Building a Mission Field
For the last month or so the soundtrack of my work week has been the steady beep-beep-beep of the heavy equipment operating across the street from our church campus. Occasionally, I can also hear the sound of the equipment at work on the interstate widening on the opposite side of our campus. It's like construction work in stereo! I guess that's the sound of progress.
Of course, a lot of folks aren't happy with said progress, especially when it comes to them clearing away that wooded area across George Roy Parkway. And if you've been paying attention to local forums, there's been lots of complaining and plenty of misinformation going around about what is coming there. So I thought I would use this as an occasion to set the record straight, having talked to one of our church members who is also a member of the Calera Planning Commission.
The official word is that they are building an apartment complex that will include 400 apartments. With the growing expense of the real estate market in our area, there is a huge demand for apartments right now for young people, singles and small families. And just to clarify, this is NOT the senior apartment complex, which is located on Smokey Road.
Are there concerns? Sure. Will these apartments create more traffic and congestion on our street? Probably. That's how it always works when more people move into an area, and Calera is one of the fastest growing cities in our state so it is bound to happen. Will there be environmental negatives that come with tearing down a wooded area to build a bunch of buildings and concrete parking lots? Again, probably so. But we do get to see the sunset now, at least for the time being, so that is a plus. Will these apartments open up the possibilities of more crime in our area? Possibly. It's pretty obvious that the more people you have around, the more possibilities you have for questionable behavior, no matter where the people live. And I guess if you automatically assume that people who live in apartments lean more toward criminal activity you will assume things are going to get worse in that area.
But I choose to look at it a different way. Here's how I see it: They are building a mission field directly across the street from our church campus. If our facilities here on George Roy Parkway are to be a launching center for ministry in our community, what an advantage to have 400 new dwelling places and perhaps thousands of new people directly across the street. We have been providentially positioned for connecting to those folks, and it will be a matter of stewardship for how we handle this opportunity--and the senior apartments just down the road as well. Will we be faithful in serving and ministering to the people who will live there?
I have already been praying for those that the Lord is going to lead our way. And as I do I think of people that I have not even met yet, but will one day be my brother or sister in Christ. How many families will come across the street to worship with us? How many children will be a part of our Vacation Bible School? How many students will come to our youth group? How many young adults and singles will we have the privilege of sharing the love of Christ with? How many people will come to know Jesus through our church's witness?
When you see things with an eternal perspective, it changes how you look at everything. A little extra traffic congestion? That will be worth it if we have greater opportunities to reach people for Jesus.
Of course, we don't have to wait for them to build an apartment complex across the street to reach out to our unchurched neighbors and friends with the gospel. There are thousands of people all around us just waiting for us to care enough to point them to Jesus. Let's be about our Father's business, and let's get to those fields, which are white unto harvest. (John 4:35)
I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for our church in the years ahead as we serve Him together. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
