GCIC Beginning

Since the late 90’s my wife and I have felt a call and hunger to start a new church. We did not know when, just that we would start a new church. During the summer of 2007 we felt God telling us now is the time. No details, but definitely to get going. This led us to many questions such as where, what, how and who. God began answering these questions.

Our first thought was that God would send us somewhere else – to places we had visited and people we had begun to build relationships with. But, we realized God had been putting people in our path right here in Genesee County who were interested in planting a new church. It finally became clear that God wanted us to stay where we were.

Our observation of the churches we have served in and our personal lives was that most often the Church has been ineffective in reaching the lost in our cultures. There were some ministries we worked in or observed that were growing and impacting the community, but these had leaders of a caliber and talent I do not have (I am not Bill Hybels). If that leader was not there, it would not work. God has increased our burden for the lost and our frustration with the lack of growth. We are losing America while we sit in Sunday School satisfied with learning more stuff. I have reached the point that I am serious about the fight. A quote I read once was “A revolution is an idea with the bayonets on!” I am putting my bayonet on and charging the gates of Hell. Christianity is a fight – a fight against our own natures, a fight against Satan, a fight to save a dying people. Hell is eternal death and every day people are going there. We cannot stand for this! I will not stand for this! Satan better take notice – Genesee County is not going to hell without a fight.

In Hebrews 12:1 the Apostle Paul uses the analogy of running the race marked out for us. Unfortunately, many of the ministries I have been involved in have been on a circle track - it feels like something is going on, maybe even fast, but in the big picture there is no ground being covered no matter how fast or how well you run as long as you stay on the track. We need to get off the circle track! We need to run a race worthy of Him who has commissioned us to “Go and make disciples”!