In just four short days, we'll have our first "preview" Sunday morning service. We got word from the YMCA roughly 2 weeks ago that we can indeed use their facilities for a price we can afford, so it's off and running and everyone is scrambling to get it all done! I keep saying, "I can't wait to get started", although I probably need to bite my tongue and remember that we HAVE gotten started. That's what this past year has been about because Sunday mornings do not make a church... the people/relationships do. I guess Sunday mornings just makes it a little more "official" feeling. :)
I read a devotional this morning with my kids that describes well how I've felt about this church-planting adventure so far. It's from the book, "Thoughts to Make Your Hearts Sing" by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
"When you were little, did someone big ever carry you? Did you rest your head on his shoulder, lean your whole weight on him? Faith is leaning your whole weight on God. Resting your head on his shoulder. Faith means resting - relying - not on who we are, or what we can do, or how we feel, or what we know. Faith is resting in who God is and what he has done. And he has done EVERYTHING." It occurs to me that I could carry Abby sleeping in my arms all the way to China (figuratively speaking... she's heavy!), and when she wakes up, she would be in China although she never actually took a single step. Somehow, we might actually see a church grow here in Rock Hill, SC, and it's like we're just "waking up" to what God has been doing.
Because this is our first service, we aren't promoting it much because we know there will be details and kinks to work out (like who is going to take care of certain details Sunday morning, exactly what would be the best way to direct people through the YMCA maze to the room where we are meeting, etc.) We've invited the few people who have already "joined up" with us and some others who have expressed interest in gathering with the Vineyard. For all we know, there may only be 10 of us there this Sunday, but there will definitely be the presence of the Lord. We feel like the little kid being carried in his Daddy's arms, and we know that's the only way to keep building a "church."
I was thinking this morning of all the ways God has provided for our church, and all the people he has "perfectly" aligned with us. When Ben needed to buy a computer for the church, he talked to one friend who knew exactly what we needed and even donated some money toward it. When we needed to research printers, he talked to a friend in the printer business who just said "Here's what you need and here's how to get the best deal." Same thing with projectors. It would have taken us FOREVER to sort through all the details trying to figure out that stuff, but we "happened" to know just the right people to talk to. We needed a logo, a website, and a million other little papers... no problem, we've got an awesome graphic designer on our team (Lindsey.) We needed signs for the church. Lindsey kicked butt designing them and Mike works for a sign company who donated the signs. (We just had to buy the stands.) We needed sound equipment and microphones. Karl knew the details of what was important to get, and amazingly, instead of tracking down each piece of equipment (using a pretty strict budget), he found a church about an hour away that sold us EVERYTHING we needed (minus a microphone) for close to HALF the price of what it was worth. (Side note: it turns out Karl is also amazing at putting down quarter-round and flooring... a fact that has come in very handy to us in our new house. :)) Ben ordered a projector through amazon.com, but before it processed, a Vineyard pastor 2 hours away texted and said, "Hey, do you guys need a projector? We've got a really good extra one you can have." Just in time to cancel the amazon order at no cost. :)
I'm still amazed that God moved people here with us from two parts of Ohio and Kansas whose giftings are perfect... the Buchers are gifted worship leaders, Mike Zieber actually went to seminary specifically because of his calling to work with children and families (and kids FLOCK to him and Carrie and their girls), and the Hanfords are amazing at hospitality and naturally building deep relationships. Plus, Seth's whole job is computer security so he knows all about techy stuff.... and kind of everything else. (Seriously, he's a walking encyclopedia. Sometimes when Micah asks me a question during homeschool and I don't want to take the time to look it up, I tell him to ask Seth next time we see him.) Rachel has worked at Panera for years and loves to bake, so we're serving a GOOD breakfast every Sunday! (Also, since Carrie is kind of a professional at making the best cheesecakes you've ever tasted, I'm sure we'll make that come in handy somewhere. Winning people to the Lord one cheesecake at a time!) I'm pretty sure Ben and I are just along for the ride with this group. As long as Ben preaches a sermon now and then, I guess we'll earn our keep. :)
In other Ganson news, the painting and flooring is done in our new house (minus a few details), and we are starting to move things in. There's still a million smaller things to be done, but it's definitely livable at this point! Hopefully we'll be staying in it by next Thursday or Friday night... that might actually be possible, especially if any more soccer games get canceled due to weather like they were last night.
We've had a busy few weeks, and there's more to come. Please pray for this Sunday especially!
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