Following the Pillar of Cloud
- Mark Lauterbach
- Nov 17, 2007
Two years ago the members of Grace Church began a journey of faith. After almost ten years together in San Diego, we trusted God for a more permanent location to meet. Our hope was to cease to be a church in a box.
As we began that journey, God impressed us with the story of Israel in the wilderness, from Numbers 9.There we have a record of how God went before his people in the pillar of cloud or fire each day of their pilgrimage. They moved when he moved. They waited when he stopped.
Numbers 9:23 describes it like this: At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.
We knew the pillar of cloud (the direction of God through the pastors as we prayed and fasted) was moving but we had no idea where it would take us. The journey involved remarkable obstacles and remarkable provisions. The people of Grace Church experienced extraordinary unity and joyful service. They gave sacrifically. Other churches in our family of churches supported us too.
The journey has taken us two years from when we first identified a property. It has taken us into an education in the US constitution and federal laws. It has moved us into a position of serving other churches.
All we wanted was a place to meet -- but God has so much more in mind. The tests of faith, the calls for 3500 hours of volunteer labor, the opportunity for sacrificial giving, the requirements of leadership, the answers to prayer -- all of these were what God wanted to work in us before he brought us in. Our first Sunday in brought may comments from those who have served so diligently. The new place is not "new" -- it seems like home as we have already demolished and built and painted and cleaned and built together in it.
We want to build a strong base for ministry in San Diego, to multiply churches throughout our area. We want to serve others in San Diego and Rancho Bernardo. We want to build a Gospel-saturated ministry for the people God brings to us.
How glad we are God did not make the way smooth. We have learned new truths about him and seen his answers to prayer. We have experienced grace in new ways. The goodness of God revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as savior has taken on new meaning.
Come join us in our new location. Sundays at 10 AM.
We also want to recommend to our readers the messages from the recent Sovereign Grace Men's Conference, The Pursuit. You can find the messages HERE.
We will be starting a Christmas series on December 2. If you are looking for new Christmas music, we suggest you consider SAVIOR for great new music. Also check out the new CD called You and You Alone.