The Building Is Just The Beginning Are You Ready

On the opening night of our new home at Barmby Gate, Pastor Dom O'Connell asked a question far bigger than bricks and mortar: are you ready? Walking through God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, we discovered that God's people are called to be burden bearers, blessing receivers and blessing carriers. Abraham was told to go before he was shown where — because the destination isn't always disclosed before the obedience is required. In the same way, our church has stepped out without a map, trusting the faithfulness of the One who called us. But a finished building is not a finished mission. Standing at the Jordan in Joshua 3, God's people were told to consecrate themselves, because tomorrow the Lord would do amazing things among them. We can have every light working, every carpet tile laid and every rota filled, and still not be ready ourselves. The promise is bigger than the property. This isn't the finish line — it's the place from which we go. So we honour those who carried the burden, we receive the blessing God has provided, and we set our hearts apart for whatever He wants to do next in Newark and beyond.