This week marks the end of an era. Life happens in seasons
and like chapters in a book, those seasons have a beginning and an end. The church that I have the privilege of pastoring
has come to the end of such a chapter. For
nearly twenty years, we have been known to our community as Bethesda Church.
This week we transition into a new name –
Connection Church.
The name change is not just a transition, but rather one
part of a seismic shift that our church has undergone. Much like a person experiences during a coming
of age or entering a marriage, entering a new season of life brings on new joys
and challenges. It is a time when you have the opportunity to embrace fresh
ideas, insights, plans and dreams. It is also a time that can necessitate the
release of certain ideas, insights, plans and dreams. It is a time for change and that is a good
thing because
growth without change is impossible.
What’s in a name? Your name defines you to others. Every name carries with it meaning and that
meaning should reflect who you are.
There are numerous instances in scripture where God changed the name of
an individual based on a shift that had occurred in his or her life. Jacob became Israel. Simon became Peter. Saul
the persecutor became Paul, the Apostle.
I identified our transition as a seismic shift. A seismic shift is caused by a movement in
the earth that creates tremors of enormous proportions or, earthquakes. These tremors usually have highly significant
consequences. We are living in a day and
time when the earth is being shaken.
More accurately, the earth’s culture is being shaken. That follows scripture which instructs: “…that
which can be shaken will be shaken…” That instruction continues: “…when the shaking
is done, that which cannot be shaken will remain.” We are living through such a shaking in our
world. Obviously one goal is to be standing when the shaking stops. However, our goal became more defined. We are looking to those who are being
shaken. How will they survive? What will
be left of them when the shaking occurs in their life?
This seismic shift challenged us in several ways. One, what needed to shaken free of our own
lives? Two, how prepared are we to reach those who have been or are being
shaken? Three, how are we positioned to actually reach those who need to be
reached?
This drew us to a redefining of our purpose. In order to reach people, bring healing to their
lives and help them not only put the pieces together, but discover purpose, we
needed to become more relational. We were
becoming connectors. Our vision took on fresh
meaning as we embraced the concept of connectivity – connecting to God, to each
other, and to our community – all for the purpose of developing Kingdom
relationships and fulfilling God’s desire in the lives of the people He loves.
So our name changed to represent who we are and what we do.
Our
purpose is to establish an atmosphere where specific relationships can be
fostered and developed.
The first and foremost is the development of a
relationship with God that is not just a Sunday experience, but a real
straightforward 24/7 relationship with Him. Next, we want to foster
relationships within our church family that not only recognize, but add dimension
to the value of each individual life.
Third, we want that relational atmosphere to impact the people in our
community, creating an environment where we can demonstrate the true love and
light of Jesus Christ, and where, through the process, people can come to
recognize the value and their need of being connected to God.
A new era – a new vision – a new name.
We are Connection Church.
