Now more than ever …

Thank God for great models!

Central Christian Church of the East Valley (in Arizona) was the first real model to me of a church being a real New Testament church. When I was an older teen, God led me to this church, which at that time had, at the most, 500-600 members. Dr. LeRoy Lawson was the pastor, and he became the greatest example of a pastor and Christian man to impact my life. And it was at Central that I stopped running from God’s call on my life and finally made the decision to pursue full-time ministry.

So this church has impacted me personally, but it has impacted tens of thousands of others as well. It has planted other churches in the Valley and in other states, and it maintains a great mission ministry, giving more than a million dollars annually just to missions. I remember when Dr. Lawson talked about being able to do that as a dream. I’ve had the privilege of seeing some of those dreams become a reality.

I was present when the pledges were announced to buy the 33 acres that the Mesa campus is on, and a couple years ago I attended the first service at their second campus on a 150-acre site in Gilbert. Now there are plans for a couple more satellite sites. It’s exciting to see what is happening at Central.

What’s more exciting is that today, Central celebrated it’s 50th anniversary. What is unique about that is most churches that even survive that long are, or have, peaked by that time and are starting to die, if they aren’t dying already. But for Central, now with 14,000 members, it seems like they’re just getting started!

I find it hugely motivating to see a church like this. Central is not a “rich” church. Until the building of the Gilbert campus, the largest single financial gift the church had ever received was $50,000.00. What this group of believers have accomplished has come from truly believing that the church primarily exists for those who are not yet part of it … a belief deeply seeded into the ‘DNA” of this congregation.

No wonder, then, that Central is reaching people for Christ throughout the world.

When I want to see scripture translated into reality, it’s great to have churches like this to look to … an authentic community of believers who are living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.

Central’s anniversary theme was “Now more than ever,” understanding that we need more churches like Central … now, more than ever! We need more communities of faith that are committed to reaching those who are not yet part of the church; congregations that are willing to do whatever the work, and pay whatever the cost, to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

That starts one person at a time.

It starts with people like YOU making that commitment to Christ, and then living it out.

Go for it!

Scotty