Encouragement

June 2008 was a month of questions.  How would the Redeemer Plant go? How would things be at Zion with the Redeemer folks gone?  What would happen to the budget?  And more personally, how hard would it be to move ahead with those empty places in our hearts?

Those questions will not be answered quickly.  But there are some initial signs of encouragement.  The Redeemer Plant is finding its stride; worship, attendance, giving, community life—there are many encouraging signs.  At Zion, we can feel the reduced numbers, but the June attendance was actually not much lower than what we might see in a normal summer.  There were some special gifts that actually made June the best month of the year so far.  These early signs are encouraging, though it is too early to draw any conclusions about overall attendance and giving patterns.

Personal adjustments will continue to be hard.  There is no way around that.  Though we can be happy if there must be a separation, then that this kind of separation is just about the best kind possible.

Zion has a 3-year committment to Redeemer in the budget.  Even with what looks like one of the best starts you could hope to see, Redeemer will continue to need outside support.

The Staff, Elders, and Deacons at Zion will continue to work towards strengthening our position as a resource church for planting more new congregations in Lincoln.  What can we learn from our experience with Grace Chapel in 2000 and Redeemer in 2008?  When will we be ready for another?  What will it look like?  What if we keep the church plant line item in the budget after Redeemer is on its own?  We could be in a position to build a church planting fund ahead of the next need.

And, may we never forget, no matter how we plan, God may break in and do something beyond all our expectations.  Jesus will build his church.  Lets keep our eyes open and give ourselves to the work, whatever shape it has.

Posted on July 15, 2008.