:: AIP#60 - Gratitude ::

"'Thank you' doesn't nearly cut it. But that's all I know to say."

That's how I wrapped up a quick speech last week, with new friends at a fellow church plant in Las Colinas. Here's the story:

Urban Hills Church celebrated its one-year "birthday" on September 27. A gathering of about 60 people arrived to Las Colinas Country Club at about 10am, mingling and enjoying a special one-year bagel feast. After a few songs, Urban Hills's pastor Caleb Southerland welcomed everyone and explained that the day was different - simply, their church was celebrating what God had done in the past year.

And that's exactly what they did. As this family discussed their short history, I found myself in a state of wonder: "will this be The City Church on a Sunday not too far away? What will we say as we celebrate our first year?" The Urban Hills folks celebrated everything from Sunday sermons, impacted lives, letters from Maryland thanking them for their far-reaching impact, and God's work in groups and in the city they're in. It was a great celebration indeed.


So why was I there?

I have gotten to know Caleb over the past several months; we have a shared vision, and he appreciates the steps The City Church is taking in downtown and across Fort Worth. And he had called me the week before their One Year, telling me that as part of their celebration, they wanted to display their heart for the gospel and kingdom, spreading far beyond Las Colinas. Part of that heart was saving money over the course of the year, to be donated to a church plant they believe in. By God's grace, they chose The City Church.

So last Sunday, I stood in front of their church family and accepted a check. A check for several thousand dollars. A check for several thousand dollars from a 60-person, one-year-old church. A check that many larger, more established, longer-running churches would balk at giving away. I was humbled, honored, and honestly, more than a little overwhelmed at their generosity.


To The City Church: the Urban Hills church family is a model of generosity, kingdom-focus, and selflessness that we would be wise to follow. I hope that before too long, and no matter our size or "how established" we are, we can be giving generously to expand the kingdom outside our own mission field, in and around Fort Worth and across the world.

To Caleb, the decision-makers, and the Urban Hills family: Thank you for modeling Christ, generosity, and believing in us. I still don't know how else to say it, so "thank you" will have to do.