The Year to Rebound!

'09 CFA Vision Game Ball!

Taping compound

Fancy stilt shoes!

Toddler wing taped!

Sanding away...

Metal edge on stairwell wall

Ramp to foyer...

Toddler wing foyer space...

Hallway to toddler wing...

New exterior door

Toddler room

Church basement

Classroom wall

Last furnace to be installed...

New AC lines...

Bathroom walls...


New bath water lines...

More lines.

New vision theme was launched yesterday morning for 2009: This is "The Year to Rebound!"

2008 will be forever etched in the history books for our church, Columbus First Assembly. It is the rare occurrence to pastor a church that has just had their entire ministry facilities go under water. This happened on my "watch" as the shepherd of this flock. It was, and still is, an amazing journey of faith that we began on June 8, 2008 (the day after the Flood of 2008).

So as I prayed about the direction for this New Year the Lord laid upon my heart this new theme: 2009 will be The Year to Rebound! The overall plan and five-point strategy is stimulating and exciting. It got us all pumped up yesterday as I had the privilege of releasing the vision through the message yesterday morning. If you are interested in learning more about what we will be focusing on this year, plus the specific date of our CHURCH DEDICATION SERVICE, please visit our ministry website: Columbus First Assembly.

Work continues nicely on the remaining 50% of our church facilities. Right now the workers are finishing up the taping and joint compound phase for most of the rebuild areas. Plumbers have another day or two in finishing up the new bathrooms in the basement. Then they will begin work on the upstairs bathrooms (across from the fellowship hall). HVAC workers have another week or so in finishing up the installation of new furnaces and duct work. The last unit should be installed sometime later this week. Electricians are in and out, waiting for the other subcontractors to complete their work.

The Week of Prayer church gatherings were well received by our congregation. It was one of the best weeks we've conducted to launch a New Year since arriving in 2003. It clearly set the tone for the launching of the annual vision message this past Sunday. It was a fantastic service!!

It will remain the prayer of our church for God to perform a miracle in 2009 and provide the needed funds to finish this REBUILD PROJECT (as a result of the devastating flood) completely DEBT FREE! Some might say we are absolutely "nuts," but we truly believe that "all things are still possible when you have God on your side!"

Would you join us in praying this prayer? It would mean so much to everyone in our church if you would place this specific prayer request on your daily prayer journal. God is so much bigger than the costs associated with rebuilding a flooded-out regional worship center. Come on God...silence the critics who are waiting for this long faith journey to fail. GO GOD! Send in the needed monies to finish this lengthy rebuild completely debt free. We just can't wait to tell the world what YOU WILL HAVE DONE right here in Columbus, Indiana!!

It is a fun season to await the completion on the remaining 50% of our ministry space. Just think what we can do with all that space and the lives that we can touch for all of eternity! (And another WOW thought...we won't have to travel over to our borrowed church on an off night to conduct family night ministries either!!).

Keep the prayers coming and the comments being posted! I love to hear from you and know you are still with us in this awesome journey.

Let me sign off here. Love to all!