I like information. I want to know the “what” of a situation but I also want to know the “why.” Since I want the “whys” I do my best to always give you the “whys” as well.
Today, I want to give you the “whys” for doubling the size of the building of First Baptist church.
The easy answer would be “this is what we determined when we started planning a new campus in 1997.” What we are doing today is simply following the vision which God gave us when He began this journey.
Another part of the answer is we are solving a problem. Many of you are problem solvers. You do it in business and at home every day.
Here is our problem. We are out of space for continuing to grow in Bible Study and fellowship. Our plan is to build additional space for preschoolers, children, and adults (we took care of the youth space when we doubled the space for the ROC). We also plan to build fellowship space and meeting areas for our church and our community.
We want to become a community hub for helping people know Christ.
But our vision (which we believe is God’s vision) goes farther than problem solving.
We are not attempting only to problem solve; we are attempting to reach a community and a region for Christ. We believe the gospel is the Good News. We believe that salvation and hope come only through Christ. We believe He is the hope of the world. We believe that knowing and applying the Word of God leads to the best life possible, both for individuals and for communities and regions.
We believe God is calling us to do something bigger than ourselves and something longer lasting than our individual lives.
For these reasons we do what we do.
Would you please read waylonbailey.com each Saturday as I attempt to explain our plans and the “whys” for what we are led to do?
If you are a church leader in a different fellowship, you will get a good idea of how I “do” church leadership.
We have a great calling let us follow it as we follow God.
8 Responses
Interesting, it sounded like just the reasons my Dad shared with me for the continued development of Jefferson Parish Museum. He told me about improvements that could not be made at the time, but can be now. He told me about resolving problems with property we did not own, but do now. He told me about being faithful, and here we are. To God be the Glory as His meet His Call for the Purpose of all Creation. Interesting.
Blessings
We all must think about the future as well as the present and the past.
When we moved to our present location in 2001, I couldn’t imagine living long enough to see a time when we would need more space. All you need to do is walk down the halls where Bible Fellowship classes are held each week, and you will see that we have outgrown the space we have. God has truly blessed us through the years and has sent a godly man to lead us during this time.
Tissie, thanks for your positive impact on First Baptist Church.
When I last visited FBC, I was in “AWE” at how you have grown, but was so proud to know you.
You and Martha, are such a blessing to so many and I am proud to have been a part and member of FBC.
Praying and praising God for you.
We are thankful for all those “in the past” who have made us what we are today. Thank you for your faithfulness.
This is AWESOME! I love that the ROC is often available for Single’s night. When we do movie night it is really cool! We have even had Bible Study upstairs and it seems so personal and not a classroom type setting. After a long day of rushing at work it was great to sit on couch, kick off heels (yes, I really did this), and for prayer requests no one was rushed b we were all asking about our day etc..too. That little nook up there is almost like a mini coffee shop (yes…we would bring a coffee pot and coffee etc too lol) but I saw a HUGE difference in how ppl would really open up and just be transparent. I am presently, attending one upstairs in the main building and it is VERY rushed and ppl aren’t really getting deep (ppl I’ve been in class with at the ROC are in there not talking) It is set up like a classroom and the seating makes it hard to sit and write in workbook bc we are packed in- good thing bc it is a popular MUCH needed class for singles. I LOVE my (this) church and don’t mean it negative, but maybe the new space can have more “coffee shop nooks” 🙂
It should have a number of neat places like you are talking about.