We got word last night that the WaterStone Community Church elders agreed unanimously to support our church plant. This is a very big deal and a huge vote of confidence. Ecclesia will be considered a daughter church of WaterStone. WaterStone will lend us Nick's time to teach and develop a teaching team. They will hold licenses for all four of our pastors. And they will donate a generous sum of money to help get us off the ground.
It is an honor to partner with a church such as WaterStone. WaterStone has been around for nearly 25 years in the Littleton area. They have a kingdom mindset in everything they teach. I have to believe that their heart for advancing the kingdom is why they have chosen to back us. They were not quick in making this decision because they gave much prayer, thought, and conversation to it. I certainly appreciate their process of discernment. We hope to maintain a long term relationship with them. As part of our partnership we have extended an invitation to one of their elders to also sit alongside our elders.
Also this week we had our second gathering of people interested in Ecclesia. On Monday night there were about 25 adults who grilled out at Jodi's place and spent some time in discussion. Several people returned from the week before but there were also a number of new people. Bill spoke about our value for the Kingdom of God. He gave some wonderful background from his academic mind. He talked about how the kingdom is here and now - not just some future place. We discussed that since it is here and now, and since we who call Christ lord are part of his kingdom, that we want to be active in pursuing the things of his kingdom. We want to seek first the kingdom so that this created world that we live in might sense God's presence, see his beauty, and experience glimpses of what the creation was intended for. Our value for the Kingdom of God is stated, "Living the presence of Jesus' mercy, justice, and peace-making, we want to serve our neighbors and those in need, locally and globally. We invite and welcome others to join us."
There are four more Monday gatherings left before the first worship service on August 3rd. With more than 40 people on our email list now we are getting close to a healthy birth weight. Everything we have done has been relationally driven through our social networks. The people who are interested are not currently part of a faith community. This feels healthy to me because we are not pirating from other churches.
This Friday we will hang out with the other elders of Ecclesia. We will talk more plans, converse about theology, and enjoy each others company while celebrating the 4th of July with a cookout.
It is an honor to partner with a church such as WaterStone. WaterStone has been around for nearly 25 years in the Littleton area. They have a kingdom mindset in everything they teach. I have to believe that their heart for advancing the kingdom is why they have chosen to back us. They were not quick in making this decision because they gave much prayer, thought, and conversation to it. I certainly appreciate their process of discernment. We hope to maintain a long term relationship with them. As part of our partnership we have extended an invitation to one of their elders to also sit alongside our elders.
Also this week we had our second gathering of people interested in Ecclesia. On Monday night there were about 25 adults who grilled out at Jodi's place and spent some time in discussion. Several people returned from the week before but there were also a number of new people. Bill spoke about our value for the Kingdom of God. He gave some wonderful background from his academic mind. He talked about how the kingdom is here and now - not just some future place. We discussed that since it is here and now, and since we who call Christ lord are part of his kingdom, that we want to be active in pursuing the things of his kingdom. We want to seek first the kingdom so that this created world that we live in might sense God's presence, see his beauty, and experience glimpses of what the creation was intended for. Our value for the Kingdom of God is stated, "Living the presence of Jesus' mercy, justice, and peace-making, we want to serve our neighbors and those in need, locally and globally. We invite and welcome others to join us."
There are four more Monday gatherings left before the first worship service on August 3rd. With more than 40 people on our email list now we are getting close to a healthy birth weight. Everything we have done has been relationally driven through our social networks. The people who are interested are not currently part of a faith community. This feels healthy to me because we are not pirating from other churches.
This Friday we will hang out with the other elders of Ecclesia. We will talk more plans, converse about theology, and enjoy each others company while celebrating the 4th of July with a cookout.
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