Remember the first time you noticed those little green signs with numbers on them along the side of the road? I remember asking my dad what they were and he explained they were the replacement for what was once known as milestones. He went on to explain milestones were placed alongside roadways to help people know where they were and how far they had to go on their journey. Knowing this made trips in the family station wagon a lot more enjoyable.
This past Sunday our church held a Ground Breaking Ceremony for our first church building. To say it was a joyous day would be an understatement, to say it was a milestone in the life of our church would be accurate. Breaking ground on our 10th anniversary only added to the celebration and the significance.
For years we have been moving toward having our own 24/7 facility, but Sunday was only another milestone on our journey of grace and not our destination. Our mission continues to be one of honoring God, reaching out in love and growing in our relationship with God. While we’ve lived that mission for 10 years without a building, having a Center for Community will only enhance our abilities to live our mission.
I stood at the ground breaking on Sunday and thought about how many different outreach opportunities our new facility will afford – how many opportunities for personal spiritual growth we will offer and how special it will be to hold our first God honoring worship service in our own building instead of a rented school and the moment seized me. It made me realize just how meaningful all the other milestones leading up to this point were in the life of our church.
I won’t list all those milestones, you can read about them elsewhere; but believe me when I say there have been many and at each one there was an undeniable outpouring of God’s grace. We are truly living in Graceland at CPCC. Every milestone/mile marker is a reminder of God’s grace. Maybe that is why on Sunday as the balloons were released into a magnificent blue sky as a part of our ground breaking ceremony, my heart started beating faster, my eyes filled with tears and my mind ran straight to God’s amazing and sweet Grace.
We are on a grace journey at CPCC and there will be many more mile markers we will pass as we move forward. I invite everyone to watch for and celebrate EACH milestone. When I remember the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20-21, I am reminded we still have a long way to go. So my advice is: hold on and enjoy the journey. I’d love to hear any of the grace milestones you’ve past in your life’s journey.
I pray God will bless Colonial Point CC with each step you take. I urge you to build a strong mission department and youth department to keep enthusiasm alive. The church plant I am part of is now in our fourth year, meeting in the public school, avereaging about 240 each Sunday morning, 10 miles Northeast of Columbia, MO, in Hallsville. I have dear Christian worker friends in the Boston and Providence areas helping new church plants. These are great days to be alive in Christ!
The first thought that entered my mind after reading about your first bdlg.was “Well done good and faithful servant”. What a joy for you to have this accomplishment after 10 years of hard work.Our prayers will continue for you,Sharon,the boys and the work and growth of your congregation. I hope that one day we can visit and be a part of your worship to our GREAT GOD!