A Preferred Problem

A Preferred Problem

Almost five years? Is that possible? Well, I checked my sermon notes. The date on the file for the first sermon I preached at Living Oaks, back in the Borchard Community Center gym, was on June 6, 2004. Not that I didn’t remember that date, but the past five years have flown by at such dizzying speed, I just needed a little extra confirming. (Kind of like Wendi’s and my 25th anniversary happening last summer. Calendars don’t lie. I checked—it really was the summer of 1983!). Well, just three more weeks and it will be June 6, 2009!

That first Sunday, the message (which, unlike the date, I really can’t remember), according to my notes, was an introduction to the then upcoming, first historic, sermon series for LOCC. It was called Why Church? Though I don’t claim the gift of prophecy—as in foretelling the future—some of the words in those notes do seem somewhat prophetic.

For example, my notes read,
“Living Oaks Community Church will reflect a balance of truth and love. Through our worship services, small groups, programs and various ministries, these two essential principles of a healthy church (and healthy individuals) will be constantly taught, pursued and demonstrated. For a healthy balance to be reached truth must always be surrounded by love. We will engage and confront our culture with that balance. What the casual observer must first see in us as believers is love. We speak, live and demonstrate truth IN love. (Truth must be at the core, surrounded by love—not anger or arrogance).”

I hope that if you’ve been around Living Oaks at all, you’ve recognized the fulfillment of that part of the vision firsthand. I’m so thankful for the way God has helped us to stay true to the unvarnished truth of His Word while loving people in a way that encourages people to give us the privilege of playing a part in their and their families’ spiritual formation. That sense of truth, wrapped in love, has led many newcomers to repeat what has almost become a motto for LOCC: “This just feels like home.”

We referred to that first gathering in June of ’04 as our “soft launch.” Ironically, it soon proved to be a blessedly solid, not-so-soft, platform from which we blasted off into an incredible future so far. And it seems like we’ve just begun. Honestly, the big problem for our young church right now is not the kind of crises too many churches (especially newly planted ones) seem to experience. Our “problem” is how to avoid dampening the momentum of a church that has grown to over 1,000 Sunday attendees in such a short span time. Not to mention over 1,000 more who call Living Oaks their church home. With seating for only 370 worshippers per service, the challenge is obvious. But, it’s a good challenge; a preferred problem!

We’ve stated from the beginning that our focus is not to simply attract a crowd so we can become a mega church. But we want to be faithful stewards, able to accommodate the needs of each person that God draws to our fellowship, whether that leads to modest, or, mega numbers.
As we celebrate our official five year anniversary, October 11, we look forward to communicating the vision, opportunities and plans that we trust God is providing to help us make room for the increase that He has and—we believe—will provide. God has given us some creative ideas to allow us to say, “Welcome home” instead of, in effect, “Go home.”

“‘And in this place I will give peace,’
says the Lord of hosts.” –HAGGAI 2:9 NKJV