God, why now? In the midst of a pandemic, racial disunity inside and outside the church, anger, uncertainty, fear, frustration, death, unemployment, financial recession, brokenness…why would You want me to plant your church? Each day as I watched TV and listened to people’s stories, the more hopeless life seemed to appear. God, again I ask the question why now? These are the conversations the Lord and I had on a regular basis as I searched for clarity when I knew the Lord was calling me to plant His church. As I prayed God kept reminding me that He does all things according to His perfect will for His glory! The psalmist said it this way “The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds…” Psalm 145:17. Everything that happens has been allowed by God to accomplish His perfect redemptive plan; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together in perfect unity “I (Jesus) in them and You(Father) in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me” John 17:23. God alone is the only One who can change, teardown, shake up whatever He pleases to make it known to everyone that He’s holy, righteous and sovereign.
I believe in this season we’re living in there are three things we all must do:
To know God – not to know of God but to know God intimately through His Son Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
To Grow in Christ – not an option but a requirement for all believers. To grow in the Word so we can faithfully live Christlike by the power of the Holy Spirit, progressive sanctification.
To Show Christ – every believer has the responsibility to make disciples, to be God’s image bearers and to love one another as Christ loves us.
I believe the Church God has raised up for this season is a diverse body of believers who are truly reconciled in Christ, who have a heart for real reconciliation in our communities. A multicultural Body who are truly one family committed to live and love Christlike. A Body of believers whose worship is not confined to a building but visible in the community, who purposely pour into people not programs. As a result, the lives of the people in the community are transformed because of an encounter with Jesus through His Church. True believers who’ve put their faith in Christ, who live obedient to God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit all for God’s glory!
God, multicultural, ethnic, diverse churches are becoming more common now, what makes the vision You’ve given me unique? It’s funny how God works! Growing up I attended diverse schools, I was exposed to different ethnic groups and cultures. Over the last 29 years I’ve worked with diverse people. But it wasn’t until I attended the Indianapolis Great Banquet over 23 years ago, a men’s and women’s three-day Christian Retreat that I was able to experience, serve and see diversity in the Body of Christ. My wife and I have had the privilege to personally witness at the Great Banquet diverse people coming together to worship Jesus Christ in oneness! We saw people crying out surrendering their lives to Christ, praying and praising with one voice, serving together inside and outside the building, the unlovable being saturated with the grace and love of Christ. I believe the Lord has been preparing me for the ministry He’s uniquely blessed my wife and I with for years. The thing that blows my mind is God chose someone like me with all my junk to plant this type of church for His glory…I am truly humbled.
Glory to God Christian Church is a new church plant launching in Lawrence Indiana in 2020. At Glory to God Christian Church the only person exalted is Christ. We are committed to knowing Christ intimately, growing in Christ daily, and showing and sharing His love to others.
