We’ve officially be on the ground for a little over a month in Chattanooga. Since we’ve been here, we’ve had our second vision meeting, started our first small group/prayer meeting, and started a lot of new relationships with people here in the community.
While things have been challenging on the personal front for us; things seem to be moving full steam ahead for RiverChurch Chattanooga.
- We’ve started the process of incorporating as a non-profit corporation.
- We’ve assembled a small but very capable and integrous board.
- Our launch team continues to grow almost weekly
With these positive signs of moving forward we are met with new challenges and questions to be answered. The biggest one I’m praying about right now, is when to start meeting on the weekends, and when on the weekends should we meet. We have had a significant number of people express genuine interest in being part of RiverChurch but there Monday through Friday work schedules make it difficult for them to meet with us during the week. If we could meet on the weekend, we potentially have over 60 people who have said “We’d definitely be interested in being part of your church.” That’s a pretty good sized launch team. I really think God is giving me some direction about the when to meet issue. It could possibly be how we meet for a long time. It would be a significant deviation from what’s typical in this particular area, but I have a strong sense it may work. I also believe meeting at the time I’m feeling like we’re supposed to meet will significantly contribute to our ability to fulfill the vision God has given us as a church to make a lasting impact in our community.
Meeting time is a big issue, but meeting location is even bigger. There is a place that I’ve been looking at since we’ve been in town. I’ve driven through the parking lot almost weekly, praying that if this is the place God wants us to meet to please open the door for us to meet there. It has extremely long term potential for us, as it sits right in the middle of our target area of Chattanooga. I called the guy who owns it yesterday, and he’s only interested in selling it. But he agreed to meet with me and a couple of our board members tomorrow, yeah tomorrow (Friday June26). So I’m a little jittery about that. We can’t buy it, but like I said I really feel a connection to this place and believe this could be where God wants us. If it is, He’ll work something out.
One big piece that I feel like we need to be developing is our worship time. Especially when we begin to meet on the weekends. So, I’m praying that God will direct us as it relates to a worship leader. I’ve talked to a couple people and we’re waiting to see what God will do now.
So that’s an update on where we are. If you’re interested in knowing more about RiverChurch please shoot us an email at riverchurchchatt@gmail.com.
