Before Jerry Falwell passed away in May 2007, he had built Thomas Road Baptist Church up to 12,000 and a Christian University of 35,000 students. He was a man of extraordinary vision and faith. In fact, I'm a Liberty seminary grad.
When I was young, my grandmother had a piggy bank with the words, "I Want That Mountain!" written on the side. My parents purchased a brick to help build the school. I always had the vision of Jerry growing up going squirrel hunting on Liberty Mountain, dreaming of what God could do there...
But you need to know the back-story. Because there are conditions that make or break a new church before it starts.
When Jerry graduated from Bible College at the age of 22, he wasn't dreaming of Thomas Road. He was on his way to Macon, Georgia to start a church. But 35 people from Park Avenue Baptist Church in Lynchburg convinced him to stay.
It was a case of ROLLING ROCKS and DEEP ROOTS. There was a remnant; there was a core; there was a group of people asking him to plant the church.
God is constantly at work developing root systems for new churches. If we're not careful, we'll miss it entirely. We'll try to initiate the work of God somewhere else, rather than join the one... right under our feet.
This is a series of posts based on my book Church in the Making (B&H, April 1) which explains what makes or breaks a new church before it starts...
1. GOOD GROUND
2. ROLLING ROCKS
3. DEEP ROOTS
After 8 years at Liberty do you have any idea how many times I heard that story? :) I Loved hearing Jerry tell the story!
Took me back - THANKS!
Posted by: Jim F. | March 08, 2010 at 10:36 AM