We rePlanted this church in 2013.
In 2013, the Southern Baptist Convention planted 1000 new churches in North America. Great news, isn’t it?! The bad news? Also in 2013, a total of 900 Southern Baptist churches closed their doors and lost their gospel influence in their communities, and we ended that year with 20 people who believed that God had called them to stay and be a part of re-planting the church on the corner of Mission and McCormick Road. We believed that God was calling our church to go against the grain of those statistics and stand on the verse he gave our church from Ezekiel 36:36, “The Lord said, “I have rebuilt the ruined places and re-planted that which was desolate. I am the Lord, and I will do it!”
A rePlant gave us the opportunity to do three things:
reFresh Hope: When we asked the core group of believers at Cornerstone Fellowship why they hadn’t just given up, they said, “God wouldn’t let us quit; believe us, we asked Him that question. The Lord told us that there are lives in this community that will be changed because of this church on this corner!”
reNew Identity: As Abram, Sarai, Jacob, and Saul were all changed through an encounter with the Lord – a name change or identity change of sorts followed. For this reason, this replanted church became The STONE CHURCH (redeeming the old while embracing the new). There is a new look, feel, focus, and purpose to this body of believers both inside and out in the community. We continue to pray that God will expand our platform to influence those living and working in Cartersville and the surrounding areas of Bartow County.
reDeem Resources: Redemption is God’s heart, isn’t it? The Stone Church sits on 14 acres and already has a facility conducive for worship and for children’s ministry. If the church were to have closed, then those resources would have been lost to the world, but those resources were redeemed for God’s work – how exciting is that?!
Cornerstone Fellowship Church was on the verge of becoming one of the bad news statistics. But, God’s grace and favor coupled with the dogged determination of a small core of spiritual leaders positioned Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Cartersville to become the Crossroads Church Planting Network’s FIRST re-plant! As we ended 2015, we looked back at how the Lord had re-planted that which was desolate, and we rejoiced with the 80 others who now join with us weekly to recite the new verse God has given us found in Jeremiah 29:11, ” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Wonder what the Lord has in store for us in the years ahead? Do you want to pioneer with us?