Reviving our Space

Weekly Update – October 2nd, 2025 

Over the last four weeks, we have been looking into the significance of our place. As we kicked off our remodel, we wanted our fundraiser to be more than just the raising of money for a building, but an investment in a place. As many of you know, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $600,000.  That is no small amount, yet it is not insurmountable either. There have been pledge cards available since September 5^th highlighting the need we have to replace the HVAC system in the Faith Center Gym, to restore our sanctuary and to rebuild our main entrance. To do this, we have asked that members consider giving either a one-time gift, make a multi-year commitment or both, to help us revive our space so that we might renew our future.

As we think about our space, we first want to recognize our need for a place. There is something unique that occurs when the people of God gather together. It is not as though we come on Sunday mornings for an optional time of fellowship, but instead, we must recognize that through our commitment to gather, we come into the presence of God to reveal the mystery of what he has accomplished for us in Jesus Christ with the hope of enduring in our faith together until the end. It is true that no church needs a building to do this, but we do need a place.  By God’s grace he has given us a place to gather, leaving us with the responsibility to preserve it so that we might continue together in worship.

The question is, does this location matter?  Sure, we need a place, but does it matter where? Couldn’t we just rent an old warehouse somewhere, or meet in a school cafeteria? Yes, we could meet anywhere, as long as we have a place to gather, but we don’t believe, considering what we have before us, that meeting elsewhere is the most honoring decision to the Lord. From the beginning, the early church founders believed that where First Baptist Church met should be on purpose.  Whether it be across from the one-roomed schoolhouse and the General Store, as it was in the 1800s, or in the center of downtown in the early 1900s, members have always considered where we met to be a key to faithful ministry in our community. In our current location we serve so many in our community through our various ministries, as we continue to exist right in the center of town. We believe that we are placed where we are in Grandview on purpose.

What then does that mean for us as members who gather here on purpose in Grandview?  It means that we are partners in this place. As partners in this place, we are committed to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, together, as we fulfill the ministry of this church. The implication of this is that, yes, we come together for worship, but also, united together, we impact our community, our state and our world. Over the last 175 years, First Baptist Church has partnered together in many significant ways. It is always amazing to me to interact with people in our community and hear of the impact that our church has had upon them. Whether it was Vacation Bible School, our clothes closet, or another ministry of our church, the impact that our members have had on others is only through the grace of God. Yet as partners together, placed here on purpose, what is it exactly that we are seeking to fulfill?

As partners placed here on purpose, we, at First Baptist Church, must understand our mission. Our mission is to proclaim and display the gospel of Jesus Christ. Essentially what that means is that we make known the good news of Jesus Christ with our words and then we live out the change that this message has brought into our lives. Ultimately, we seek to fulfill this mission so that we might reach our vision, which is to see our families, our community and our world transformed by the power of God. That means that in all that we do, whether it be in gathering together on Sunday morning, serving in one of our various ministries, or in reviving our building, we strive to live out our mission so that we might accomplish our vision.

As we are partners on mission here in our place on purpose, I want to encourage you to fill out a pledge commitment card. This Sunday is the deadline to turn it in. Even if you are giving online, please fill out a commitment card so that we know how to move forward with what has been pledged. Our longing through this campaign is to revive our building, but we want to do this so that we can renew our future. For as the future comes, we long to see the next generation, and beyond, carry out our mission as partners who too are placed here on purpose.

Serving Him with You,

Pastor Michael Nelson