renovate

I don't remember how much I've put on this blog about the church plant that we have begun, but over the last six or seven months, we've been meeting with about a dozen friends, deepening our spiritual formation and developing community among us with the goal of planting an emerging church in Fairmont, WV.

 

We desire to be a different church than what is normally expected.  We want to be highly participatory and experiential in our worship, as well as having a heart for those who just don't fit in conventional church or organized religion.

 

Well, we've finally come to a place where we named our church.  It was quite a journey, but I believe we've found a name that speaks to our mission and our purpose of being:

 

renovate

 

The word renovate means 'renew or restore to as as-new condition.'

 

The name comes from a verse in Isaiah 58 in the Message version of the Bible.  It reads:

 

"You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again." 

(Isaiah 58:12, The Message)

 

It is our desire as a church to live out this scripture and to use the past to propel us into the future, a future of rebuilding and renovating, opening the message of grace and the Kingdom of God to everyone.  We desire to be a community full of grace and to become partners, companions, with others on their walk with God as we make the community of faith livable again.

 

Thought I'd share with you the good news.  From time to time now, I'll give updates on what renovate is doing.  Pray for us!