Anchor Church launched on Sunday 11th May, 2014. In this blog post Lead Pastor, Matt Sparks, reflects on the journey of the last two years.
This church started as a dream; a crazy idea that God put on our hearts many years ago. I can’t believe it’s been 2 years already.
I don’t take any of the credit for the Anchor Church story. This has all been God, from beginning to end. Yes, He’s used us; Yes, we’ve worked hard. But He deserves all the praise, honour and glory for every good thing that has happened. God has so clearly been at work, sometimes because of us and often despite us.
I think of that verse from John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
“Apart from me, you can do nothing”! That’s so true. We’re kidding ourselves if we think otherwise. We’ve so clearly seen Jesus at work from the provision of finances, to buildings, to gifted people and leaders. His timing has been crazy! People have been healed, people have been saved, those who’ve been wandering have found a home, those who’ve been on the sidelines are in the game, those who’ve been broken are finding healing. Yet, as with any church, peoples lives are messy and we count it a privilege that God uses us to love and care for each other. That’s family!
We’re seeing a church begin to get what it looks like to be a family of missionaries, its taken time for us to see what this really looks like. We’re seeing people come to faith in Jesus for the first time! One such story was Amanda who came to faith as our gospel community loved her, did life with her and shared Jesus with her. We had the joy of baptising her on April 3 this year!
When we say, ‘God is in the business of transforming lives’ that’s not just rhetoric! He’s actually using us to do His work! Apart from me you can do nothing, but with me…! The start of that verse brings much hope for the future.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Those who live in Jesus, and He in them, they will bear much fruit! We’re expectant for what lies ahead because we know without Jesus we can do nothing… and with Him we will bear much fruit for His glory!
I’m so thankful for all the prayer, support, and encouragement we’ve received. If you’ve journeyed with us over the last 2 years, we love you, thank you so much!