In the last week, things have been fairly quiet. We continue to receive items from our Relaunch Shopping List. At this point, all but three of the most crucial priorities have been secured. These three items are all larger ticket purchases, so it is expected that they will take a bit longer to secure. If you are still thinking of purchasing items off the list, please make sure to check what has already been purchased!
Next week will mark one month since NFC launched in-person meetings. During that month, leaders have focused on organizing all of the various resources that we took for granted in the past. This has also involved some serious reflection on what is really essential to being a church. The verse which has driven this has been Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” In this verse, Jesus made clear that his followers do not require all of the accoutrements to be an effective church. Rather, even a small group of people huddled together in his name is enough when Jesus shows up.
To date, our meetings have been small. We continue to love and pray for those who have gone out from us. May they be blessed, and be a blessing, wherever they land! Equally important, we remember that the Church began with just a handful of saints who resolved to share the good news that Jesus was alive with the people around them. In fact, the vast majority of congregations founded over the last two thousand years have a similar origin story. Every church mentioned in the Bible met primarily in homes, and it was not until the fourth century that the first dedicated church building appeared. Even our own church had its origins when a single family moved from Michigan to Iowa! The size of the church at its start is of little consequence as long as the saints are seeking God and sharing the good news that Jesus is alive with the people around them. In the coming weeks, we will begin exploring what that should look like at New Foundation Church!
In the next week or so, leaders from NFC expect to meet with representatives of New Hope UMC to discuss how the first month of meeting in their space has gone and plan for the future. NFC is profoundly grateful for the opportunity they have given us and excited to continue to develop this relationship in the future!