Brenda and I ate lunch with two friends today we have known for 30 years. God's call took us on different paths and we lost touch with each other for about 20 years. Now that God moved us to the Panhandle we reconnected. They told us the miracle story of a church they started 20 years ago. It is the Messiah's House miracle story.
It started with four people. Jason and his wife Leanna and another couple. Just four people in a living room. Praying together and dreaming together. They felt the clear call to start a church. God blessed their steps of faith and faithfulness. Those four people grew into a dozen. Then into a few dozen. Eventually they secured an old church building in downtown Amarillo. Over the years, God kept bringing more and more people. To the point they outgrew the downtown location.
Through a series of miraculous provision they bought a church property from a sister church who were relocating. A large spacious facility. The sanctuary contains 1,000 chairs. It is large but not audacious. Jason's office is small and understated. The children's areas are spacious and kid friendly. They have been in this location for eight years now. They just celebrated their 20th anniversary as a church.
What has God done in those 20 years? Thousands have been saved. They rented out Hodge Town, which is the minor league baseball stadium, for that anniversary service. 2,700 people attended. Over three dozen people were saved that day. It was a glorious day for our friends.
They hold two services each Sunday morning back on their campus. Both services have around 800 people show up for worship. Parents stand in a line for up to 30 minutes to pick up their children from secure children's areas after the services. That little fact blew me away. The facilities are well marked, secure, and decorated with excellence. It is the kind of church where joy exudes from the people, and the life of God radiates through every sector. God has truly done, and continues to do a miracle at Messiah's House. I rejoice for our friends, but more so for the expansion of the kingdom of God.
I left there today inspired with Brenda. Not by the numbers. We are not chasing numbers. We are chasing God and His impact on people, families, and the community. It gives me hope not to despise the day of small beginnings. Fritch is a small town. First Southern is a small church. God is a BIG God and He is planting large dreams for this church. A church He will transform in the next few years. A church that will grow in prayer, faith, and numbers. A church with a new vision to pursue and a dynamic faith to share. We are starting with more than four people in a living room. We have a few dozen and ample facilities for many many more. While we are not large now, I believe growth is coming. I believe God's work has already begun. The excitement is building. The joy has returned. People hope again. Love flows again. The seats are starting to fill up again. While we are a long way from a full house, we are slowly inching forward. It is a privilege to get to serve here. I am blessed each Sunday night in our prayer meetings. The sound of those prayer warriors filling up the sanctuary moves me each week. The anticipation for greater days is all around. I can't wait to see what God does six months from now, a year from now, five, ten, and even twenty years from now. God will astound us, and we will glorify Him every step of the way. One day we will have our own miracle story to share.
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