Groundbreaking Ceremony

November 11, 2007

Song – Esther

Welcome and Opening Remarks – Rick Stacy

Welcome to all our guests, friends, and families of MCC

Introduction of special guests, Midwest Construction Representatives, and Bankers

Building Team Leader and remarks

Midwest Representative and remarks

Brief Challenge – Rick

There are a lot of challenges that have had to be overcome to be at this place today – ready to break ground for our first worship and ministry center.

We searched for a suitable site for many years and have spent over 2 years working to get ready to build here.

There have been countless hours spent in meetings, reams of paper have been printed, and thousands of emails written.

Along with all the work… there has been a constant, deliberate, and dependable prayer that has been lifted up to our father God. This prayer has been given by hundreds of different people with as many different words as there are in our vocabulary. Some of the prayers have been eloquent. Some have been innocently simple. All of them have been focused on one request.

Every prayer has simply asked that God would lay his gracious hand on us. Nehemiah spoke of this when he was asked how he expected to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. His answer was simple – and profound. He said the gracious hand of God was on them.

This is why we are here today – in spite of all the challenges and despite all the odds – the gracious hand of God is on us.

Ezra was a priest who lived at the same time and in the same place as Nehemiah but his concern was not the rebuilding of the wall. His concern was the building of the temple – the place where the people could gather to worship God and to serve him through ministry and prayer.

Listen to what happened when they began to actually build lay the foundation of the temple…

Ezra 3:10-11

“10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:

“He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

In just a minute we’re going to break ground on this land. We’re going to begin building a place where God will be worshiped. Jesus, his son will be praised for what he has done, and the people of God will serve one another and this community.

When the first dirt is dug up – I’m asking that all of you to give a shout of praise to God. I don’t care what it is – It can be a shout of “Hallelujah”, or of “Praise the Lord” or just a whoop and a holler – It’ll all sound good to our father God.

You get ready while we get ready. Now, let me introduce those who will join me in digging the first shovelful of dirt – we’ll all dig it up at the same time.

Groundbreaking

Representing the staff: Rick Stacy

Representing the Building Team: Don Dornbush

Representing the Elders: Tom Snivley (Elder Liaison)

Representing Midwest: Ken Miller (Midwest President)

Representing the people: Kathy Sheufelt (with MCC from the very first year)

November 11, 2007

Song – Esther

Welcome and Opening Remarks – Rick Stacy

• Welcome to all our guests, friends, and families of MCC

• Introduction of special guests - Rick

Meridian Township Officials

• Meridian Fire Department

Ingham County Drain Commission

• Patrick Lindeman, Ingham County Drain Commissioner

Okemos Christian Center

• Craig Dumont, Pastor

Midwest Representatives

• Ken Miller

• Chris

• Tom Forquer, Representative, Midwest

Mannik and Smith Engineer

• Jeff Myers, Engineer

Mason State Bank

• Tom Schroeder, Vice-president Commercial Loans

• Tim Gaylord, President

Building Team Leader and remarks – Don Dornbush

• Randy Crandell

• Nora Kim Green

• Troy Jamieson

• Harry Richards

• Tom Snivley

• Paul Stacy

• Jamie Wetzel

Midwest Representative and remarks – Tom Forquer

Brief Challenge – Rick

There are a lot of challenges that have had to be overcome to be at this place today – ready to break ground for our first worship and ministry center.

We searched for a suitable site for many years and have spent over 2 years working to get ready to build here.

There have been countless hours spent in meetings, reams of paper have been printed, and thousands of emails written.

Along with all the work… there has been a constant, deliberate, and dependable prayer that has been lifted up to our father God. This prayer has been given by hundreds of different people with as many different words as there are in our vocabulary. Some of the prayers have been eloquent. Some have been innocently simple. All of them have been focused on one request.