I preached my first Sermon upon taking possession in this new location and facilities on March 18, 2018. We have now been located here for 7 months and we’ve seen God do some amazing things. Notice all that God has done since our ministry has changed locations:
 

• Two Single Ladies Car Care Events: April 14 and October 14
• Two Motor Cycle Drive-In’s: April 14 and October 14
• Good Friday Service, March 30
• Easter Celebration, April 14
• Reaching Revival: April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22
• Student D-Now Weekend and Lock-In, April 13-14
• Women’s Ministry to Callaway Trip, May 12
• Baby Dedication, May 13
• Graduate Recognition Sunday, May 27
• Student Game Day, June 3
• Vacation Bible School Block Party, June 23
• Vacation Bible School, June 25-29
• Student Ministry White Water Retreat, July 13-15
• Church wide Picnic and Baptism in Lake Lanier, July 15
• Widows Luncheon, July 21
• Back to School Block Party – Copper Springs Community, August 4
• Hosted Chattahoochee Baptist Association Executive Committee Dinner and Meeting, August 14
• Children’s Security Training, September 16

 
These 14 ministry events are in addition to our ongoing programs of Sunday School, Women’s and Men’s Ministry Bible Studies, Student Ministry Fellowships and Bible Studies, Church Committee and Team Meetings, Visitation Ministry and Wednesday Night Prayer/Bible Study Ministry. I have not even mentioned the sweat and labor it took to renovate the upper building in which we now worship. All this ministry, time and service has been for Jesus. There is no way to measure exactly how everything planned, supported by volunteers and under-girded with God’s money has impacted the lives of people outside our church. Yes, we have seen new people attend and new members join, but not nearly as many as all those in whom the seeds of the gospel has been planted through our total ministry. One thing is for sure and can be stated with certainty. Since moving to this new place, our church has not lost one step or one ounce of its energy in its ongoing service for the kingdom of God.
 
Remember what I preached 7 months ago on our first Sunday in this place. The title of the sermon was, “Paul’s May-Be’s for Grace,” from Ephesians 3:14-19. Remember what the “May-Be’s” were?
 

1. That we will be Strong in Jesus.
2. That we will be Secure in Jesus.
3. That we will be Saturated with Jesus.

 
I plan to preach that same passage again today, because these 3 “May-Be’s” never change. The question is after 7 months of ministry here, are we STRONGER, MORE SECURE AND BECOMING FULLY SATURATED in Jesus who has called us and equipped us to serve Him here?
 
Paul said to the church at Philippi;
 
“Brothers and Sisters, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but on thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14)
 
Grace Baptist Church is a PRESSING ON church. We PRESS ON to become all that Jesus wants us to be.

Two years, ago when our church was planning and working to begin our “One Mile for God’s Glory” capital campaign, we chose a verse of scripture to guide us and on which to focus our attention,

“Our God of peace…
Equipping you…
Working in us…
Pleasing Him…
For His Glory.”
                                                  (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Our intention at that time was to yield ourselves to God in such a way that He would accomplish His purpose through us in the relocation of our church facilities and that He would receive glory by everything accomplished. We are now approaching the finish line in this relocation and renovation project. I believe God is fulfilling every point we agreed to do from His word.
 
God has answered every need. He has provided people who have given of their experience and expertise to make our current space attractive and useful to God. God has provided volunteers who have sacrificed greatly making the current space we enjoy serviceable to God through the ministries of our church. Yes, we have had to be flexible at times and make choices to combine classes or place groups in different places along the way. It has been necessary to adjust and agree when our preferences could not be met. Through it all, we have stayed together, and we have served together in a pleasing way that has given glory to God who has been in charge of everything from the beginning. It is an amazing thing to witness the word of God being fulfilled right before your eyes.

Now, we are ready to launch into the 2nd phase of our work together. We will soon begin to demolish the interior of the building below (Building #1), in order to reconfigure the interior in accordance with our future ministry needs. We will begin work to construct a 300 seat Worship Center. We will locate and build space to house our Toddlers and Bed Babies as well as our full Children’s Ministry including Sunday School and Children’s Worship. We will measure space and design Bible Study areas to house senior and median adults. Much of the work will be contracted out to professionals, but much will be done by our membership helping to conserve our costs and stay within budget. All of this will be launched next Sunday morning, October 21st, in the Sunday School hour, during the Worship Service and afterward when we share fellowship together around a delicious pot luck meal.
 
I am praying that God will fill our church next Sunday. I am anticipating 100 attending Sunday School and more than 150 worshiping together. I am asking God to do again what He did when we first began our labors almost 2 years ago. A good question to ask is,

Does God repeat Himself? Can God do again what He has done before? ABSOLUTELY! God is able,
 
“…to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
 
I know God is able. The question remains, ARE WE? I look forward to committing myself next Sunday morning together with you to GET HER DONE, together with God’s help and His power all for His glory.

 
Next Sunday our church will gather to worship in praise and thanksgiving for what God has done thus far in our relocation to these grounds and renovation of these facilities for His glory. We now have full access and complete control in working together to make this location and space everything that God wants. GOD HAS BROUGHT US HERE. When Israel crossed the Jordan River to occupy the land God promised to give them, Joshua said:
 
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)
 
God has done mighty things providing us with wonder after wonder to bring us to this point in our journey. Next Sunday we will CONSECRATE ourselves claiming every miracle God has performed along the way. I know the entire morning will be a great day to remember.
 
Next Sunday will KICK OFF our fall Sunday School emphasis to increase attendance and grow our Bible Study ministry. We are asking God to bring 100 people to study His word together. We have averaged over 80 in attendance throughout the last 8 weeks. We are so close to reaching our 100-mile marker. Determine now to make a fresh beginning in Sunday School if you have not been attending recently. If you are a regular part of a Sunday School class, ask someone new to join you next week.
 

 
Pray that God will give us a great day of fellowship and conversation centered in the Word of God.
 
We will LAUNCH our final assault to complete the “ONE MILE FOR GOD’S GLORY” Capital Campaign next Sunday morning. God has provided funds in excess of $120,000 toward our overall goal of $150,000 by the end of the year. With regular contributions coming in over the last 21 months at an average or $5,200 per month, we have calculated that $20,000 will be needed over-and-above the regular gifts from those who have pledged and those who have made contributions outside of pledges. This over-and-above offering amounts to $200 from all of us who have given something toward reaching the goal thus far. WE CAN DO THIS. The $150,000 goal is within our reach. REMEMBER, once we achieve the $150,000-mile marker, our benefactor Mr. Jim Walters promises to match our donations which will instantly become $300,000 for GOD’S GLORY. Special Offering Envelopes will be available for you to use when making your $200 over-and-above offering.
 
POT LUCK LUNCH will be provided in the lower building (Building #1) in order for you to visualize how
God might lead us to make the new space usable in the ministry of our church. We will pray together for God to reveal His plan of action. We will hear from our Benefactor Mr. Walters and our Architect, Mr. Steven Hill. We will show you where the new 300 seat Worship Center will be located. You will see where our Toddlers and Bed Babies will be. We will celebrate new expanded space to house our Children’s Bible Study, Children’s Worship and Ministry space. EXCITING AND INSPIRING will be two words that describe next week’s experience at Grace.