Ubly's Story: Grace Behind Us, Vision Before Us

Opening (Grace Behind Us):

Welcome friends and family to our first-ever outdoor service on Ubly Christian’s property. It is truly a remarkable day to be gathering together on this dedicated land, which has been set aside for a divine purpose for placing the fingerprint of Jesus on the Thumb of Michigan. It’s only by the grace of God that we are here. None of us could’ve of imagine it happening like this, but God knew this day would come to pass.

Fun fact: Did you know that this church congregation is 7 years, 7 months, and 3 days old? My daughter Lydia, was one month old when we planted the church and our first service was held at Ubly Heights on January 28th, 2018. But before I go any further, I want to tell you how Ubly Christian came to be. Some of you perhaps have heard how the Lord has worked in my life and how his grace inspired this endeavor, but for others this will be new.

Jumping backwards in time, the year was 2010, and I recently begin attending Novesta Church of Christ as a junior in high school. It was there I learned and experienced the truth of Jesus Christ and the gospel. I accepted the faith and was baptized on March 20th, 2011, beginning a new life and centered on being a disciple for the kingdom.

It wasn’t much longer when I began dating a pretty girl from the church named Sarah and that I joined an extracurricular activity called Bible Bowl. Essentially its a competitive quiz game based on memorizing the Scriptures and scoring points by answering the questions correctly. Our text was the gospel of Matthew and it was then when I began to come to come to know more about Jesus and his entirety. I was seventeen years old before I ever read the bible for myself.

I will admit, my Bible Bowl team didn’t need me. I was the cheerleader if anything. But God chose to do something extraordinary. Our church group went down to Nationals in Florida and I remember sitting outside the Orlando World Center Marriot’s balcony at the time with my girlfriend and we were looking over all the people at the swimming park. It was in that moment when an indescribable feeling overwhelmed me and I conveyed to Sarah that God was calling me to be a preacher. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I believe it was God’s calling on my life to ministry.

And nearly a year later from that day, I discovered a free-tuition scholarship from Central Christian College of the Bible from the Bible Bowl’s website and I knew I had to leave the thumb to pursue become a preacher. So I left Michigan for Missouri I began learning more about the Word and doing ministry. Starting my junior year, Sarah and I tied the knot, then as my senior approached I then had the opportunity to come back to Novesta and serve as the Associate Minister.

The leadership welcomed me, and as they decided to hire me I told them my intention to become a preacher somewhere else and if requested if they would be interested in helping me plant a church in Ubly. They happily agreed to the arrangements.

You might be thinking why Ubly of all places? I’m not sure why Ubly, but I believe in my heart that God was always preparing me to plant a church here. The Lord kept me in one place my entire life and I grew up attending K-12 grade at Ubly community school. The same feeling that I experienced in Florida for the people to know Jesus burned for the people of the thumb. I knew that they needed a church that loved Jesus and was willing to give them the truth, so God sent me along with others who were shared these convictions.

So now you know how Ubly Christian Church came to be. We can thank the Lord for his gracious providence. From the moment of finding a location for worship that was his grace. To the beginning of gathering people who believed in the church’s mission, that was his grace. To the faithfulness of the small congregation persevering in midst of Covid-19 pandemic, that was all his grace. When we thought things were bleak, the Lord continued to be faithful and strengthen his church in this little village and to that I am very thankful of what the Lord has done.

Some the the key moments at Ubly Christian worth mentioning since the church was born is that we have had over the years 30 baptisms. Two young men (William and Charles) in our congregation following their calling of the Lord and pursing bible college. And many others who grew in a deeper relationship that ever before (Uncle Mike). Provided farm land for the church property. [Share how Jerry sent the random letter and led to a meeting and I did his funeral].

Just look how far the Lord has brought us. It’s remarkable that the Lord has show us this amazing grace ever since day one.

Middle (Gratitude in the Present):

So now I want to personal say to everyone has invested in this church since the beginning or even more recently, thank you. (List of the ministries: worship, greeting, tech, shepherding, etc.). I often repeat the phrase that doing church cannot be a one-man-show. God never intended it to be. He gave us all specials gifts and talents to serve and that why we are growing and expanding.

I want all of us to celebrate what the Lord is currently doing. He has grown our church over the recent years so many new faces. God has brought more people into the kingdom, and is moving us toward this place to worship for the foreseeable future.

Also I want to express my gratitude for everyone who has given to the building fund. Every dollar counts and God recognizes every tithe and offering that is given to the church to further the ministry. And I believe if we continue to thank God in all circumstances, he will richly bless us for what we need to accomplish his divine will.

That is why most importantly, I declare - thank God for every blessing.

Sing the Doxology with me!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below, praise him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.

God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. And because he is good, God is casting a vision in our hearts at Ubly Christian.

Closing (Vision Before Us):

The vision statement on the front page of your bulletins doesn’t spell out the “Why” and “How,” but it gives us a clear direction. Our vision is to place the fingerprint of Jesus on the Thumb of Michigan. We believe is happening now, even while we are renting at Ubly Heights, doing ministry in homes, local parks, libraries, etc.

But our vision for this church is to build a building so that we can do more daily service for the kingdom. Imagine when one day when we have a permanent spiritual home, a place to call our own. It might even be very close to where your sitting. But a vision I have been told is a preferred future. Where do you want this church to be in 3 years, 10 years, 50 years? But perhaps, the most important question is, where does God want us to be in that timeline?

I imagine he wants us to continue serving and seeking new ways to serve Jesus.

What I hope to see when we have a church building is a weekly children’s ministry (shine, bible bowl), youth group, small group areas, a pastor’s office, a place to host funerals, weddings, counseling and everything in between, maybe outside will be a prayer path and a disc golf course.

So why does a building matter? It’s the spiritual hub of bringing people together outside of one day on Sunday. We could reach way more people and do it more effectively if we had the means to do it.

[Illustration with Ken coming over multiple times to do the job] The right tools get the job done.

So here’s today challenge: remember God’s grace, give thanks in all circumstances, and continue to focus on the mission of making disciples. If we keep the main thing, the main thing. We will raise enough funds for a building. But everything comes in God’s timing, not ours.

God has done his part. He has given us his beloved Son and He is adding to his church day-by-day and now we are commissioned to be faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures for the glory of God the Father.

Let’s pray.