The Always God—always Hearing 11th Church Anniversary From 2 Merged Congregations

The Always God—Always Hearing 11th Church Anniversary From 2 Merged Congregations

Rick Gillespie-Mobley

Genesis 12:1-7 Luke 18:1-8

Happy Anniversary New Life At Calvary for 11 years of seeking God’s purposes here at the corner of East 79th and Euclid Avenue. 11 years ago we had a historic march leaving Glenville New Life Community Church heading west on St. Clair, and turning right on East 79th Street heading south. While at the same time there was a group leaving Calvary Presbyterian Church heading north on East 79th Street. The two groups met up with each other at Hough Avenue.

The two groups which had now become one, continued heading south on East 79th Street until reaching a crowd waiting in front of the church. The groups embraced one another with smiles and hugs and released colorful ballons into the bright blue sky. Together we went into the church, and New Life At Calvary gave birth to its very first worship service.

How many of you are left who made the march from Glenville? How many of you made the march from Calvary. How many of you were waiting to greet everyone in front of the church?

How long is 11 years. Well when we started that march, Terrence Sullivan Jr was 6 years old heading into 1rst grade, today he is a Senior in High School. For those of us who are kids, 11 years seemed like a lifetime. For those of us who are senior citizens, we’re saying “what, it’s already been 11 years.”

A lot happens in 11 years. Of the 299 names on the rolls on the day New Life At Calvary was born, 108 of the names are no longer active at NLAC. God has called many of the 108 to be actively involved in other ministries across the United States. They are leaders in other churches today and serving in various ways. The rest of them are in need of our prayers.

Of the 299, another 51 of the names have gone home to be with the Lord. We would not be the church we are today, without the contributions and service of the 51 who have graduated to be with the Lord.

Of the 299 who remain on the rolls today, we praise God for what you continue to offer in service to Christ through New Life At Calvary. For those of you who arrived after that first day in 2013, as Pastor Kellie told you last week, you are part of the reason New Life At Calvary was created. God wanted a place for you to grow in Christ and to discover his love in a deeper way. We are grateful for you as well for you are as much a part of the NLAC story as anyone else.

The theme of the next series of messages is the “Always God.” Do you know why God forbids us from making any graven image to worship him or to even to try to draw an image that looks like God? Because any attempt to picture God will automatically limit our understanding of God. Our minds can’t picture a God who is greater than the size of the universe or a God who is able to be in the past, present and future, all at the same time, or a God who can see us all and know exactly what we’re we’re thinking.

Today we look at The Always God, who is always hearing. Once again if you think God needs ears to hear our prayers, you’ve put a limit on how many prayers God can listen to at once. Our God is so amazing that God can listen to the prayers we pray today, while hearing the prayers we will be praying in five years.

To me the most difficult thing to understand, is why this great and awesome God would be interested in me, or in you, or in New Life At Calvary Church when there is a whole universe to operate. And yet this incredible God is interested in having a relationship with each of us.

For the Scriptures tell us, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Have you accepted his Son Jesus and believed on him?

God’s purpose is to reach as many people with His love and grace as possible and God does it through the prayers of His people. God is always listening for the voices of those who are praying for His kingdom to come. God will often plant a dream in our hearts, that should send us to pray. God called Abraham to leave his country and watch how God would expand his family and his possessions.