Last Sunday's Message
On Saturday, August 25, 2007, a group of about twelve believers gathered at Shoney's in Statesboro, GA to meet with Rob Wilkerson, who was in the area on business that day. Jeremy Myers, one of the original twelve, was in Athens several weeks earlier and had asked Rob to meet with the group next time he was in the area. The topic of discussion was much-needed: how to get along with each other in the gospel. After six plus hours of meeting through the breakfast and the lunch buffets, Rob challenged the group with a Spirit-driven engagement regarding the desires of the group and their future as a group trying to become a church.
On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, this group met together for prayer and discussion, and out of this meeting the Holy Spirit led them to commit to a four month exploration and investigation process toward three primary aims.
1. Does the Lord want a fresh church plant in Statesboro?
2. What does such a church plant look like?
3. Does the Lord want those gathered together now to be the founding members of this church plant?
Beginning Saturday, September 15, we initiated this exploration and investigation process to discuss the vital elements that are foundational to a biblical, local church plant. These meetings were called "Weekends in the Word" and were held every other weekend from September through December 2007. Rob Wilkerson, his wife Sherri, and their four children, made the six hour round trip drive from Athens, GA each week to work through the following important issues crucial to a church plant.
- The Gospel and its Implications and Applications
- The Church and its Beginnings, Foundations, Purposes, and Functions
- The Holy Spirit and His work in the life of a believer and local church, including regeneration, sanctification, illumination, and spiritual gifts
- The Means of Grace, including Scripture reading, prayer, fellowship, communion, etc.
By the end of the second month, it was apparent to all that the Lord was in the effort. By the end of the third month it was apparent that the Lord wanted Rob and his family to make the transition to lead the group.
By July of 2008, Rob and his family moved to a group of believers who had grown to over seventy! Not only was the Lord in the work, but the Lord was interested in growing this church in the "boro." Since then God has continued to bless by bringing more and more college students, single men and women, husbands, wives, and children.
We are now on a mission together in Statesboro, GA to reconcile sinners to God, people to each other, and the world to King Jesus!
