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Dear Friends,
One of the things the Lord used to draw my family and me to Cornerstone, and to Huntsville, is the genuine sense of community that exists here. We love the people, and we love the body of Christ at Cornerstone! It has been a great joy being your pastor! I am equally thankful for how you have loved and prayed for my family. Thank you for supporting us during this transition time.
Cornerstone is blessed with these strong bonds of community and family, and because of this, I know the Lord has great things in store for us. I know we can face whatever challenges God puts before us. One of the more immediate challenges we now face is where the Lord would have us meet on Sunday mornings for worship and SundaySchool. As you have probably observed, we are running out of space at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. God has blessed us with many children and growing families, so the adult and child education space has quickly reached capacity.
In response, your officers have unanimously voted not to extend the current lease with FCPC at this time. We feel the lack of space, an above-market leasing price, and the desire to move toward a 9:30am service are reasons to renegotiate the terms of the lease with FCPC, and at the same time, search for a new location in the area.
The officers and I ask you to commit these items to prayer every day. Pray the Lord would lead us to the place where He would have us worship King Jesus and have an impact in the community. Pray we can work out more amenable terms with FCPC in the mean time. We also ask that you join with us in brain-storming and searching for alternate sites where we can meet on Sunday mornings. Gary Abernathy is leading the effort to find us a new location, and if you have any ideas or prospects, please contact him.
As many of you know, I served at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland, MS, for ten years. This May, Highlands will celebrate twenty years of being a particularized church. In the first five years I served at Highlands, Laura and I kept hearing the original core folks of Highlands talk about the "good ole days." The "good ole days" for these people were when the church met at various locations around town until the Lord provided a building for them. My friends, these are the "good ole days." These are the days that we get to pray fervently for God to use Cornerstone and lead us to a place where He would have us faithfully honor Him. Let us rejoice in these times and let us say, "I can't wait to see what God is going to do!"
And that reminds me of a Psalm of Ascent we will be studying in about a month.
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. (Psalm 126:1-3 ESV)
Your friend and pastor,
Wilson
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