Pastor’s Corner The Lord builds

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

— A few years ago a small group of people in Pea Ridge and Garfield started wondering if they could go to a church of their own closer to where they lived.

A couple of them attended church in a neighboring town, as they had always done. It was difficult for them to reach those in need near them and they had the desire to grow in a family of faith while keeping their traditions and rich history and then to share it with those closer to where they called home. A little over two years ago, they decided to give it a go and trust that if God wanted to build it He would. And He did.

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

No matter how badly we may want something, it takes God’s will to make it happen. We had no idea what to expect. We knew that there was a need in the Pea Ridge area and that God could use the broken, common vessels that we are to share His saving Word with those in need. If He would choose to do that, we would need to prepare ourselves for the labor in order to be faithful. God chose to build, so we worked. To God be the glory.

Messiah has been going a little over two years now.

Though it hasn’t been easy meeting in a temporary facility on Slack Street, moving in and out every Sunday, it sure has been a blessing to witness. God has done some great things. Lives have changed and many hopes restored to the One who can alone fulfill them, the Builder Himself. He has even lead us into constructing our own facility.

As a congregation we lookforward to Dec. 12 when we will first come together in celebration with our community at our new facility just north of Benton County 40 on North Arkansas Highway 94 and we pray that we can use it to His glory.

As the pastor of Messiah, I’d like to say “Thank you” to all that have kept us in prayer during this time of physical labor. Having a place to call “home” while serving our Lord in His work is a blessing I pray we never overlook or forget to give thanks for. We’ve received quite a bit of encouragement from the good people of this area. Local craftsmen and companies have been an integral part at the success of this project.

The local pastors with the Ministerial Alliance have been an encouragement and blessing. (We have some good churches here.) The City of Pea Ridge staff and Fire Department have been very approachable and forthright in their Godgiven roles in the building process and for that we must truly be thankful. We are truly blessed.

This is only a beginning.

God is good and I thank Him for moving the hearts of the few that started to wonder and hope that He might use them to do something great for their home town. God is building and there is much to do, so let’s all get to work!

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Church, Pages 2 on 12/08/2010