The Next Thing Now

It has been a full 48 hours since Freedom Christian unveiled the incredible opportunity to expand into a multi-site church campus. I personally still find much of it difficult to fathom. God’s timing, His faithfulness, and His provision have all left me, and I’m sure most of our church family, absolutely speechless.

But in the midst of all this newness and as we all prepare for a whirlwind of change to come about, there is another constant, amazing idea of faith that has left me in awe.

Many of us know the story of the woman who reached out to touch Jesus’s robe, and was healed because of her faith. Many of us know the story of Hagar, the struggling servant whom God saw. Many of us know of the Israelites, wandering the desert and waiting on God before arriving at the Promised Land. Many know the story of the gospel—the fulfillment of a prophecy given to the entire world by a God of faithfulness. Few of us might realize that this Sunday, we SAW all of these stories take place.

Though in the coming months there will be a relaunch, and our congregation will pour into our new Washington campus, this journey did not begin with us at Freedom Christian. It began with the unmovable faith and dedication of 8 people. 8 people in a church in Washington Twp., MI refused to stop gathering together in worship, even in the face of adversity. 8 people were so severely committed to God’s will, to each other as the body of Christ, and to remaining a place where those in their area could come and meet Jesus, that they would not abandon their corner of the Kingdom of Heaven.

If I learn nothing else in this life, I hope the one thing I do learn is how to have faith like that. In my lifetime there have been very few circumstances in my faith that have required such a clear display of dedication and steadfastness. In the face of all of the preconceived notions about my age group, or Western Christianity, or this “stay until it doesn’t make YOU happy” culture we live in, I pray I learn to be constant. I pray I know how to wait on the Lord and walk in understanding that I built my house on the Rock, no matter the weather or conditions. In all of the excitement and steps we have in front of us, I pray not one of us forgets the faith of a few that brought this opportunity to many.

 I pray our walls echo with solidarity and unwavering commitment and unity to the things of God.

I can’t help but wonder, if my faith were Moses’s, would the Israelites still be in Egypt? If I were the woman, would I have traded avoiding the chaos to be ill on my own terms? Would I have seen the God who sees me? So I urge you, church, join me in reflecting on the challenge these 8 wonderful men and women of God have presented to us to live a life of faithfulness. 

Written by: Brianna Vanderveen

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly