Thank you to all who have expressed support since my last post, Our Church Is Now Closed. But God’s Doing A New Work Here. If you don’t want to read that post, here’s the gist: We closed the church I’ve pastored for almost 4 years (Grace Tabernacle) and are starting a new church called Renovation Community, which officially launches October 1, 2017.
I’ll try answering some of the most common questions I’ve heard. I hope this helps you better focus your prayers for us.
Q: If Grace Tabernacle closed the end of Feb 26 and your new church doesn’t launch until fall 2018, what are you doing until then?
A: We’re inviting the public to join us as we prepare to start our new church. We’re hosting weekly community events. Last Sunday afternoon we had a cookout at a nearby park. We invited families there to eat with us and gave them information about Renovation Community Church.
Q: What about all the people who attended Grace Tabernacle? Where are they now?
A: They’ve known about this transition for a LONG time. Many have stuck around to help us start the new church, but some have left to find different church homes. We love all who no longer meet with us and pray they find the right place for them.
Q: If you closed, how are you getting money to pay for the facilities Grace Tabernacle owned?
A: I began preparing for this transition several years ago when I sought out groups to rent the building. The four other churches and funeral home that use our facilities subsidize many of our facility expenses.
Q: If you closed, how is your family getting money to live?
We’ll see how God provides. So far, those from Grace Tabernacle who stuck around are continuing to give when we meet together. Kelly and I work hard to manage our finances. But, as I’ve mentioned in other posts, God has also provided for us through others’ generosity. We have never asked for money, nor do we plan to begin asking, yet God has provided our every need (and many of our “desires”). Medicaid insures our boys and we receive food stamps. A day will probably come when we no longer receive government help. Until then, we thank the Lord for it.
Q: Grace Tabernacle was part of a global denomination called The Church of the Nazarene. Will Renovation Community be Nazarene?
A: Yep.
Q: Isn’t this just a name change?
A: No. I understand why people may think that… the lead pastor of the old and new church is the same person and many people have stuck around from the old church. But it’s not just a name change. All of November and December of 2015, I called our people to pray and fast about upcoming changes. I called them to pray about whether I should pastor them into the future and whether God wanted them to stay or go. I explained BIG changes were coming, changes that not everyone could handle. Changes continued to happen ever since then. In April 2016, I began an extended message series about “Becoming a Renovation Community.” The people who stuck around were those willing to help launch a totally different church, a church called Renovation Community. It just so happens that many of us attended the same church before choosing to start this new one.
Q: Can I start attending Renovation Community now?
A: If you’re not a Christian, the answer is YES!! We’re having an Easter breakfast service at LeBlanc Park (6300 Granbury Cut-Off Fort Worth, TX 76132) this Sunday, April 16. And we meet Sundays from 4-6pm. But you’ll need to contact me or another member of our group to learn where we will be on a particular Sunday. We don’t always meet at Grace Tabernacle’s old building. You can also learn where each Sunday’s meeting location will be by following us on Facebook.
If you are a Christian, the answer is… MAYBE. We’re not interested in stealing people from other churches. Jesus didn’t come to earth and suffer death on a cross just so Christians could waste time jumping from church to church. If you’re considering joining us because you’re unhappy at your current church, I’ve got news for you…it’s only a matter of time before you become unhappy with Renovation Community. Every local church consists of imperfect people (including imperfect pastors). We sin against God and others, we can mis-hear God’s plan for our local church, and we can make BIG mistakes. Consider this quote from 19th Century British preacher Charles Spurgeon:
“If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it.”
In other words, one reason your current church isn’t perfect is you. Sorry. I still love you. If you’re interested in joining us and believe your motives are correct, I’m happy to talk with you more.
Q: Will you fundraise?
A: No. We don’t believe it’s wrong to ask God’s people to financially support God’s work. But we don’t believe God wants Renovation Community to ask for money. We’ve learned to walk by faith about our finances. Instead, we’d rather you volunteer your time and serve alongside us. Read more about that below.
Q: What other ways can I help Renovation Community?
A: For now, our greatest need is finding volunteers for Camp F.U.S.E., our summer day camp. Although Grace Tabernacle closed, Renovation Community chose to continue this one vital neighborhood service. For as little as $1/day, low-income families can send their children to a safe and fun environment for breakfast, lunch, and weekend ‘Snack Sack.’ Each week, campers will learn about Jesus and the Bible in a daily chapel, play games, make crafts, and learn from Career Day speakers, and learn in our all-new computer lab. Learn more and sign up to volunteer at http://campfuse.com/volunteering.
You can help us repair the aging church building we have inherited. If you can find the time, we can find the supplies needed to make repairs. Everywhere you look, the building needs repairs – paint, drywall, tile, roof leaks, a/c repairs, tile, outside drainage issues, landscaping beautification, concrete parking lot repair, electrical work, deep cleaning, plumbing, etc.
We also need help establishing church ‘infrastructure,’ like organizing ministry teams, forming good church policies, training volunteers, etc. I’ll share more opportunities to help in coming months.
You can like us on Facebook and share our posts about how God is working through among us. We’d love to spread the news of God’s great work in our neighborhood.
You can sign up as a prayer partner at www.renovation1000.com. We want 1000 people committed to pray for us before our October 1 launch. Our prayer partners will receive special updates on how they can pray for us and how God has answered prayers.
Have more questions?
Contact me. The more you understand what we’re doing, the better you can pray for us. I’ll gladly create another post with answers to your questions.
Hi Chris – I was updated about your need for volunteers as well as your request for prayer partners. I have tried clicking on links to sign up for volunteering and becoming a prayer partner, but the links lead me to a page that will not load. This may be a user error on my part of just my computer being faulty in loading the pages. I would very much like to discuss helping out in any way I can with these areas of need. I look forward to speaking with you!
I should check my blog more often. Just read this 🙂