It has been so exciting to see the process of a church building go up on our property in Mattawan. I have watched the process of the clearing of the land, I have watched the dump trucks bring in the gravel to level the base for the parking lot, I have watched them pour footers and foundation walls.
I am not watching with the eyes of a little boy who is impressed with the heavy machinery (though some aspects of that are pretty cool). But I am watching with the awe of a history that goes far beyond cement foundations.
The foundation of our church is not the lifeless concrete in the ground, but it is in the hearts of people who sacrificed. The foundation of our church is the incarnation of Jesus who came here to rescue sinful people. The foundation of our church is in the crucifixion of Jesus that give us the reminder of the price of our sin AND the great love that God has lavished on us through His Son. The foundation of ReCAST Church is in the empty tomb, where the power of hope was born in the victory of Jesus over the power of sin and death.
Over our almost eight year history as a church, the foundation of Christ has been worked out in the sacrifices of many. He has been worked out in the application of humility and love that flows from his cross. And He has been worked out in victory over sin and death as new hope has been born in the hearts of many.
Building a building is an amazing step, but it is nowhere near the first step of becoming a church. This church has some solid foundations that were laid, long before the cement mixers came to call!