What a day, glorious day!
Today was our last time for gracepointe church to meet at Poole Elementary and what a day it was!
Almost all the chairs and half the bleechers were full; baptized 7, and the presence of God was everywhere.
The last year and a half have been an amazing journey to say the least. I can still remember our very first meeting at our home with a whopping 13 in attendance, that included me Kelly, Emma , Trey, and both our Moms. Then we had our kick-off service at West Ridge where Johnny Hunt (who almost didn’t make it back in time) along with Brian Bloye and James Merritt all spoke. At our first service at Poole with our core group we had around 40, then 70 for our second “dress rehearsal.”
Finally, on March 22, 2008, we officially opened our doors for the first time. Looking back we weren’t ready. We had no money, only 4 sponsors and no full time staff. We had no equipment, not even chairs. We had to borrow those from West Ridge. We have had many challenges along the way. Who can forget the dead deer left for us at the front entrance of Poole.
In Acts 5, the Apostles are on trial, their crime was being too serious about Jesus, more than enough were present to put the men to death for heresy, blasephemy and insurrection. The bible says that an expert in the law, Gamaliel spoke up and said, “In this present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men;
you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
The vision that God placed on my heart 2 years ago sitting on my back deck, is that gpc would be a place of worship for all people. A place where it is ok, not to be ok . Through all the ups and downs of the last year and a half, I can say God has been faithful. Each and every time there has been a need ( many times before we even mentioned it), God provided just what we needed. This is amazing to me!
I want to thank so many people for believing in the vision God gave me and Kelly and for staying with us. For the staff at West Ridge without whom gpc wouldn’t be. For my friend and brother Brian Bloye, whom I will always be indebted to. Most of all, thank you to the people of gpc. You are the greatest group of followers of Jesus Christ I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do as we begin this new chapter in the life of gpc; as we enter into our new home at
North Paulding High School.
I don’t know what the future will be, but as I often say, “The best is yet to come because of the Savior.”
See you next Sunday, what a day glorious day that will be.