Frederick, MD >> Fifty-five people enjoyed fellowship, good food, laughter, and “a sense of God’s delight in our gathering,” says Chris Silard, founding pastor of the new church in Frederick, Maryland, about its first team meeting on March 19. The warm and welcoming home of Stephen and Jane Price provided the context for members of the church-planting team to get acquainted and hear from Chris about plans for the Frederick church, as yet unnamed, that will be sent out this summer from Covenant Life Church (Gaithersburg, MD).
Read on for highlights, photos, prayer requests, and more…
A sense of joyful anticipation was evident from the moment people walked in the door, further enhanced by a “Getting to Know You” game that included the question, “Why are you excited about being part of the Frederick church?”
Greg and Rebecca Wilson, longtime members of Covenant Life Church, had been praying about being part of a church-planting team for 14 years. Vince Norman said he was excited about “seeing God’s sovereignty at work—my wife Amy and I moved to Frederick to get closer to Covenant Life Church, and now the church is coming to us!” B.G. Beall had prayed that God would bring direction at the meeting about whether or not he should become part of the Frederick church plant. Within five minutes after walking in, B.G. made his decision: he’s joining the Frederick church!
Even the announcements were exciting. Chris read a letter from a family who used to live in Frederick and gave $1300 for the church plant. He mentioned his hopes to have outreaches to the Frederick community in the summer, such as picnics or drink giveaways. The team will have an official sendoff from Covenant Life in July, with the first public meeting planned for September.
Before that happens, however, the team needs to locate a meeting facility that would seat 250 and include children’s ministry rooms. Chris asked people to pray that God would provide a facility that is attractive, affordable, accessible, and spacious, with plenty of parking, in an area that is open to the gospel. “I thank God for giving us a test like this (of finding a place to meet) at the outset.… James 1:2–4 reminds us that the purpose of testing is to produce a steadfast trust in God,” says Chris. “So we are praying that God would use this test to cause all of us (including me) to grow in trust and confidence in him.”
Chris says that God has graciously answered another prayer: the initial team includes people from several races and nations.
A question-and-answer session near the end of the meeting addressed a mission statement (similar to Covenant Life’s but tailored to the Frederick church), a statement of faith (probably identical to Covenant Life’s), the structure and leadership of care groups, the roles of youth and single adults in the new church, and how team members can “practice church” right now (by continuing to live out the gospel and praying consistently). The gathering closed with prayer and worship.
“This first official meeting of the beginning of a new church fills me with joy, anticipation, and faith for what God is going to do in saving souls and building lives by His transforming gospel of grace,” says Chris. “God has called us to do this together, and he will build us together to accomplish more than we could dare ask or imagine, as it says in Ephesians 3:20.”
Story by Tawn O’Connor. Photos by Jen Silard.
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