Written by Roy Gruber, Lead Pastor
There is a story of a man who used to go to work at a factory and every day he would stop outside a clockmaker’s store to synchronize his watch with the clock he saw in the window. At the end of several days, the clockmaker stopped him and said, “Excuse me. I see that every day you stop and adjust your watch with my clock. What kind of work do you do?” The man said, “I’m embarrassed to tell you this, but I keep the time at the factory nearby and I have to ring the bell at four o’clock every afternoon when it is time for the workers to go home. My watch doesn’t work very well, so I synchronize it with your clock.” The clockmaker said, “I’ve got some bad news for you. My clock doesn’t work very well either, so I synchronize it with the bell that I hear from the factory at 4:00 every afternoon.”
When it comes to knowing the correct time it is important to synchronize with an accurate source. What time is it for WHC? Thankfully, we have God’s perfect setting to synchronize us.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says this about His church, “…upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” What do Jesus’ words tell us about the nature of the church? First, the church is founded and centered in the person and work of Jesus. Peter had just made the crucial confession that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God. Jesus is the hope of the world! That is our message, our hope, and our focus.
Second, the church is called to play offense, not defense. In this passage Jesus refers to the “gates of hell.” Gates were a defensive tool in that day. Hell is postured defensively as the church advances with God’s grace and power. Victory means the census of hell is decreasing and the census of heaven is
increasing as people put their trust in Jesus. The church exists not as a fortress to keep the world out but moves forward to impact our world with God’s love.
What does this mean for Washington Heights Church at this time? Our leadership believes the time is now to make significant renovations and additions to our site. What major components will be part of this project?
Children: We will add Children’s Ministry space, unify the location of all children, and create a safer environment.
Youth: We will renovate the lower level of the newer building to provide prime and ample space to make real the value we place on our students.
Worship: We will make our auditorium more functional for worship and the diverse programs we offer throughout the year. We will also add technology that prepares us to become a multi-site church, which means one church meeting in more than one location.
Guests: Newcomers have told us that we do not have a clear entrance and that it is difficult to connect to our many opportunities.
Early in 2010, we will enter a capital stewardship journey (CSJ) to raise funds for this effort. Instead of a time that centers on finances alone, we long to make this a prayer journey on which each of us hears from God about what He would have us do. I truly believe this will be a spiritual adventure that is not primarily about buildings, but making an impact in our community for God’s sake!
