Moving Foreward...OH, WHAT A FEELING!!

(The Church is growing in Jellico and it feels great!)

by Stephen Meeks

At long last, the wheels of church growth are turning in a slow, but steady forward direction in our first church plant in Jellico. A Body of Faith has been born and OH! What a wonderful feeling it is. Let me describe it.

If you’re in business and after month or years of effort-- when a 40 hour work week would seem like a vacation-- you finally see a small, but sustained profit on the bottom line, and you have a growing, but strong sense that things are taking off, then you’ve got a idea of where the Jellico church plant is now.

If you’ve ever gone exploring in an unfamiliar forest, reached some point in its deepest parts, realized you’re tired and thirsty, that the day is waning, and the way out is not clear and then, just short of reaching a point of panic, noticed a familiar looking sign that reassured you the way home was definitely just ahead, then you’ve felt what we’re feeling.

Anyone who has ventured into new territory, unfamiliar waters, onto an uncharted path, or taken a solo flight…and broken through that very lonely period of dogged advance goaded by hope alone, pushed out of stiff-necked determination born more of inner convictions than tangible evidence, or drawn your energy from an oxymoronic confused-confidence that would not die understands where we’ve been.

All who have rejected failure, dismissed the nay-sayers, kept on and kept on and kept on, who have refused to quit until you finally broke clear and stepped onto a plane of solid rock evidence that proved you weren’t crazy after all, that your thinking was right, your hopes had merit, that your venture was worthwhile can relate to us today, and OH! WHAT A FEELING! WOW!

This new Body of Christ in Jellico we have hoped to birth has at last been born. It’s very much its own person, though we are coaching and training, it is not us…it is Him, and we are delighted to be a part.

Our rock solid evidence is the fruit being born by the members. The Body is producing good works fitting those who hold the keys to life. The poor are served. The sinner is loved. The Believers are encouraged. The lost are led to Christ. Families are strengthening. God’s Word is being consumed. Prayers are lifting in increasing numbers, duration, and intensity. Worship is exhilarating and sincere. Forgiveness is extended. Reconciliations are happening. Drug abuse is being overcome (PRAISE GOD THE GREAT KING!!!), Sexual immorality is stopping. Men are falling in love with their wives. Children are growing to respect their children. Men are seeking godliness more than gold.  Women are respecting their husbands and trusting God to change them. Godly men are gathering throughout the community with a true and burning thirst for God’s Word for God’s will and for God’s visitation (at 6 a.m. on two mornings a week!!). The Kingdom of God is breaking through!!!! (And can I say, I’m crying just now? Tears. Real tears of joy!) It is so magnificent that it can only be God with us. The joy is too great. The relief too grand. The changes too impossible to be any other than Him. OH! WHAT A FEELING!

No, all is not perfect. I’m not saying it is. I’m saying that the bottom line is no longer red. The doubt that we’re on the right path is dissipating. Flight is beginning to be less frightening and more like freedom. That the baby has been born, pregnancy has passed and at last the work of our hands and hearts is proving worth the effort.

Congratulations to all of you who have “labored” these 12 years. Your faithful investment of prayers, time, money, and work have not gone unnoticed in Heaven nor unproductive on the earth. It’s a grand feeling to hold your newborn. First there is exhilaration, adoration, disbelief and relief. Soon, however, newborns begin to cry out for different kind of attention. Feeding, changing, training, etc. So, too, we’re shifting gears here. My time and energies will be devoted increasingly to building the Body and it’s leadership from this point. Stay with us. Pray with us. Continue to hope with us, the birthing is only the start. Let’s get this ‘baby’ on its feet and running….and when we do….OH! WHAT A FEELING THAT WILL BE!!