Under Construction
One of the joys of my job is to see and experience what the Lord is doing across the Churches of God. This past week Linda & I returned to central PA to visit family and friends. I also planned to accomplish some church business, including a visit with Pastor Mike Leonzo. I wanted to check out the building project of our Living Water Church . Mike showed me the site back in April when the structure was first going up and everything outside was slop and mud. I was anxious to see the progress since then.
The Living Water congregation began as an Eastern Regional Conference church start in 2001. Pastor Mike and Kathy Leonzo served as the planters and cast a vision to reach the city of Harrisburg through a multi-cultural congregation. They had experienced God’s call while participating in the ministry of Caring Community COG (planted by Pat & Beth Kelly in 1991). The Leonzos moved to Ohio , and Mike went to Winebrenner Seminary as a full-time student. After the sojourn in Findlay the family returned to the Harrisburg area. The Eastern Regional Conference ordained Mike in 2000 and the process of birthing the church began. The congregation began meeting in the Rutherford Elementary School , setting-up and taking-down “church” every week. They still meet there. As Living Water grew it became more and more evident that the church needed its own facility.
However, finding a building or land in Harrisburg, PA for a growing congregation seemed very unlikely both geographically and financially. The church prayed and God provided a miracle: an affordable twenty-eight acre tract within city limits! They bought the land in 2004 and began to dream and plan. By 2006 the time came to step out in faith AGAIN and begin construction. Financing the project seemed impossible and, humanly speaking it was, but it wasn’t for God. Everything fell into place and construction began late last year. A huge praise goes up for the generosity and sacrifice of God’s people. Completion of the project is expected this October. Occupancy and expanded ministry will follow.
As we all know the church is not a building. But when a church is body building, the need for increased facility space will arise, sooner or later. I wish for all our churches to be under construction both spiritually and materially. Mike and I discussed the dangers of the “edifice complex” (as I call it), where the building becomes a ministry idol rather than a tool. He assured me that he’s been driving that point home, lest the congregation be drawn away from the mission of the Church (Matt. 28:16-20) or the vision of Living Water Church of God. Pray for Mike and the church leaders as God leads them into new ministry territory.
All praise be to God who enables His people to do great things!
Ed
Lobby area with fireplace |
Sanctuary under construction |
