let's prepare for our next phase. I love you all, and I can't wait to see who all goes "All In" in the next few weeks!
Happy Birthday GC!
Pastor B
No one could have said it better. I am so proud and grateful to be a part of GC. I look forward to many great years to come in this church.
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