We’ve had a vision from day one, as this Origin Church dream was birthed, to launch multiple churches in smaller cities, after launching in Ringgold-Chattanooga. We have a heart for Cleveland, TN, Ellijay, GA, and Dawsonville, GA; 5 churches over the next 10 years. Sure, there are good works happening everywhere, but you cannot deny your own vision. Now, it may not happen as you planned it, but the vision for a person must start with an almost unrealisticness. (not sure that’s a word)
God will define it and it will declare itself as you go. Case and point: When I went to Gainesville, Florida in 2004, we had a huge vision to reach unreached people and I knew we would have to do something different in order to do that. Four years in, God began to show me that my mission was complete and we had accomplished what we were sent to do. I didn’t know exactly what God was doing with me, but we prayed. In the meantime, God impressed my spirit that our church and my good friend, Chad Clemons’ church, should merge. God was calling me back to Georgia to launch a new church; we began to see that. God had not shown the merge to Chad yet. He was convinced that he needed to be in the north part of the county with his 6 year-old church plant.
Short story: Two churches desiring to impact lostness, came together and merged, and became a Northpoint Community Church Planting Partner with Andy Stanley. Wow oh wow…you ought to see the place today! Anthem Church is a great place to be! Now, I had no idea that my original vision for Tower would be this outcome to get to the same goal. Chad had no idea, either, that his vision to reduce the percentage of unchurched people would involve this scenario.
My point is, dream it big and large, and let God direct it later, when He’s ready! It may end up different than you had originally intended, but that’s ok, IF, you’re flexible and in “it” for the kingdom. We’re all headed to the same place, we just have to check our egos and credentials at the door.
Tower & Christ Central People=Anthem Church
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L56rINWv35o]
