This whole transition from building to bare bones has been (and continues to be) an educational experience for The Well. You see, all we did was stumble into something God had already laid out. And because of that, The Well has to daily trust God for what’s next.
It’s like when you’re driving down the road behind a semi-truck or one of those wide-load trailers. No matter how far you try to ease back from the monstrosity in front of you, you cannot fully see what’s up in front. So, you drive like you know you’re supposed to and leave the rest up to faith.
If The Well had stayed at arms length and “ridden the brake,” waiting for all the answers before moving forward in faith, we would still be shackled to that building—planning and strategizing but unwilling to remain open to something radical. Being open to God’s lead has become an essential part of our survival and sustenance.
However, we could never have unwrapped our preconceived ideas about the Church and God’s plan for our small congregation if a few members of the original First Southern Baptist of North Orange County hadn’t believed that God was still moving in their midst.
For The Well, God used such faith to help us trade the steel and stone that had become a barrier and exchange it for a church of flesh. Although bold and terrifying, leaving our building behind has enabled us as a church and as members of Christ’s Body to see His “Kingdom come…on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Have you or your church recently made some bold moves toward something God had laid out for you in advance (even if you couldn’t see the outcome)? What is God teaching you about His Church as you faithfully follow His semi-truck-sized plans?
How fantastic that The Well undertook your transformation together! (Ps 133)
By: John Ramsey on July 26, 2009
at 1:27 PM