Back on track...

Jeff finishing up all painting...

New volunteer Shelly cleaning up sanctuary...

Cleaned up sanctuary...

Rick to work on our Information Center makeover...

Huge mill work shop in NV...

General Contractor and architect hard at work...

My daughter pitching in...

My sons moving library shelves...

Pastor Joel and students atop lumber mountain...

Serene setting to close out a great day!

Today was a great day!

Lots of great progress on Wednesday. Our rebuild is back on track and moving again. First, there were some things to do in the "command center" upon arriving at the church. My daughter joined me as well. She just loves to be involved on HOPE Outreach Center work days. Remember, it won't be long before she and all her brothers are back in school for the fall semester!

We had our painter here finishing up last minute jobs in the whole new wing. He painted the mechanical room, two drywalled repair areas, and lots of window casing second coats. It looks really nice in all of these areas. Just wait for the new flooring and WOW...it's going to look sharp!

Then the youth joined Pastor Joel and myself in moving all of the "stuff" out of the sanctuary and foyer areas. Lots of items were located in these areas after the flood and during the rebuilding stage. We are finally at the flooring stage of the rebuild in the new sanctuary wing...finally! There were several large wood stacks in the sanctuary. This is what was salvaged off of the old pews damaged in the flood. So our youth and Pastor Joel worked hard in moving all of this wood to a storage area off of our ministry campus. It will be greatly used in future projects. Can you say "shelving" and "VBS props/sets" and "Royal Ranger campsite furniture" and "you name it...we'll need it!"

Huge thanks to Jennifer Steinbach and Jim Vester for painting behind the baptistery. This part had to be done by our church volunteers and Jennifer and Jim rose to the occasion. Thanks so much!!

HOPE Outreach Center volunteers were serving people faithfully again today. We are OPEN three days each week and today was one of those days. So proud of our church people for their compassion and love demonstrated in their outreach ministry! They love to serve others in Jesus name.

Next I had a meeting with our general contractor and architect in charge of designing our new toddler wing space and complete basement square footage area. This was a huge project in trying to bring our old buildings up to code and provide functional and useable space in previously unfunctional and unuseable areas. Louis, our creative architect, was up for such a task! He has come through with a well-thought out site plan for all of our church-wide ministry functions. Kudos to Louis...great job!

After showing it to my leaders there were only a few minor changes and then we should be good to go. We all can't wait to see what the finished product will be. One thing we know for sure...we will have a much more functional and creative regional worship center to see lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ!! Thank you Lord for bringing so many positives out of this disaster that could have literally sunk our ministry ship. The additions and updates will be fantastic. You will have to come and tour our new regional ministry center when we are all done. Don't forget to drop everything and drive over to our Grand Re-Opening and Dedication Service when we finally are able to schedule it. It will be all for the glory of our Great God!!

Don't forget that WE INTEND TO DEDICATE THIS REGIONAL WORSHIP CENTER DEBT FREE because God is in charge of this master plan and He is leading us in this total faith venture! Go God!! You can help with your donation: www.columbusfirstassembly.org
(click the online giving feature option!). Thanks in advance for helping us to reach our faith goal!

Then it was a short road trip with my wife and daughter to North Vernon to pick out a new design color scheme for our outdated Information Center. Our center is going to get a beautiful MAKEOVER! You will see some pics of this huge facility that is also doing much (if not all) of the Columbus Regional Hospital's reception centers, doctor's & nurse's counters, etc. Again, an opportunity to improve a nice welcome piece in our foyer area and bring it up to the modern era. You will be pleased...trust me!

Tammy and I were scheduled for a road trip to a church up north, but this trip was canceled due to some unforeseen circumstances. It gave us an opportunity as a family to go to a friend's lake home and enjoy some time together. I also had the chance to go water skiing...it's been ages since I went with my family on our family vacations growing up. Great family night tonight! Thanks Lord for this wonderful and unexpected surprise...it was so relaxing and enjoyable!!

Looking forward to tomorrow. Many more progress updates will be shared with you. Hope you enjoy getting to visualize the progress made on our rebuilding phase. God is with us and we witness His activity each and every single day. God is such an awesome God. Make sure you get to know Him better each day. HE LOVES YOU DEEPLY! Remember, He is not far from you. He's right there by your side.

Love to all!