San Diego pastor calls his church to press on

San Diego, CA >> Grace Church has been working to get city approval to lease a vacant warehouse for almost a year. In September the city granted the church a seven-year permit to use the space, but a local planning agency is challenging that decision. Senior pastor Mark Lauterbach gave this update to his church on Sunday, October 8, and allowed us to publish it here.

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Mark Lauterbach:

This week we received word that the local planning agency in Rancho Bernardo has appealed our permit to use the building in the industrial park and that their appeal was accepted. Our hearing will be November 16th. It is supposed to be our final hearing.

When I received this news on Tuesday night, I must confess it became an immediate temptation to discouragement. A process that began a year ago and was to take six months is now almost twelve months old—a process that was to cost thousands is now costing so much more.

I saw this discouragement in my heart—and anxiety—and called a brother for help. I needed someone to bring me to see my sin clearly and to point me to the Savior. God gave this brother strong words!

As he spoke to my heart a passage came to mind, a passage that God used wonderfully in my own soul—and one that I share with you to encourage you.

Acts 4 tells of opposition to the gospel in the early church and how they responded.

1. Opposition to the gospel mission is part of the gospel mission. Government powers have often been against the church. Their opposition to the gospel began with their opposition to Christ and we are just part of the same story—aliens and sojourners on the earth.
2. The church prayed as their first response—all of them. It is a prayer rooted in the resolution to press on with the gospel mission. They see a sovereign God working all things, and even their opponents are doing what God planned. The church prays for persistence in their mission with the gospel and for God to work in a way that shows to others the glory of Jesus.

The early church seems to say this to us: Others may oppose the gospel, but the Lord gives us courage to press on.

God has called us to press on and to ask for his hand in our lives as we continue to build a church to the glory of God.

If you’re curious about the rest of the story, check out these past Family News articles to catch up:
May 24, 2006: “Warehouse, vacant for six years, can’t be rented?”
May 16, 2006: “Praying for God’s favor”

Grace Church has also been featured recently in their local media:
September 27, 2006: “RB board opposes church in business park” (Rancho Magazine)
September 21, 2006: "Rancho Bernardo planning board to appeal church's permit" (North County Times)
September 15, 2006: “Church gets city backing for move” (San Diego Union-Tribune)