Greetings! I trust God is speaking to you in a personal and powerful way as we meet with Him in His Word, the Bible. If He has and you have a great testimony to share, please share that with us by replying to this email. Hearing what God is doing is always such an encouragement. As things begin to slowly open up again, most of you have probably heard that churches will be able to re-open and start meeting again. Hearing this, you might be wondering what we will do. I would like to share with you where we are at this time. In making decisions like these, and really any decision that concerns the church, there are key values we embrace, from the Bible that determines how we move ahead. We will not do something because of pressure, or because we have a strong desire, or even because everyone else is doing so. We make our decisions based on what we believe God is leading us to do. Does it always seem rational or logical? Not always. Does it always make sense? Not always. Are we always right in our belief of what God is saying to us? Again, not always. But we choose to seek God, first and foremost, in all that we do. A key passage in the Bible for us is Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This is vital in our decision making. I have often said to our leaders that we don’t need our opinions or great ideas; we need the mind and direction of the Lord. One of the challenges in making decisions is figuring out the right timing. It may be very clear God is leading us to do something. But the timing to do so, also requires much prayer and discernment. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us with God, there’s a time for everything.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”
I am always reminding myself that this is God’s church and how much He loves KCF. We need to see what God is doing and get behind that. Jeremiah 29:11-12 is a great reminder to trust God for His plans.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
With that as a preface, I want to share that we will not be reconvening on Sunday mornings at MCSA at this time. It could be a while until we do and quite honestly, what it looks like will probably be a lot different from what it was, a new wineskin. I know for some that is disappointing, for others, relief. But in seeking God these past few days, here’s why I believe this is His leading:
This is a new season and we need to know God’s plan for KCF as we move forward. I believe He is leading us to continue to be online, perhaps in greater ways moving forward. We need to know God’s purpose and plan for our time together on Sunday mornings. There is a new wineskin here.
We must not rush into something, but trust in God’s timing. We are not prepared to meet all the guidelines for being together. A rented facility presents major challenges in terms of the weekly preparations needed for our meetings.
We are uncertain when the DOE will open their facilities for use of any kind.
As God always does, there are some wonderful things He’s done, especially in the lives of those who have sought and put their trust in Him. We must all ask ourselves three, very significant questions:
What have I (we) gained during this season?
What don't I (we) want to lose as I (we) go forward?
What am I (are we) going to do with what I’ve (we've) gained in this season?
It is very important for everyone to answer those questions as we move ahead. In my Bible reading today in Philippians 1:9-11, God spoke in a clear way.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Moving forward, I would like to ask all of you to pray for God’s family here at KCF. Please pray our love for God would abound more and more so that we would be able to discern what is best and right for KCF as we move forward. We really need to know God’s leading, direction, plan and timing, and frankly, there is no better way to live than that. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future! Mark