eWell: July 7, 2010

Building or Bust
by James Parsons, Director of Excitement

Having been a 'Well-er' from the start helps keep my head in check when I think about how far God has taken us on this journey. We are starting a new chapter in Well history that will help define our church gathering as a whole. We are currently in the process of having a warehouse converted into a service venue. Our kids space is now completed and I am in awe every time I go there and think about the lives that will be radically impacted by Christ through the vehicle of our amazing kids ministry and also, I will miss Meghan Hyatt dearly while she is away (Meghan is our Interim Kids Director).

As a church we acknowledge that a building does no equate a church. We affirm that people make up the church. We will not give an inch about that. We do recognize that we will have mind-set issues to combat while at a full-time location. Some of these issues include: "we have to start some kind of weekly pot-luck dinner", "someone else will clean this up", or "we have a building, we have arrived!" , or "they don't need me there early, someone else will be there to help." (who is someone else? sorry side note), or my favorite "they have a building; they don't need my tithe or help." The list goes on and on. This is a huge leap of faith. I didn't mention the issues to be a Debbie Downer, but to be aware of what we are up against. These are very exciting times to be a part of what is going on at The Well. In this building we will see lives changed forever through Jesus Christ! In an attempt of a Well catechism Dean poses the question: "is the church made up of a building or of people following Christ?"

Our answer is wholeheartedly people following Christ and responding to him. We are excited about this building because it will enable us to invite our friends to a place and not have to apologize the whole way there and the whole way home for anything. During this time of construction and renovation I encourage everyone to get involved in the process. With getting involved comes a sense of ownership that will make you excited to bring your friends to. That is what's most exciting to me! We are going to blitz the bananas out of the surrounding neighborhoods and really try and serve this community. A question that you can ask yourself is: "where is my piece in the puzzle?" Take some huge steps to get to your place where you can serve. Maybe you have an idea of a place that doesn't exsist yet. We have to pray huge and dream big! We have to deny ourselves daily and beg for a bigger vision of God. We must be people that daily reflect on the Gospel and how it shapes our behavior towards humanity. I get excited about the building because sometimes I get afraid to share the Gospel with some of my friends and I can rest in the fact that at our building my friends will hear that message. That is where my excitement comes from. I hope this note resonates in you a sense of excitement that is unshakable. This is definitely a time to be excited! Stay thirsty my friends!