Good Words from God’s Word
 
The Bible says:
 
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
 
A few weeks ago, our church family decided, in a called conference, to leave the existing HVAC system located in the Worship Center along with the drop-down lights rather than devote time and energy to removing them. The recommendation from the Relocation Dream Team was approved even though some of our congregation asked good questions about it and others abstained from voting rather than voice or register their disagreement with the recommendation.
 
Since that time, the Relocation Dream Team has received a request from the Alley Church in downtown Gainesville to make some of the lights available to their church as a donation. The RDT has revisited the lighting decision and agreed to donate 10 lights to the Alley Church based upon their partnership with our volunteers on March 3rd to remove them and the approval of the church. The RDT further recommends that the remaining 15 lights be removed from the current location and relocated to the new Worship Center. The RDT has reconsidered its position concerning the hanging lights and agreed that their installation will be a good improvement over the fluorescent lights now in place.
 
Rather than announce this recommendation two weeks prior to making the decision, the RDT asks the congregation to wave the two-week notice stipulation in the Constitution and consider the new lighting recommendation today, February 25th. To accomplish the necessary work of removing and installing, the project must begin this next week.
 
Also, the RDT has received a request since the last called conference by the owners of The Solid Oak Store to consider extending their lease for 90 days beyond May 31st. The lease term will expire May 31st and a new lease agreement will be established through August 31st.  This means that Grace will continue to receive lease payments in the amount of $3,500 per month adding a total of $10,500 to be applied to the “One Mile” capital campaign. This will add when matched to $21,000 to the overall project. The new lease agreement will also add the stipulation that adequate space be made available in the Oak Store for housing 1 of our Sunday School Classes each Sunday. It will be our responsibility to unlock the building, setup and take down chairs, while securing the Oak Store’s inventory each week.
 
The request for extension of the Oak Store’s lease will not cause a great disruption or delay in the progress of the renovations. The Civil Engineers will not complete their work until the first of June. The work of grading and extending the parking lot at the new site cannot begin until the Civil Engineer’s work is completed and approved. Then the parking lot project can begin while the Oak Store is still continuing its lease with us. By the time the parking lot, sewer connection and ground water removal work are all completed, the added lease will be nearing its conclusion.
The Relocation Dream Team recommends the extension of a 90-day lease with the Solid Oak Store, to begin June 1, 2018 and end August 31, 2018.
 
I praise God that our church is together without divisions. We always want to be in a state of agreement as the Bible teaches. If it takes a second vote after new information is received to bring agreement to the body, I believe it is worth setting aside the previous action and over ruling the direction of the Church Constitution to achieve it. Agreement in the work of God is always a worthy principle for God’s people to seek and achieve.

Good Words from God’s Word
 
What Paul said to the church at Corinth comes to mind these days as we work together to relocate our church:
 
“Now I exhort you, brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there by no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
 
This morning several men gathered at our present location to move the large and heavy Welcome Desk from the atrium of our church to its new home one mile up Mundy Mill Road. It required furniture moving equipment, a large trailer and enough strong backs to accomplish the task. No one in the group expressed any preference about where they wanted to apply their experience and expertise. No one politicked about having first place out front or insisting that his way was better than someone else’s. Each person just took hold of that heavy piece of furniture, lifting, grunting, pushing and pulling together until the job got done. Not a whole lot was said.  No debate—no disagreements. Everybody just worked together. It reminded me of what the Bible says about the early church:
 
“And all those who had believed were together and hand all things in common.” (Acts 2:44)
 
I really like it when our church looks like the early church.
 
Next Sunday, you are going to have an opportunity to write on a card, that will be placed in the Church Bulletins, your thoughts, ideas, or communications about:
“WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO YOU CONCERNING THE COMING MOVE OF OUR CHURCH.”
 
When you write down what God is saying to you or what God has said to you, I promise I will read every card. I promise that I will not only read every card, I promise that I will pray about every card. I want to pray with you personally about what God says to you.
 
Listen, I am your pastor, but I am also one of you. I am a member of the Grace Baptist Church family just like you are. God talks to me about our church and I know He talks to you. I would not be a very good pastor if I did not pay attention to what God is saying to you. I want you to help me be the kind of pastor God wants me to be by helping me listen to what He is saying to you. There will be ample cards available next Sunday. Cards will be in the bulletin and some will be located conveniently in Sunday School classes and in the atrium of the church. Be prepared next Sunday to write what God has said and how He is talking to you about the future place and the future opportunity we have to be a blessing to His kingdom’s work. I look forward to the blessing of hearing how God is talking to you.
 
Pastor Mike

Good Words from God’s Word
 
This has been an amazing week in the life of Grace. We have seen God do amazing things. Monday evening, the Relocation Dream Team met to continue planning the work for moving our church to a new place.
 
Reports from the sub-teams were shared with great appreciation for the way our volunteers are doing the work and the progress that is being made. We are now 2 weeks ahead of our schedule.
 

 
Our meeting with the Certificate of Occupancy Inspector was scheduled at 10:00 am. The building was thoroughly reviewed, and the construction/renovation master plan was carefully studied. The grounds, parking lots and available undeveloped land was surveyed giving us a complete once-over. I felt like our church had been given a complete physical.
 

 
Only a few cosmetic improvements and corrections will be necessary before we will be granted our Certificate of Occupancy necessary to move our congregation to the new site. This is a welcomed answer to our prayers. This is another visible sign that God is out in front of us demonstrating His control in every step we take to be faithful to Him. 
 
I am in a spirit of thanksgiving today for every volunteer, every Saturday Warrior, every Weekday Servant who has donated time, energy and experienced talent to make the needed improvements to our new buildings. Your labors paid off today.
 
I am thankful for every “One Mile for God’s Glory” donor. Our congregation, friends and partners have contributed, $62,683.80 to the Capital Campaign thus far. We have only $12,316.00 to go in reaching the half-way point of $150,000.00. I am praising God for Mr. Jim Walters who has generously pledged to match every dollar contributed to the campaign up to $150,000.00. Imagine $300,000.00 available to relocate and renovate the new site.
 
This is a week to celebrate! It is a week to be thankful. This is a week to “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!” We only have 5 weeks left in the current location.
 
Grace Baptist Church has occupied this facility and property for 9 years. God has been merciful and kind over these years. God has blessed grace with healing, growth, and unity during our tenure here. Even though this place has been temporary. Even though we have been unsure of the next steps in the history of our ministry, God has blessed. You know?
 
God is alive. He works in every situation, in any location to accomplish His purpose. I want to call your attention to God’s promise:
 
“He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
 
Christ is head of the body. He is now at work subjecting all things unto Himself in order that we may become filled with everything that pertains to His glorious will and purpose.
 

Good Words from God’s Word
 
I praise God for all the volunteers who came to work this past Saturday packing and cleaning out, getting us ready to move to the new location at 4026 Mundy Mill Road. I had a great time working alongside every volunteer who gave of their time. It was a blessing to enjoy the fellowship of working together for the Lord’s glory. It really does not matter whether we are sharing company with God’s people over a meal, serving together in some important ministry event, or unloading filing cabinets and cleaning out old outdated materials from a closet, we are the people of God and we have fun when we get together. As everybody worked together last Saturday, it was apparent to me that our church family is ready to move. We are in love with Jesus and really enjoy in serving his glorious kingdom together.
 
Sunday evening last week, our Sunday School Leadership met to plan the Sunday School Calendar for the first quarter of 2018. The leadership established a Sunday School goal of 100 in attendance, which we will all strive to reach on our first Sunday at the new location. I am excited about this great opportunity to reach new people for Christ.
 
The initial Sunday at the new site will be March 18th. The Sunday School leaders agreed last Sunday to set worthy goals on Easter Sunday, April 1st and on the next three Sundays following Easter. Easter Sunday will kick off our Revival that will extend over the next three Sundays – April 8th, 15th, and 22nd.  This year’s revival will be called, “Reaching Revival” at Grace. The scripture theme for the Revival is:
 
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
 
Jesus did not come because man reached for God. Jesus came because God was reaching out to man. We serve a reaching God whose grace reaches out to find us and save us where we are.
 
Our Sunday School leaders set worthy attendance goals for every Sunday during this Reaching Revival:

• Sunday, April 1st – Reaching Down: 100 in Sunday School Attendance
• Sunday, April 8th – Reaching Up: 101 in Sunday School Attendance
• Sunday, April 15th – Reaching In: 102 in Sunday School Attendance
• Sunday, April 22nd – Reaching Out: 103 in Sunday School Attendance

 
April will be our Reaching 100 in Sunday School Month. Grace Baptist Church is a Reaching Church that serves a Reaching Savior who has come to this world to REACH OUT AND SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.
 
Begin now to pray and plan to invite neighbors, family members and friends to be saved and become an active part of what God is reaching out to do at Grace.
 
Tonight, our church family will have its CHILI COOK-OFF SUPER BOWL SUNDAY event.  Robbie has already picked up the ingredients for my Super Bowl Reach-Up-To-Heaven Extraordinaire Chili. It really does not matter who wins the Super Bowl because the chili at Grace tonight is better than football. Bring your family and invite your friends. There will be plenty for everyone.
 
Pastor Mike