It is hard to believe that I have now lived in Mattawan for 7 years. This community has changed a lot since my family moved here to start a new church.
In the past few years Sandy the “junk yard horse” departed the world. A huge open field in town has been converted to a Pizza Hut, Subway, Taco Bob’s, condos, and variety of other assorted businesses. A new neighborhood has blossomed next to the little league fields and it seems like new houses are being added at least as quick as the dandelions sprouting in my lawn. The community passed a new bond for additions to the middle school, high school, and ground has been broken on two new elementary schools.
When we came to Mattawan we were throwing a lot of energy into this community without a crystal ball to see how the future would go. But God has blessed our community. I would never suggest that we have some type of favored status with God, but the blessings are evident in the clear growth God has provided in the place where ReCAST church is seeking to share the love of Christ.
We started with 31 people meeting in a basement and this Sunday evening we will be voting to take the next steps on building. We hope to buy new property in the village of Mattawan and take the next steps of blueprints for a new building. The idea of having a facility as a gathering place on Sunday mornings and also as a service to our community throughout the week seemed so far off 7 years ago.
But God has grown His church as He has grown this terrific community! As we stand on the edge of building, I am so grateful for this wonderful community. I have never been much of a settler. This is the longest I have lived in the same community since graduating from high school (and even then I have owned two different homes here). But something about Mattawan feels like home like no other place I have ever lived. I am excited about the roots that a new building will provide. God has shined down on this little community and He has been more than gracious to this little church, that I have been privileged to lead.
