Let’s Build This Thing!

Today was a great day.  What an awesome God we serve!

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 folks showed up for our groundbreaking ceremony at the Aiken Family Y / Cedar Creek West site on Trolley Line Road.

Here are a few thoughts on what God is doing through this partnership:

The Family Y is an amazing organization with a bold vision to reach people in this community and help them develop their mind, body and spirit.  Part of the YMCA’s mission statement says, “To put Christian principles into practice.”  That is exactly what we, as followers of Jesus, are called to do.  Not just talk about who Jesus is but to actually live out the commands and example He has given us.

One of our core values at Cedar Creek Church is that we are “Better Together.”  Partnerships are the key.  Identifying where God is at work in our midst and to partner with people and organizations that are like-minded.  We know that in Aiken County alone there are, statistically, 77,000 people who are unsaved and/or unchurched.  That means they don’t know who Jesus is or don’t have a church home.  It will take THE CHURCH, not just Cedar Creek Church, working together to make a difference in reaching those folks with the Good News.  That is why we also must be willing to work together with other churches, leveraging their strengths and gifts where we are weak and allow them to benefit from where we are strong or gifted differently.

“To reach people that nobody else is reaching, we must do things that nobody else is doing.”  I heard Craig Groeschel, pastor of Lifechurch.tv, say that about two years ago and it’s TRUE!  This partnership allows us, a church, to share space (a non-traditional, third space) with an organization that naturally draws people.  We have an opportunity to SERVE our community by being there to share life with those who will come through the doors of the Family Y.  Culture changes, so we change.  The message never changes, but the method in which we communicate that message must constantly change.

We don’t want to be the biggest or the best church IN our community, but we do strive to be the best church FOR our community.  This will happen when we welcome and accept any and all who want to find out what Cedar Creek is all about.  They will discover that we are all about Jesus and how He alone can change lives and gives us purpose in living out His mission.

Everybody is a potential something.  Every man, woman and child was made by God and He has a purpose and a plan for each life that He has created.  I was reminded this morning of the power and potential of our kids.  Some of the Family Y “camp kids” came out and shared a few songs with us.  After they finished, Danny McConnell, President of the Metro Y, talked about growing healthy kids and the impact their Y experience will have on them.  Knowing that we will also have an opportunity to volunteer and help through Y programming excites me to no end.

God is moving.  I had an opportunity to share my “Y pine tree” story with those gathered today.  How God in his providence ordained this property and set it aside years ago for this very purpose.  I have spent much of my life running the woods of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida and have NEVER seen trees like the ones on this site, anywhere.  God truly reveals Himself through His creation and, each time He does, I am humbled and honored to be a small part of this adventure.

Thanks to so many.  I had the chance to thank several people (and a couple who I forgot to mention) who have worked tirelessly to help move this vision closer to becoming a reality.

First of all, my beautiful wife, Keli, who loves me, tolerates me and is my partner in ministry.

Danny McConnell, Bob Deering, Richard Fine, Brad Brodie, Phillip Lee, Richard Swift for the courage and vision to take a chance on this partnership.

David Hardy, Ray Massey and Toren Andersson for their integrity and professionalism and friendship to me.

The Aiken Family Y Board members, current and previous, for the legwork and nuts and bolts negotiations that helped this plan go forward.

And last, but no way least, the people of Cedar Creek Church (Banks Mill, On The Ridge and West), West Campus lead team, our amazing volunteers…who have prayed, given sacrificially and done “whatever it takes” to do what God has called us to do to make Aiken County a better place, one life at a time.

All praise and glory to the One who is worthy – Jesus Christ, our Savior.