It’s crazy to think of where Student Ministries has come from… A group of LifePoint moms started student ministry from scratch; Chris Woodard spent years growing and shaping it, and now student ministry is growing to the point of us being out of room! All the credit goes to God. He is behind all movement at LifePoint and as a staff, we try and be incredibly vocal about that point. God gets the credit; we just get to be a part of it. This building is another movement God is doing and as a student pastor, I am really excited about how God can use it. Whether it’s space for boys to be boys, a place where relationships can be built, or just room to have some crazy youth group fun, this building will be a great tool. Jesus will show up and lives will be changed.

While youth ministry often seems like just fun and games, space is such a huge deal in students’ lives. They need space to play, to learn, to grow. Students express themselves through fun and games and connect and grow through relationships. Both of those things require unique spaces. This building will allow for that to happen.

I am excited to see this space become a place where we can bridge worlds. What I mean by that is, often times students seem like they are from a different planet and what they really need is a connection to older wiser mentors and leaders. Like I said before, students learn and grow through relationships and they need those people around them. Everything in this building is going to be multi-purpose. This building can be a place where we can bridge worlds and begin to form those relationships. Our desire is to see students be a part of LifePoint Church and not become their own separate silo. But, it can be scary as a student, stepping into a world which you don’t understand…like Sunday morning service, this building can provide a bridge for them to make it easier.

This building is going to allow for fun to happen and Jesus to be seen. The goal of our student ministry is to invite students into a growing relationship with Jesus. While this might look different than on a typical Sunday morning, it is by no means less impactful. When students begin and continue their relationships with Jesus, the trajectory of their entire lives are changed. We need others to make this happen. You impact our students. Bumping into them on Sunday morning, encouraging them when you see them doing a good job, building relationship with them as you serve with them on teams–all of these things shape and change their lives. I am excited that this building will allow more of that to happen. God continues to work in the lives of our students and I love watching God work.

 

I love finish lines. A finish line means that your hard work has paid off. A finish line means that your training and sacrifice are over.  No more pain!  No more early morning workouts!  Finish lines very visibly communicate that you’ve met your goal.  I’m running in the Chicago Marathon this October, and – believe me – I’m already envisioning that finish line!  

There is nothing wrong with a finish line, as long as you’re looking towards the right one!  I still remember a half marathon that I ran years ago in Indianapolis. Just a few blocks from the finish line, the organizers had put up a huge banner congratulating the runners. The banner was meant to encourage us in the final quarter mile.  The problem, though, was that a lot of runners thought that this banner was the finish line!  Runners – who had seen this banner coming for blocks – were confused when they reached this spot (myself included).  Our tired bodies slowed to an achy stop; we looked around for help: “Is this it?”   

Honestly, that last quarter mile – once we realized that this wasn’t the finish line – was so difficult!  To physically and mentally gear back up after thinking that we had reached our goal was almost impossible.  

I’ve thought about this faux-finish line a few times as we’ve been gearing up for this building project.  I’ve seen too many churches settle for faux-finish lines: buildings, programs, money.  LifePoint, we have got to get this: this building is not our finish line. It is an important ministry tool in our toolbox – but it’s a means, not an end.  

Our goal is to make disciples. What excites me about this building is that I really do think that the right space can help us live out our mission. We envision a space that facilitates the Jesus Mission: an environment that is open and welcoming to the lost (reach); ministry space that allows us to respond to the real needs of our community (restore); a place for teaching, leading, and multiplying disciples (reproduce).

I can hardly sleep some nights… thinking about how we can effectively use this tool (the building) to help us extend the mission of Jesus further into our community and lead people into a growing relationship with Him. But we can’t settle for faux-finish lines. Let’s name them for what they are… and resist all impulses to stop short of who God has called us to be.  

At LifePoint, our staff regularly discuss “wins,” ways that they see God moving and working among the people at our church. In providing an update from the design team, I would like to share a few “wins” as I participate in this building process:

• We are starting with a great location! Situated right between our previous location at 18th and Harrison and our current location at 48th and Harrison, this new site at 39th and Harrison provides easy access and great visibility from both the east and west. The construction of the new school next to our property provides some fantastic ministry opportunities.

• We have selected a great design partner – architect Dave Wilde. With more than 25 years of experience in building and designing churches, his expertise as we go through the planning process has been invaluable.

• We are taking the time to do this project the right way. The design team is meeting regularly with Dave to review the plans, modify them and improve them. With each iteration, the plans get better and things that might have been missed get discussed.

• THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS NEVER LOST ON THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. I put this in all caps for a reason. This building is merely a ministry tool. Our goal is to make this building inviting and attractive to those who don’t know Jesus, and a place where those who do know Jesus can grow in their relationship with Him. As we discuss exteriors, interiors, and floor plans, we are discussing the impact these decisions will have on both believers and non-believers.

As a founding member and elder of LifePoint, I can’t adequately express how excited I am about this newest ministry tool that God is providing. God has been generous and faithful to this church body in the past, continues to be today, and appears to have exciting plans for our future. My prayer is that each of you will be in regular prayer for the elders, staff and design team as we work on this building project.