Almost a year ago, we sat with a group of friends dreaming about the day we'd launch Rock City Church. We hadn't yet entered into a partnership with ARC. Our relationship with CedarCreek was just beginning. We were fresh on the trail of church planting - learning as we went along, dreaming and praying with a small group of friends who believed in us, in the vision for this new church, in taking risks and believing God for the impossible...
I remember writing a date on the white board. 10-10-10. That was launch day - at least it was back then. It was a goal. And it came as a surprise. I mean, we chose that date pretty much by accident. It was only after we checked the box on the calendar that we realized we had selected such a "buzz worthy" launch date - we called it The Perfect 10. It brought us focus and a sense of excitement and thrill. We were moving toward something big. God was up to something.
Needless to say, the further we continued onward - after forging a partnership with ARC and working closely with the leaders of CedarCreek, launching on The Perfect 10 seemed a bit premature. So we pushed it back. We set our sights on Spring 2011.
Then yesterday happened, 10-10-10. I hadn't thought about that date for almost a year. As a matter of fact, I didn't even realize it had arrived. I was just getting back from the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta with John Ransom and a friend of ours and thinking through some of the last minute details for our lifegroups that were launching in just a few hours.
Then Katie walked down stairs. I was sitting at my computer using Facebook and she said, "You know, we were gonna launch the church this weekend. We're launching lifegroups instead. We launched our website this weekend too."
Whoah! I was stunned.
Some people might look at that and think, so what? What's the big deal? But I say, no way! It's a huge deal. In reality, we launched the church on the very day that a year ago we marked on our calendars. We haven't thought about The Perfect 10 in almost a year. Yet, perhaps the most vital and life-giving part of our church launched, right when it was supposed to. Again, catching us off guard - surprising us. But isn't that God! Isn't that how He works?
God is up to something. He is preparing the way. He is building and connecting a new community. He is stirring in the hearts of many a vision for a new church in this city. He is building His church - on His time, in His way, by His might! And He is using us - by His mercy, according to His grace, through His strength!
By the way - we've launched lifegroups on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights...If you're interested, here's your invitation. Join us. Make a difference. Be the church.
Chad
btw, check out our new site at RockCityChurch.TV
I remember writing a date on the white board. 10-10-10. That was launch day - at least it was back then. It was a goal. And it came as a surprise. I mean, we chose that date pretty much by accident. It was only after we checked the box on the calendar that we realized we had selected such a "buzz worthy" launch date - we called it The Perfect 10. It brought us focus and a sense of excitement and thrill. We were moving toward something big. God was up to something.
Needless to say, the further we continued onward - after forging a partnership with ARC and working closely with the leaders of CedarCreek, launching on The Perfect 10 seemed a bit premature. So we pushed it back. We set our sights on Spring 2011.
Then yesterday happened, 10-10-10. I hadn't thought about that date for almost a year. As a matter of fact, I didn't even realize it had arrived. I was just getting back from the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta with John Ransom and a friend of ours and thinking through some of the last minute details for our lifegroups that were launching in just a few hours.
Then Katie walked down stairs. I was sitting at my computer using Facebook and she said, "You know, we were gonna launch the church this weekend. We're launching lifegroups instead. We launched our website this weekend too."
Whoah! I was stunned.
Some people might look at that and think, so what? What's the big deal? But I say, no way! It's a huge deal. In reality, we launched the church on the very day that a year ago we marked on our calendars. We haven't thought about The Perfect 10 in almost a year. Yet, perhaps the most vital and life-giving part of our church launched, right when it was supposed to. Again, catching us off guard - surprising us. But isn't that God! Isn't that how He works?
God is up to something. He is preparing the way. He is building and connecting a new community. He is stirring in the hearts of many a vision for a new church in this city. He is building His church - on His time, in His way, by His might! And He is using us - by His mercy, according to His grace, through His strength!
By the way - we've launched lifegroups on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights...If you're interested, here's your invitation. Join us. Make a difference. Be the church.
Chad
btw, check out our new site at RockCityChurch.TV
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