555

What does it mean to be a disciple, a faithful Christ-follower? This is a question we ask regularly at theGathering Fort Mill, as we say our mission is to "form Faithful Christ-followers." Over the last several weeks in our study of John we have Jesus tell us a number of things about that:

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27

We are called to be witnesses, because of the things we have seen (experienced).

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16

We are called to go and bear fruit
We are called to ask (to pray)

Just a couple of thoughts from the last couple of weeks. As we have prayed through this and how we can begin to put feet to these ideas in a real and practical way, we are launching "555" this Sunday. We are very excited about this and hope that you will make the effort to be there.

Thanks,

Pastor Derrick

Holding on Loosely

A friend of mine used to tell me, "We need to hold on loosely to those things that were never ours to begin with." This was brought to my mind this week. We received a phone call from our landlord on Monday that the county was requiring sprinklers in our building for us to use it as an assembly space and that would cost $80,000, which they were not prepared to spend. So as of Monday, our space was going to be gone. My mind in a matter of hours went to nearly every possible outcome - from closing our doors altogether, to opening the long closed Fort Mill Schools for using their facility, the painful process of a new facility search, and even the possibility of having to move to a different town.

By the end of Monday evening, after I had exhausted my self with worry, God reminded me that the mission that he had launched us on--"To form faithful Christ followers, who live according to his teachings and live in authentic community," calling all of us to live on mission with him, and to pursue that every man, woman and child in Fort Mill with a chance to hear the good news of the gospel--had absolutely nothing to do with the building we have been in or will be in. Holding on loosely means for me, being reminded of the mission and renewing my commitment to pursuing that as passionately and faithfully as I am able as I am led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

By Tuesday, we received an email that the issue may not be dead and that our landlords are in discussions with the county on some possible alternatives. Since then we've heard nothing, and while we wait expectantly for more news and pray, my biggest prayer has been that I will pursue passionately the heart of God, to live on mission with him, and to "hold on loosely to those things that were never mine to begin with."


Pastor Derrick