FAITH FORWARD

INTRO

“Not long ago, Grayson came up to me very seriously and said, ‘Dad, I don’t think I need to go to school anymore…I already know that 2 - 1 is 1.’

In his mind, he’d mastered math — he’d peaked in education. He was ready to retire at age 5.

And as funny as that is… the more I thought about it, the more I realized — we do that with God sometimes.

We experience something great… we learn something new… God answers a prayer… and we think, ‘Okay Lord, I’m good right here. I’ve learned enough. I’d like to stay in this moment forever.’ But following Jesus doesn’t stop at 2 - 1. Faith doesn’t graduate. It continues. It presses forward.

BIG IDEA

Faith doesn’t graduate. It continues. It presses forward.

Philippians 3:12 NLT

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

1. WE ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGED TO PRESS FORWARD.

A. FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES MOVEMENT, NOT MAINTENANCE.

Matthew 4:19 NLT

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

JESUS SAYS, FOLLOW ME.

FAITH MOVES WHEN GOD SPEAKS.

B. FORWARD ISN’T ALWAYS CLEAR, BUT IT IS ALWAYS REQUIRES OBEDIENCE.

GOD OFTEN GIVES DIRECTION BEFORE HE GIVES DETAILS.

C. COMFORT IS A GREATER ENEMY TO CALLING THAN HARDSHIP.

HARDSHIP DOES NOT PAUSE PURPOSE.

2. WHAT GOD STARTS, HE FINISHES.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

A. GOD DOESN’T ABANDON WHAT HE AUTHORS.

GOD NEVER LEAVES A STORY UNFINISHED.

B. GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS STRONGER THAN OUR UNCERTAINTY.

WE DON’T ALWAYS KNOW THE NEXT CHAPTER, BUT WE ALWAYS KNOW THE AUTHOR.

FAITH IS BUILT ON THE CHARACTER OF GOD.

C. DELAYS AND DETOURS ARE STILL PART OF HIS DESIGN.

WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DELAY TO US IS OFTEN DEVELOPMENT TO GOD.

3. GOD’S MISSION FOR YOUR LIFE IS BIGGER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

A. THE CHURCH IS DEFINED BY MOVEMENT.

HEALTHY CHURCHES DON’T JUST GATHER, THEY GO.

B. GOD ADVANCES HIS MISSION THROUGH OBEDIENCE.

LEADERSHIP IS STEWARDSHIP, NOT POSSESSION.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS BUILT ON ONE NAME.

C. MULTIPLICATION IS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE KINGDOM.

ONE SEED BECOMES MANY. ONE CHURCH PLANTS MORE CHURCHES. ONE LEADER RAISES UP LEADERS.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

So this is who we are — a church that presses forward, trusts God to finish His work, and lives for a mission bigger than any one person or place. Church family, today is a sacred and exciting day. Because God is promoting, multiplying, and advancing His Kingdom through this house and through two families who deeply love you.

From day one, this church was birthed out of faith and sending. We were sent from South Carolina to plant SouthShore—to build, to love, and one day, to send again. And today…that sending continues.

After prayer, wise counsel, fasting, and full support from our overseers, we believe God is calling our family to return to our sending church—not to go backward, but to step into a larger assignment. We believe this move will allow us to help plant more churches, raise up more leaders, and send more planters—just like this church was planted. This is not a goodbye. This is a multiplication.

And just as God is calling us into a new season—He is promoting another family into theirs. God is raising up Pastor Donnie and the Bailey family to become the Lead Pastors of Church at SouthShore. This isn’t a reaction—it’s God’s preparation. They have served faithfully since day one, and God has clearly placed His hand on them for this moment.

And let me also say—our involvement here doesn’t end. We are still family. We will still have a covering relationship, a voice, and an involvement with SouthShore. You are not losing us—we are expanding together.

This scripture has held our hearts steady through this:

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. But I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” —Acts 20:22–24

And so today, with full hearts and full faith, I want to invite the Bailey family, to come join us on stage.

Church family, can we show them honor as they come?

(Wait for them to come up)

We’re going to pray over them, and over this next chapter—because this is God’s church, His story, and His glory.

Prayer

“Father, thank You for this church. Thank You for what You’ve built, what You’re building, and what You’re about to build.

Thank You for calling our family and for calling the Bailey family. Thank You that this is not loss—it’s legacy. Not subtraction—but multiplication. Not an ending—but a sending.

We pray Your hand of anointing, wisdom, and protection over Pastor Donnie and Sarah, over their marriage, their family, and every step they take in leading this house.

We pray for SouthShore—that unity would be strong, faith would rise, and greater days are still ahead. And God, as You send us back to South Carolina, we go with open hands, believing this is for the planting of more churches and the sending of more leaders for Your glory.

Make us one. Keep us humble. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done.

In Jesus’ name—Amen.”