Sometime in March of 1997 I preached my first message at Ridglea. My dad had
just passed away and God had made it clear to me that He was sending me to
Ridglea Heights Baptist Church to be their Pastor. The church did not yet know
this and it would be another six months before they would extend a call to me to
come and pastor. In that time God had given me a vision of what He wanted. I
even still have the card in my desk where I wrote this:
200 in Sunday School
2 Morning Worship Services
100 in Discipleship
An educational building
Outreach to the community
Zero debt
We have crossed the 200 mark about twice in the past and now we are fast approaching it as the new weekly average. We have two morning services, some days full. Many weeks there are more than 100 in disciple making classes and we have a very beautiful and well-used multipurpose building. We did make it zero debt but soon thereafter built the new building. In numerous phases we have made new education spaces as well as increased parking by about 400%. But we are not through yet!
God has called us to make disciples who make disciples. As we do we are growing numerically and spiritually by leaps and bounds. In the early days I would sometimes say, “I want to be at a bigger church. I want Ridglea to be that bigger church.” Now it is! Please pray with me. We desperately need funds to finish the three classrooms currently under construction. Then we are going to need nearly a million dollars to build a new sanctuary in the very near future. God has a very big vision for His church at Ridglea. Let’s pray, make disciples and be missionaries. Know that God will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail.
200 in Sunday School
2 Morning Worship Services
100 in Discipleship
An educational building
Outreach to the community
Zero debt
We have crossed the 200 mark about twice in the past and now we are fast approaching it as the new weekly average. We have two morning services, some days full. Many weeks there are more than 100 in disciple making classes and we have a very beautiful and well-used multipurpose building. We did make it zero debt but soon thereafter built the new building. In numerous phases we have made new education spaces as well as increased parking by about 400%. But we are not through yet!
God has called us to make disciples who make disciples. As we do we are growing numerically and spiritually by leaps and bounds. In the early days I would sometimes say, “I want to be at a bigger church. I want Ridglea to be that bigger church.” Now it is! Please pray with me. We desperately need funds to finish the three classrooms currently under construction. Then we are going to need nearly a million dollars to build a new sanctuary in the very near future. God has a very big vision for His church at Ridglea. Let’s pray, make disciples and be missionaries. Know that God will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail.
