Connecting Point Church Update

It has been a long time since I posted an update on this blog concerning the progress of our New Church start. Our Fellowship is called Connecting Point Church. Our mission is simple: We are striving to show the love of Christ in the communities where we live, work, attend school, or any other setting where we interact with other people. For far too long our culture has viewed the "Church" as an organization. It is like a "Secret Society" that can be very intimidating for those who have little understanding of the purpose for our existence.

In these days in which we are living, the vast majority of our culture is suspicious of organized churches. While I am not criticizing either side of the "Church fence" or blaming anyone for the problem, I am very burdened that the example Jesus gave us to live by has somehow been lost in "Organized Religious Rituals."

God has given Connecting Point Church a completely different ambition. We are actually a church of many Small Churches -- we call them "House Churches." Right now we have 8 of these House Churches that are meeting in subdivisions all over our area. These groups meet at various times throughout the week (i.e. Sunday evening, Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening, and Saturday mornings). The groups are small so everyone has a chance to be known, loved and to contribute to the meetings and mission projects. Some of our House Churches are doing "Real-Time" Ministry projects right in the very communities where they live. The church is actually being "fleshed-out" where the people are who need to hear about and experience the love of Jesus Christ.

We do have a Corporate meeting on Sundays in a warehouse we are leasing in the small town of Easley, SC. The purpose for having this meeting is to CELEBRATE what God is doing in our House Churches. WE have no ambition to buy land, build facilities, or gauge our "success or failure" by how many people we are able to assemble in a building once a week. Our Sunday meetings are informal, Spirit-Filled, and "free" (by Free I mean that people are relaxed and whatever God leads us to do we do). Each Sunday we have a "Community House Church Spotlight" so that everyone who is Partnering together as Connecting Point Church can see what is going on. It will hopefully inspire others to get involved in our House Churches or open their house for a new group.

After being a Pastor of two traditional churches for almost 20 years, I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to be part of something God is doing that is real, relevant, and very exciting. I can't wait to see our people each Sunday; to hear about what God is doing in and through our House Churches; and to experience God together. I have the privilege of being a Servant-Leader of the greatest group of people I have ever been associated with. For that, I am truly grateful to God!!