Many thanks for your continued prayers over our church, the steering committee and the building expansion. God is so faithful. As the committee met and listened to several unbelievable architecture firms in the interview process July 11, we were so grateful to have so many qualified candidates ready to serve our church as we considered our expansion. After the interviews and by unanimous vote we were able to narrow to two options. The committee continued to discuss these two firms hoping to find the answer in the same day, but remaining true to God’s leading, we were unable to see clearly to His appointed one and needed more time.

So we continued to gather information on both firms, by checking references, researching and praying. We added a meeting July 17 and after much discussion, vetting and prayer, the committee unanimously agreed on one firm to engage in the design process. Praise the Lord! The committee will be providing that update to the congregation soon.

We are so unbelievably grateful that our committee members could discuss openly and freely what each heart saw as important to the process and decision. While the committee did not always agree, God protected our connection and our unity as only He can. It was a beautiful display of how the body can work, each part bringing a different perspective, experience, insight and gifting, yet allowing the Holy Spirit and God the ultimate direction. We believe we honored God, laid everything at His feet and allowed Him to lead the entire process while working to advocate for what He put in each team member’s heart. Praise God for giving us GREAT options in the first place, protecting the discussions and then revealing to us the path to take.

“Father God, You are so faithful. You are Provider. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to reach more people for Your kingdom. We cannot believe Your continued blessing on Central Church. We exist to glorify You in all we do. As we negotiated these past few weeks of interviews, deliberation and decision… we felt Your presence and help in the difficult conversations and outcomes. We saw You working in each person as a part of Your church body. We recognize You delivering unity, peace and fellowship through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. You placed each person on the committee for a purpose to represent the broader church and each did their part. We give You thanks for allowing us to share in Your work in the world. You are so good. Your love for Your church is evident. As Your beloved we cover this process in prayer and humbly say thank You for the wonders of Your love and power of Your presence.”

Please pray Psalm 150:1-6 that begins and ends with Hallelujah!

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

Many thanks to you our Central body for continuing to join us in prayer over the road ahead for building expansion. As servants of Jesus, we are honored and humbled to be a part of the story God began writing in 1883 with the beginnings of our church. 

The committee has continued to gather every two weeks. Sub-groups continue to work on the many tasks related to congregational communications and building details working to the ultimate goal of offering what the Lord would deem as the best plan to move forward for the future of Central Church. 

As you can see in the meeting notes, our last gathering included the team from the architectural firm TSP.  The three leaders from their firm designated to work on our proposal are Chase, Michelle and McKenna. Our time with TSP, while it followed an agenda, was grounded in our mission to help share the love of Jesus with our relational world. We identified some user groups that will begin engaging with input on the current needs and future dreams of what Central could be for the city of Sioux Falls.  As our city continues to grow, we desire a place that God can accommodate everyone who will come hear of the Savior who saved us all. 

Zechariah 8:7-9 This is what the Lord Almighty says, “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” This is what the Lord Almighty says, “You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who where there when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty, let your hands be strong, so that the temple may be built.” 

In the coming weeks, we will also begin interviewing for the Construction Manager who will play a pivotal role in the implementation, execution and timelines for the proposal. 

Our greatest need is for God to provide CLARITY in every aspect of this very pivotal time. We need His will to be clear for the direction over His land and buildings. We need His anointing over the people selected to lead design and execution. We need His heart to be revealed to His people in our church of how to be engaged as the body. We need Him to continue to draw the lost to Himself and set the captives free. 

Zechariah 8:20-23 This is what the Lord says; “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ Any many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat Him. This is what the Lord Almighty says, “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard God is with you.’”

Let’s Pray:

“Thank you Father for the continued blessings you are pouring out on our Central family. You have been so faithful and righteous to us, we are humbled by Your love. Because Your people sought Your heart at every turn, Central Church still exists today as a strong, vibrant body hoping to glorify You and  continue expanding Your kingdom. In obedience to Your nudging, we move another step closer to the physical expansion of Your church. We humbly request Your continued wisdom, supernatural direction and Holy Spirit inspired clarity. We set before You… Chase, Michelle and McKenna with all the gifts you have given them as an architect, project manager and interior designer. We ask that you touch each heart and engage the Holy Spirit in their work on this project. As we engage TSP with some core groups who can help us create a potential plan for our church body to consider, have Your Way, lead us to the plan that will allow every man, woman and child a seat in Your worship center, classrooms and gathering spaces. We pray for a clear path to the Construction Manager You have in mind. We pray for continued unity for the steering committee, elder board, church staff and congregation. You have called the Central body together for such a time as this to engage with the work You are doing in the city of Sioux Falls and we hope to see clear to Your desire, Your will and Your plan. You first invited us to be a part of the family here and we hope to create a space that allows You to continue inviting other lost souls to find You as well. May people pull at us and say, ‘let me come with you because I have heard God is with you.’ Come Lord Jesus release Your power in our hearts, Holy Spirit have Your way in our direction, Father God provide Your clarity and to You be the glory and honor and power, forever.”