IMAGINE
IMAGINEis the name chosen by Point of Grace
for the entire effort to plan, fund, build, and fill
our first permanent ministry building!
(scroll down to see latest construction photos)
"Now to Him Who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations
forever and ever!
Ephesians 3:20-21
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
A VIDEO TOUR IS AVAILABLE for those who can't make it out to see things in person. It's not high quality, but it is recent (April 6th, 2008). Enjoy!
IMAGINE A MINISTRY CENTER...
...with a contemporary casual style that provides venues to experience God through live music, video and drama. A place where messages address your everyday life and people connect, building lifelong relationships in a relaxed, comfortable setting.
PHASE I Groundbreaking began in spring 2007. It is slated to be approximately 14,000 square feet, with the largest spaces allocated for a multi-purpose worship center and children's ministry area. It will also include a Youth Center, a Commons area with bookstore/coffee bar/meeting area and a small space allocated for the office/work area. All areas will be equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual technology. Some spaces will be personalized to the needs of specific ministries, while the majority of the building will be multi-functional for holding classes and worship services, to conducting meetings and seminars.
Front View
YOUTH CENTER- The Youth Center will offer a place wired with state-of-the-art audio/visual technology --- a place for youth discipleship and fun that encourages them to do life connected to Christ.
- COMMONS- The Commons will be the central gathering place at Point of Grace. It will have a coffee-cafe setting with a 'bistro' look and feel, guest service kiosks and a bookstore. The Commons will be a vibrant hub of activity, open daily. This will be a great place to connect, study, or just hang out and read a book.
- MULTI-PURPOSE WORSHIP CENTER- Our worship center will have seating capacity for nearly 400, while still maintaining an intimate relational and approachable atmosphere for worship. It will serve as a large meeting room and location for banquets, seminars, concerts and other special events.
- ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER- A shared office work environment will be located in a small area of the building that will house our ministry staff and provide networked workstations for volunteers.
Building Progress...
1st day of walls going up!
Front Lobby - Sheetrock - Yea!
Inside walls going up!
Back of Worship Center Wall
WE CAN IMAGINE...
... a church home so alive with the Spirit of Christ that we freely invite friends and family.
...an inviting children's playground where the community can bring their children to play while adults engage in Bible studies and activities, interacting with other REAL people in their walk with Christ.
...facilities that promote the youth to be themselves, freely expressing their thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams; interacting with youth group leaders while exploring God's great plan for their lives.
...worship facilities with state-of-the-art audio/video technology that enhances our ability to freely and joyfully praise God in song and prayer. A place where the amazing message of Christ's love and saving grace is heard and the presence of God is evident.
...a church that so embodies the ideal of the "Body of Christ" that everyone in the greater Austin area recognizes this church, at one of the great cross-roads of Central Texas, as a lighthouse beacon guiding REAL people to a place of connection with God's love and grace.
...a house of prayer!
...WHAT DO YOU IMAGINE?
IMAGINE
The OPPORTUNITY - The NEED
The population surrounding the church property increased by 245% from 1990 to 2004 and is projected to increase by 30.5% by 2009.
An estimated 60.7% of people in our community are not involved or only somewhat involved with their faith.
8 of 10 un-churched persons said they would come to church if they were invited...."Tell them," (Marian, a formerly un-churched person, begins) "that the world and satan will give them many reasons not to be bold in telling others about Jesus. They will even have many reasons not to invite someone to church...But tell them never to accept those excuses. The un-churched do want to be invited to church. The lost do want to be told how to be saved."
(quoted from Thomas S. Rainer's book, The Unchurched Next Door.)
IMAGINE THIS PICTURE - When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
(Matthew 9:36-38)
We are the answer to that prayer for this harvest field that surrounds us! When I see the rooftops, subdivisions, highways and bustling communities springing up around our church property and in the distance I can just imagine Jesus' gaze - His deep compassion for all people doing life far from Him. I think He is saying, "They are the harvest field, you are the workers-go for it!" -delton
IMAGINE
IMPACT - The DREAM
...HEARTS AND HOMES
In our brief history God has given us more than ample evidence that He can and will use Point of Grace to impact hearts and homes. Hard hearts are softening, cold hearts are awakening, and weak hearts are getting strong. The impact of our REAL God's love and grace on the heart of a REAL person coming into His presence in all their REALness must always receive the tear jerking affirmation of "Vison Realized - That's why we're here!" Because God chooses to use Point of Grace, thousands and thousands of hell-bound hearts will wind up in heaven!
God built us for relationships and in the context of REAL family life, God will use Point of Grace to pour out His Presence, Grace and Truth. Families will be impacted, marriages will be healed. Parents will get connected to their kids and old feuds will melt away as they are saturated with the impacting grace and power of God.
...NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
The affirmation, "We are glad that church is in our community because they are such a blessing" will be the consistent affirmation offered by mayors and councilmen, police officers and teachers, residents and HOA's, school counselors and principals in every neighborhood and community where a Point of Grace ministry exists. There simply won't be as many forgotten people, hungry people, lost and lonely people, because communities will be impacted wherever Point of Grace is present.
...REGIONS AND THE WORLD
There are no doubts in our minds that God is calling us to plant ministries and partner with others to impact the region and the world. As ministries are initiated with Point of Grace "DNA" they will discover how to impact the hearts and homes of their communities with commitment to impact their region and the world.
Then the impact is exponential!
"VISION REALIZED - THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE!"
REAL People Connecting to a REAL God
Dear Point of Grace Family,
I have watched God's amazing grace at Point of Grace over the last six years but never has it been as exciting as it is now! From the first gathering and Bible study in our home to worshiping in an elementary school, then a middle school, now a high school, and next year our own ministry facility - God has proven Himself. Whether it is through the challenges of reaching people in our community or the miraculous way we acquired 20 acres of prime real estate to call home, God has proven He is Big and "can do beyond what we can ask or even imagine!"
The immediate challenge God has laid before us is to construct a multi-purpose ministry building for us to more effectively "Connect REAL People to a REAL God." "IMAGINE" is the name chosen by Point of Grace for the entire effort to plan, fund, build and fill our first permanent ministry building! I am sure there will be many more building projects in the future but there will never again be the first one. And you and I get to be a part of it! God will build this much-needed ministry tool to His glory, but He will use every one of us to get the job done. He will use us to build it and then fill it in ways we can't even imagine.
Imagine is a word that impacts my heart with positive, hope-filled, God-sized visions for the future. The Bible says God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or even imagine. This new ministry facility will serve as a home for worship, teaching, youth and children's ministry, relationship building, ALPHA, etc. as well as a "central command" for outreach into neighborhoods, communities and this region of Central Texas. God has called us to this work. We will accomplish it and the result will be "more than we can imagine."
I encourage you to fully engage in the "IMAGINE" experience. This is an unprecedented time for us to grow in prayer, faith, obedience and giving. Do not miss this opportunity! Remember, God is calling each of us
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to pray for our church and mission to connect people to Christ,
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to faith that we can surrender our lives to God and then really begin living,
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to obedience to whatever Jesus calls us to do, and
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to give ways that are sacrificial, faith-filled, Spirit-led and very generous.
We have the chance of a lifetime!
Don't miss it!
Seize the opportunity to imagine!
-delton
