Christ Central Church turned 10 years old this past year. There was a big throw down party to celebrate and dance and eat. We did it Christ Central style. The building we meet in has always fit the demographic of people who come. The ones in need of repair. The ones who have a list of things that just don’t work. The ones who can’t find the money to make any changes. The Neighborhood Theater is unique in character but lacks practicality. The mauve colored stalls in the bathroom lack luster and the toilets flush roughly 50% of the time. In order to see the words on the program some had to use their convenient iphone flashlights; even the shortest of us had no space for our legs; we chose our seats with an attempt to avoid all beer-stains; and periodically each of us caught glimpses of various rodents scampering about in the dark corners. Some days we had no AC, some days no water, some days a flood. Our parking went away, our projector and screen were sold, we had no good place to teach our kids and every square inch was crumbling away or unstable. For 5 years our pastors and elders and other good men combed the city for a place to migrate. We just needed a place to go! But God held off. And in the waiting, He kept busy doing the work of humility in our church. The wandering was just the soul-construction we needed. Each Sunday we sat in the same chairs. We worked with what we had, and slowly accepted that this was His good place for us, for now. He brought new people. Our leadership grew in numbers and integrity with the commitment to keep us healthy and honest. Some were directed on to their next place to worship. Many of us “old timers” remained. Each week we came. Each week we heard the same message, ate at the same table, and waited for the next charge. This building, this move....was not our job. Truth be told, we didn’t even have the money to fix our own toilets, how would we find a new place to call home?
3646 Central Avenue. An old skating rink. An ugly building “with much potential.” This would become Christ Central’s new landing spot. The scent of this miracle blew through our church today as we had our first service. God has constructed for Himself a place to dwell. His Temple. “Don’t get the story of this building twisted. We did not give it to God; He gave it to us so that He could be with His people.”
A few commands from the pulpit: “don’t get this backwards.” “The building is not ours.” And another command: “We MUST festival before the Lord!” And that we did! In Christ Central style the long tables were set with baked beans, Asian salads, macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad, mashed potatoes, and fried chicken! We all sat wherever there was space; we mingled about and moved from one gathering of people to the next. Some wandered about the place still in shock, some stood outside for the quiet and crisp fall air. A family supper. That’s what it was. As I looked around it was clear, we all felt the same way. Grateful, humbled, excited, and hopeful. 3536 Central Avenue will be a beacon. Like the Temple in Solomon's day, the glory of God has come to express itself, to leave it’s mist and it’s mark.
With festival and loud jubilation, we will worship this mighty and overcoming God. Our party will keep going on and on. We have no reason to shut it down. We will still be singing and dancing when the skies are ripped open and God arrives to set up His new Temple once and for all time.
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