A Building and a Band

After spending over a year of fellowship at Doug and Jackie's home we decided to step out and move into a more public location. I scouted around the community and found a small room available in a small underground mall adjacent to the local community bank. This location was central to the community because of the bank, the barber shop and a small cafe' called Rock's. Our room used to house a craft store and a number of other retail businesses. We were adjacent to a laundry mat and a plumbing company.

Our little room could hold about 50 people and so it was a cozy little spot. We were an underground Vineyard for sure. You would never know that this place existed from the outside. In hindsight that might have limited us a bit but we were very excited to have a place of our own. It did generate some enthusiasm. I remember running an ad in a local paper for musicians for a church plant. I will never forget the evening when a young couple named George and Julia showed up at our place. They were there in response to the ad and I was kind of taken back when they stopped in. There was an immediate connection. They were precious and hungry to do something for the Lord. I was convinced that God had sent them and we immediately united in worship and praise to the Lord.

So here we were, We had a small building and the beginnings of a band. This was really exciting for Doug and Jackie and others. We didn't have services at first. We would just get together and jam with our instruments. That was a precious time. There was so much hope and anticipation. I can see the necessity to birth things now. Birth brings life and rejoicing. It brings unity and purpose. The Lord gave us a boost of energy and we were so thankful for our meager beginning. I still had my insurance agency and I still had to put three kids through college but having a place to worship and having a spiritual cause and purpose was so gratifying.

Next up.....

Marty and Pat