Thirteen years ago I got a voice mail telling us that the DC public school we were meeting in was closing because of fire code violations. It knocked the wind out of me. I didn't feel like a pastor yet. The church didn't feel like a church yet. We could have ceased to exist and only a couple dozen people would have known the difference. But those are the moments you need to hang in there so you can see what God is going to do! And God opened an amazing door of opportunity at Union Station. We initially met in the smallest theater and my big dream was that we would fill half of it so it didn't feel awkward.
Last week I got a similar call, but this time I was informed that Union Station management is closing down the movie theaters. So Sunday I preached my last sermon @ Union. Hard to believe. We did the math and I've preached at least a thousand sermons at Union Station.
Still processing lots of mixed emotions. I'm sad because Union Station is the locus of so many amazing spiritual memories. But I'm also grateful. God took us from a ragtag group of fifty people and turned us into a multi-site church with five locations. We've seen hundreds and hundreds of people find Christ there. And we've touched thousands and thousands of lives. But a chapter ends. And a new chapter begins.
We're exploring a variety of options. All of them would take a miracle! But who knows what God is up to. In the meantime, thank God we have a coffeehouse one block away.
On a interim basis, we'll move our three Union Station services to Ebenezers Coffeehouse starting next weekend. Despite the sadness and craziness, I have a holy anticipation about what's next. I'm sure of two things. I'll grow as a leader through this. And I embrace that challenge. And we'll grow as a congregation. It's not the way I would have written the script, but it's good for us. We're gonna follow the cloud and the cloud is moving! One of our core values is expect the unexpected. And I've been praying, "God, surprise me." This is part of God's plan. That is the one thing I'm sure of.
"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped."
Numbers 9:17
Last week I got a similar call, but this time I was informed that Union Station management is closing down the movie theaters. So Sunday I preached my last sermon @ Union. Hard to believe. We did the math and I've preached at least a thousand sermons at Union Station.
Still processing lots of mixed emotions. I'm sad because Union Station is the locus of so many amazing spiritual memories. But I'm also grateful. God took us from a ragtag group of fifty people and turned us into a multi-site church with five locations. We've seen hundreds and hundreds of people find Christ there. And we've touched thousands and thousands of lives. But a chapter ends. And a new chapter begins.
We're exploring a variety of options. All of them would take a miracle! But who knows what God is up to. In the meantime, thank God we have a coffeehouse one block away.
On a interim basis, we'll move our three Union Station services to Ebenezers Coffeehouse starting next weekend. Despite the sadness and craziness, I have a holy anticipation about what's next. I'm sure of two things. I'll grow as a leader through this. And I embrace that challenge. And we'll grow as a congregation. It's not the way I would have written the script, but it's good for us. We're gonna follow the cloud and the cloud is moving! One of our core values is expect the unexpected. And I've been praying, "God, surprise me." This is part of God's plan. That is the one thing I'm sure of.
"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped."
Numbers 9:17
25 Comments:
Every time I encounter something like this... God just seems to take everything to the next level... I understand the bittersweet... but I'm very excited for you guys... what a great adventure!
Mark, can you buy the theatres? Just curious?
We are meeting in a bar/restaurant right now and I feel like you did in the school. So.., we are looking; but it as you say is going to have to be a God thing! Prayin for ya man! Peace and One Love!
Richie
www.lvlegacy.org
An excellent sermon this weekend on Exodus 14. We have not yet given up on union station we still are praying and fasting as you suggested. That night the king could not sleep...Esther 6 JEJI
We are a church plant in Enfield CT and we've grown from 24 in Dec of 2008 to 147 two weeks ago. However, the hotel we meet in (which is AWESOME) is turning from a Crowne Plaza to a Holiday Inn and the new owners want over triple what we're currently paying. We simply can't do it. Therefore, the cloud is also moving for us. I'm trying hard to have faith and trust God through this situation. I keep telling myself that God didn't bring us this far for all of it to end. I'll be praying for you. Please say a prayer for me too. Thanks.
Mike Sorcinelli
www.newdaychurch.cc
Hey Mark, I was in KC last month when you spoke at CMA. Its so good to know that all of are on a journey of ups and downs, and its on this journey that the Kingdom of heaven continues to play out here on earth. thanks for your authenticity, its very helpful for those of us that are still at that rag tag stage...
PM,
This is so funny because the first thing that I thought when I heard about this is was that NCC is pulling up the tabernacle! Clearly God is moving NCC to a new place just as he did 13 years ago when NCC moved from Results gym to Union Station. NCC is the tabernacle of God and just like when the Israelites were in the desert, when the spirit of God moved, the Israelites picked up the stakes of the tabernacle and moved with it, NCC will pick up the stakes and find itself exactly in the place where God is. I know that no church community understands more than NCC that a church is not about a building, it's about people gathering and moving where the Spirit of God takes them. Excited for the next season...who would've dreamed what God did in the 1st!
Lindsey
Mark, thanks for sharing what's going on at NCC so that we can join you in praying. Thank you for also showing the rest of us that just because you guys have received some attention as a leader & as a church, you still have to deal with the same things that everyone else is dealing with.
Mark, the staff and leadership at FCBC will be praying for you guys.
Hey Mark,
As I was scrolling down to read everyone's comments, up comes in the right hand navigation 'Facing the Unknown' - Thanks for expressing and exposing your faith. I believe with you and NCC that God has something amazing in store.
Buy it! Seriously, why not? We have just started Epic Life Church here in Seattle, this coming Sunday is our third "Public" service. We are meeting in a local cinema and I am pretty sure it will be closing soon. I am praying that God gives the building to us and we can turn it into worship and discount movie house and promote date nights and family outings in this North Seattle community, of course there will have to be one insane infusion of money to go with that dream.
In the midst of this change NCC will stand still and wait for God, but God did not call you personally to wait very long to take some steps. Thank you for following the Spirit as you prepared your message for us last week. There is a difference between being paralyzed by fear (and possibly depression) and standing still and waiting for God. He called you to move and He guided your steps. As an 'older' person, I was struck by the powerful gift these circumstances are to the majority of people attending NCC. They have the great opportunity to experience God working through adversity early in their lives. Every time He amazes us we file it away and find it easier to trust and follow Him the next time.
I am grateful that the theatre management has always been supportive and the mandate to leave was not persecution of the Church. Satan wil try, but he is not getting a piece of this. Thank you for remembering those who are losing their jobs.
Praying for and with you.
I'm so grateful that God sent me back to DC two weekends before it closed. I wish I knew what was going to happen, but I'm glad I got a chance to attend one more service at Union Station. What a blessing!
Praying for you and your leaders. Been there too when the movie theater closed down. Tense weeks in all honesty, but God opened a better door - as we all know he will for you too.
Thanks for having the courage to share your journey with the rest of us. "Real" is refreshing in a day and age of self-promoting status updates/blog posts. Thankful God has raised you up to lead out for the Kingdom. Blessings to you and yours.
In the midst of all this God is sovereign . I can't wait to see what He has for you guys next...I will be praying.
Mark,
After three years, We are currently at our first semi-permanent location after meeting in 6 other locations as a church plant. (one of the locations was outdoors, by the way). I surely don't need to preach to you about being flexible, but I do want to encourage you that with each shift, the church will grow dynamically as a family. That kind of change forces us to mix it up and solve new problems by working together. With each step, our eyes are opened to a new group of people who need Christ and different people groups will be reached.
May God's peace be with you.
Praying for you guys Mark!
Praying for you and the NCC family! Thanks for exhibiting great faith and leadership!
Inspired!
We went through the EXACT same thing a year ago when our school that sat 250 adults in the cafe told us they were raising the rent to 10K a month. After we freeked out, in a matter of four months through some serious miracles on God's part, we moved into a former furniture store (37,000 sq. ft) in a shopping center and stepped out in faith to pay a lease we never imagined we could pay. Today, two months after the build out, we've almost doubled our growth. The cloud moved, we panicked when it did, but today, we are so grateful to God for the miracle. Pack up and hang on...God's about to do another miracle!
We went through the EXACT same thing a year ago when our school that sat 250 adults in the cafe told us they were raising the rent to 10K a month. After we freeked out, in a matter of four months through some serious miracles on God's part, we moved into a former furniture store (37,000 sq. ft) in a shopping center and stepped out in faith to pay a lease we never imagined we could pay. Today, two months after the build out, we've almost doubled our growth. The cloud moved, we panicked when it did, but today, we are so grateful to God for the miracle. Pack up and hang on...God's about to do another miracle!
Praying and believing for you and NCC! Never give up, you're an inspiration to many! Grace & Peace, Daryl
Mark, praying for you and your church. Thanks for sharing both this situation and the one when you were first starting. Our Church Requel grand opening service was last evening with 72 people. We're still rejoicing! We are meeting in a local conference center. But we know there are 6 Sundays over the next year when our location is not available to us. I'm already trying to figure out what we will do on December 27th. Reading that you and so many other commenters have gone through this same emotional roller coaster is actually comforting. I'm not alone. God is working and moving. My job is to follow. Thanks to you and to everyone else for sharing! Mark Pierce
Praying for your community of believers and the souls that will be reached for Christ as a result to your openness to His leading and changing of locations and circumstances. I look forward to hearing about the huge advances in the Kingdom through your corporate obediences to God's call!
Im praying for your move onward and upward! God has a plan for you to prosper you and not harm you. Hold tight to the hand that leads you even if you dont know what the hand is doing trust the heart that is endearing to you. God is with you so who can stand against you. In His Love and Care, Mary
Mark
Sorry to hear about you guys losing the theatres but that only means that God is putting new wine in new wineskins for you and NCC! Praying for you bro!
Matt
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