Big, Good and Unexpected
I have decided to wear a special shirt today. It is not so much the material that makes it so unique, as much as it is the message sewn on the front of the shirt. Just above my pocket is the phrase, “Big, Good and Unexpected.” Now for those who do not know, let me tell the story behind the message.
Five years ago the First Baptist Church of Center Point (the church that gave birth to CrossPoint) started moving dirt on what we now call Phase 1 of CrossPoint. For those of you who were not around then, this was a bold step of faith. You must realize that five years ago there were not many houses in the Argo area. Some people were questioning our sanity on such an operation. Some of the questions asked about the vision of CrossPoint included, “Why build such a big complex where no one lives? Who is going to drive out there for worship? Where are all the people?” Additionally, there were some who were saying the vision of CrossPoint was just a flash-in-the-pan idea that would never last. Others were saying we should go ahead with the construction, but they would never support the effort. And there were a few, many of whom who are now part of the core of CrossPoint, who believed CrossPoint was a God-thing.
For several years we were focusing our attention around a core theme. The year God introduced the vision of CrossPoint to our church we were dwelling on the theme “Just Like Jesus.” The next year when we set the wheels of CrossPoint into motion by using the theme, “Imagine.” The theme we settled on the year we started moving dirt was, “Big, Good and Unexpected.” For two year the church had been praying, searching and watching for God to move among us. During that season of searching we decided to start asking God to do something “Big, good and unexpected.”
Five years later we see the harvest of that prayer. CrossPoint has already outgrown its present facility. We now marvel at the thought the God would challenge us to build Phase 2 so early in our growth process. Neighborhoods are sprouting up all around us. People are moving in, and CrossPoint is poised to do something big, good and unexpected for the Kingdom.
So, if you see me wearing my “Big, Good and Unexpected” shirt today you will know why I am wearing it. I am wearing it as a testimony to those of you who have bought into the CrossPoint vision since we built Phase 1. You are the result of God answering our big, good and unexpected prayer request. I am wearing it also as a testimony to what God has done and what He will continue to do through CrossPoint as we stay on point with His Gospel message.
Five years ago the First Baptist Church of Center Point (the church that gave birth to CrossPoint) started moving dirt on what we now call Phase 1 of CrossPoint. For those of you who were not around then, this was a bold step of faith. You must realize that five years ago there were not many houses in the Argo area. Some people were questioning our sanity on such an operation. Some of the questions asked about the vision of CrossPoint included, “Why build such a big complex where no one lives? Who is going to drive out there for worship? Where are all the people?” Additionally, there were some who were saying the vision of CrossPoint was just a flash-in-the-pan idea that would never last. Others were saying we should go ahead with the construction, but they would never support the effort. And there were a few, many of whom who are now part of the core of CrossPoint, who believed CrossPoint was a God-thing.
For several years we were focusing our attention around a core theme. The year God introduced the vision of CrossPoint to our church we were dwelling on the theme “Just Like Jesus.” The next year when we set the wheels of CrossPoint into motion by using the theme, “Imagine.” The theme we settled on the year we started moving dirt was, “Big, Good and Unexpected.” For two year the church had been praying, searching and watching for God to move among us. During that season of searching we decided to start asking God to do something “Big, good and unexpected.”
Five years later we see the harvest of that prayer. CrossPoint has already outgrown its present facility. We now marvel at the thought the God would challenge us to build Phase 2 so early in our growth process. Neighborhoods are sprouting up all around us. People are moving in, and CrossPoint is poised to do something big, good and unexpected for the Kingdom.
So, if you see me wearing my “Big, Good and Unexpected” shirt today you will know why I am wearing it. I am wearing it as a testimony to those of you who have bought into the CrossPoint vision since we built Phase 1. You are the result of God answering our big, good and unexpected prayer request. I am wearing it also as a testimony to what God has done and what He will continue to do through CrossPoint as we stay on point with His Gospel message.
2 comments:
I was fortunate enough to be one of those "Origional CrossPointers" who came from FBCP. I remember the sunday Ryan first unveiled God's plan for what would later become CrossPoint and the excitement I felt about this huge step of faith. I still have that excitment about CrossPoint and it's not just because we're building new buildings...it's because we still have the vision in all it's steps! We're all desiring to be "Just Like Jesus" in our Worship and daily walk with God, and He's leading us to "Imagine" the "Big Good and Unexpected" ways to make room for "Just One More" person to come to know Christ and to be a fellow CrossPointer! Praise God for what he has done in a "town with few houses", for what He is doing at CrossPoint now, and for those who we are building Phase II for!
Jenny,
It is exciting to see what God can do, isn't it?
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