Vineyard Church of Knox County
Spirit-Led Decision Making
Dear Vineyard Friends, I am so grateful to be a part of a group of people who are committed to following the Spirit of God with regard to our search for a mission facility. As most of you know, the leadership team has been leading the search for a mission facility for a year now with several paths taken and lessons learned. We've tried to be obedient to the leading of the Spirit every step of the way. Certainly we've made some mistakes here and there, but God uses all things to shape us, right?
Well, I believe our church body took a significant step forward last Sunday morning at our special Celebration Service in which we sat before the Lord and collectively asked Him to guide us in our search. We used our situation with the Rockwell Furniture building as the platform to learn and practice Spirit-led decision-making. It was a powerful time!
First, we briefly looked at the story of God’s dealings with His people from the first Israelite community all the way through to the First Century Church under Peter’s and Paul’s leadership. We saw how God’s people were led by God’s Spirit - the Israelites by pillars of cloud and fire and the early church by the indwelling Spirit. So, we want to join that story as a people seeking to follow God’s Spirit.
After the teaching, we practiced the process of seeking God’s Spirit by humbling ourselves before God in worship, then asking Him to open our spiritual eyes and ears, then finally waiting before Him in silence. We asked Him to show us His will regarding the purchase of the Rockwell Furniture building. It was powerful! Did I say that already?
After a few minutes of silence, we wrote down our “thoughts” not worrying so much about their meaning or even their accuracy. We’re just novices, so mistakes are ok! Even so, many people felt like God’s Spirit had given them an impression, a vision, a Scripture, or a short message. Many people shared their experience with the group.
Some of the consistent themes we heard were a need to focus not on a building but on ministry to people. Several people shared their desire to see us develop ministry to the community that would be enhanced by a mission facility. The Rockwell building is in a wonderful location and is equipped to house two separate kitchen areas with plenty of space for ministry to the poor. A second recurring theme was of faith in God’s ability to provide. We do not have all of the necessary funds to purchase the building and renovate it, so signing a contract will be a step of faith. We’ll need to raise the remaining funds in a relatively short period of time but we believe God will stir us to sacrificial giving if this truly is His will. Finally, I heard several people communicate a gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the discernment process. The leadership has been seeking to discern God’s will regarding Rockwell for several weeks, but we believe God asked us to bring the issue to the church body, not for a vote or for (human) approval, but for confirmation from the Spirit. And that’s exactly what we got: confirmation from the Spirit by his speaking to so many people that His heart is for us to take the next step of faith.
So, what now? Well, for those of you who were not able to be there (you missed a powerful time!), we will make available the audio recording of the morning for free on CD to take home and join the adventure (the audio is on our website, too, for download). I desire that all those who call VCKC home know that you are a welcome part of the adventure. So, if you weren’t there last week...come join in! Secondly, we have submitted an offer to the sellers as of Sunday afternoon (6/19), so please pray for God’s will to be done. We covet your prayers at this time and the upcoming few days as we negotiate the terms of the contract. In fact, I invite each of you to consider fasting in addition to praying next week. You can forego anything that is a regular part of your routine - for example, a meal or an hour of TV (or both!) - as a sign to God that we are seriously seeking His will. Also, the leadership is creaing a booklet that will communicate our vision for ministry in a mission facility - that will be available beginning in July. Finally, we plan to form a facility team to help with the process of acquiring the building.
Friends, I know that some of us are not 100% sure of our pursuit of the Rockwell building. If that is you, I want to affirm that you are just as appreciated as any. In fact, I believe God wants us to exercise faith as we step into what we believe is His will. Maybe its good that we are not 100% sold, right? Where would the faith be in that? Just like any healthy family, there will be differences of opinion. And any healthy family knows that commitment to one another and to Christ over-ride any difference of opinion. We will continue to listen to one another and remain open to a change of heart and mind all the while affirming one another’s worth in God’s eyes even in the midst of disagreement. I believe that this is such a family.
I am excited to see where God leads us on this adventure, whether we end up using the Rockwell building as a mission base or not (we still have to come to an agreement with the sellers and the banks). After this past Sunday I know that we are a people committed to following God’s path, a people seeking to be led by the Spirit. That’s exciting!
Blessings,
Chris
