Wet weather can't dampen our spirits!

It might be one of the wettest summers we've had in recent memory, but our enthusiasm cannot be dimmed!

If you've driven by lately, you couldn't help but notice the large steel beams now in place on the concrete pad. The outline of the building is beginning to be visible from Hwy 160 as more and more steel is set. The rainy start to this week has slowed progress somewhat, but the workers are expected to be back on the job Wednesday, weather permitting.

Please continue to pray for the safety of all who are working to construct our new Worship Center. We want to be a blessing to them as they are blessing us with their skills.

We have a firm foundation!

In the wee hours of Friday morning, before the sun even peeked above the horizon, our construction crew was busy at work pouring the concrete pad which will be the foundation of our new building. In the midst of the darkness, they were awash in brightness brought in just for the purpose of lighting their way as they worked in the pre-dawn hours to beat not only the heat but the forecasted rain to complete the task as scheduled. As several people mentioned on their way in to services Sunday, "Now it's beginning to look like a building!"

As I reviewed the pictures of this amazing process, I couldn't help but think how true it is for us as followers of Christ. We, too, have a firm foundation, but one that wasn't poured with human hands. Our foundation is Christ, the stone the builders rejected which has become the capstone. "For in Scripture it says, 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (I Peter 2:6) We never have to be concerned about the future of our foundation, whether it is built to last or will fail to support us in the coming years. As long as our hope is built on the foundation of Christ, we can face whatever the future may hold without fear.

We, too, are workers united in a common purpose and laboring in a dark world. Yet we, too, are illuminated by the light of Christ as we "shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." (Philippians 2:15-16)

I could draw more parallels between the "unsuitable" soil we have had to remove from the site (including the long-buried manure pile we inadvertently uncovered) and the unsuitable soil we sometimes find in our own hearts, those pockets of sin we try to hide until the Spirit excavates them for our cleansing, or the "good" soil we have had to bring in to prepare the site for the foundation and the good soil of a heart eager to receive the life-changing indwelling of Christ. I could even point out the correlation between the delays due to rain and the storms we face in life, both of which require patience and prayer to persevere. But I think I'll stop here.

As you watch each new stage of construction on our Worship Center, stop and consider the construction process that's been going on in your own life since you met the Cornerstone. I'll bet you find some parallels of your own. If you'd care to share, email us at info@aldersgatechurch.com or comment on this posting.

The scoop as of Monday, July 6

The foundation is complete and the plumber and electricians are working on getting all of the under-slab piping and conduit in place before they pour the concrete slab. They will be bringing in base rock in the next day or so and hope to pour the concrete slab by the end of this week. After that, we will start to see steel arriving onsite around July 15th. The workers are also getting ready to start trenching for the storm water piping and the fire sprinkler contractor has been installing his water main to the building.

If all goes according to plan we should start seeing steel going up by the end of the month. Before long it will begin to look like a real building!

Our thanks to Flintco for filling the crater in the center lane of the driveway with gravel until later in the process when the driveway can be redone, and for making sure we have a walkway cleared between the CLC and Aldersgate House.

Our continuing thanks to the families who are parking at Wal-Mart and taking the shuttle bus to worship on Sundays. Your flexibility and cooperation during this process is greatly appreciated! Thanks also to our volunteer bus drivers who keep making the loop until everyone is returned to their vehicles each week.

Let's keep praying and showing hospitality to one another and everyone who comes to this church we call Aldersgate.

There she goes!

Yes, indeed, our parking lot is now about half what it once was. In the continuing construction process, another large chunk of asphalt has been removed today to make way for further development of our new Worship Center.

What does this mean for us?

First, we have no sidewalk or walkway between the Christian Life Center and the Aldersgate House. All Sunday School classes or groups meeting in Aldersgate House will need to exercise a great deal of caution in making their way across the grassy slope to the building. Flintco has assured us pouring new sidewalks to restore easy access is a top priority, but cannot take place until certain other steps are completed.

Second, our available parking for Sunday worship services is now roughly half what it was before construction began. The paved area now ends at a line roughly parallel to the entrance to the CLC. All points south of that line are bare dirt. Several families have already made the switch to parking at Wal-Mart and taking the shuttle bus to services and we would encourage as many more as possible to follow in their steps. (Parking at the back of our lot in the dirt area is no longer advisable as it is part of the construction zone.) In the spirit of radical hospitality, let's leave the remaining parking spots for our guests, the elderly, families with small children and any others who would have difficulty riding the shuttle bus.

In addition, you may have noticed the developing crater in our one remaining driveway. This is due to the heavy equipment which must use that entrance. Ray, our Flintco construction foreman, has assured us the damage will not only be repaired, but the driveway actually improved with a deeper, more solid rock base before being repaved. But, again, the repairs must wait until the traffic causing the damage has ceased. With this in mind, please be careful when entering or exiting our property. The crater is in the middle lane of the driveway (the lane used by vehicles who are exiting our property and turning left) and may cause traffic to move slower on Sunday mornings, so your vehicular courtesy will be much appreciated by all.

In light of this stage of our current progress, PLEASE remember to exercise caution at all times when you are on any part of the property! We are smack in the middle of an active construction zone. Also, please continue to exercise patience in the midst of our temporary inconveniences. It may get worse before it gets better, but it will all be worth it and more when we worship together in our new building this winter!

Let's keep praying and consider how we can show radical hospitality to the work crews as well. We've already received comments that we are the most pleasant group to work for, so let's build on that good foundation and love any of these guys who don't know Jesus right into the kingdom!

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Check out that footprint!

As the footings take shape it is becoming easier to see the footprint, or outline, of our new Worship Center! With the dry (and did I mention WARM!) weather we have been having, our construction crew is making good progress. Step out to the sidewalk leading to the front door of Aldersgate House and take a gander next time you're here. (But please do not venture further than the sidewalk in order to stay clear of the active construction zone.) You'll be pleasantly surprised at the view!

Although the warm, dry weather is making construction easier, the heat is a concern for the heatlh our workers. Let's continue to lift them and their welfare up in prayer.

The footings are going in!

Although we got some rain over the weekend, the workers were back onsite bright and early this Monday morning to continue their work on the footings. At this point, we're not sure if the next step will be pouring the concrete pad that will become the foundation or if we will see some actual steel being erected, but we are definitely moving forward!

Please continue to remember safety protocol and keep clear of the construction site. (If you want a good look, you can stand on the sidewalk leading up to Aldersgate House, but please don't go any closer!) Also, please continue to pray for all the workers as they put their muscles to work for us!

Progress at last!

Practicing patience pays!

Yes, your eyes are correct. Those are concrete trucks you've been seeing this week! The workers have been busy preparing the footings (part of the foundation) this week. After digging the trenches, they then lay the steel reinforcing and pour the concrete. According to Billy Kimmons, our architect (check out his blog with the link at left to find out more about him and his work), they are also setting anchor bolts and will begin erecting the steel framing for the building as soon as all the concrete is in place. We are so excited to see they are making good progress this week!

With the incredibly wet spring we've experienced, it has taken longer than we hoped to get to this stage, but now we are seeing the beginning of some actual construction and spirits are rising. As the construction site get busier with more workers, please keep them all in your prayers for their safety and also that they may feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in this place as we include them in our reaching, teaching and enriching to an active faith in Jesus Christ.