I was first drawn to the First Baptist Church of Channahon by their vision. The purchase of the land was one of the issues presented at one of the first business meetings I attended. I listened that day as the vision for the property was laid out, a vision that included a school, ball fields and gymnasiums. I watched as the church membership voted to move forward.
Ever since that day, God has been at work. Sometimes God has blessed the church directly, sometimes, he’s blessed those who’ve supported the vision God has for this community. For example, when the sisters who owned the property we purchased decided to sell the property to us, they cut more than $100,000 dollars off the purchase price. As a result, they actually made more money than they would have at the full price due to the savings in capital gains taxes they realized. God blessed First Baptist Church, and at the same time He blessed these sisters.
It’s not been an easy journey either. The forces of evil have mobilized an effort to work against God’s plan. Those forces have presented themselves in many different forms, including Satan worshipers who were so bold as to approach Pastor Randy as he stepped down from the stage following the dedication ceremony.
He was told that our new property had been the place of their worship and sacrifice and that they weren’t going to stop. To which Pastor Randy basically replied, “I’m not going to stop you from doing anything, but my God will”.
We had work days and the whole church it seemed came out to help clear trees, cut grass and clean things up. Drawings were developed that laid out where we would build the building, the pavilion and the ball fields.
Then Landmark Landscape came in and began building the baseball fields. I can still remember the first afternoon our church went out and played softball. We were so excited; we couldn’t wait to play on those new fields. So out we went to play, no fences, nothing set up, just a November afternoon playing softball on our new fields. What an exciting time that was!!
But the plans were never to build facilities for just our purposes. From the beginning the plan was to provide a place for our community and the communities around us to worship and play together.
As the Sports Ministry Director for First Baptist Channahon I’ve enjoyed a front row seat as we’ve watched God open all sorts of opportunities and I’ve watched as God has changed people’s lives.
I could share my thoughts for a long time, but I thought it might mean more to hear the words from one of the parents in our baseball league. Quote;
“For many years I longed for the opportunity to see my twin boys, now age 11, to be able to play baseball and perhaps flag football in a league that was “different” from the ones I usually hear about. I never wanted them to have to participate in leagues that had coaches who stressed winning as the most important thing, or that had parents screaming at their kids, or those of the opposing team, whenever they made a mistake. My prayers were answered last year when I saw information about a new league that would be starting under the direction of FBC. My first conversation with the leadership of this new league was truly an answer to prayer as their vision for the new baseball league sounded exactly like what my wife and sons and I have been waiting for. Specifically, it was to be an instructional league that stressed teaching the fundamentals and good sportsmanship and to build the confidence of kids who thought they were not good enough to play organized sports in spring leagues. It was and still is called All-Stars Baseball. The goal was to see each player build skills and confidence that would not only make them better players, but better citizens too. We were told at the first practice that a short devotional lesson from the Bible would be presented at each game and that it would be a mandatory part of participation in the league as this league wasn’t simply about the sports, but also was about emphasizing the Christian faith in action. “ End Quote
There have been many times that we’ve had to practice faith in action. As a ministry we’ve stood behind Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7 as our motivating force. In 2 Timothy 4:7 the Apostle Paul tells Peter that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I kept the faith”. Our faithfulness has paid off many times over.
The property God has blessed us with has already blessed many people and has already changed the lives of families. And the facilities aren’t even done yet. Imagine the possibilities once the building is complete!!
So tonight, as we stand on the threshold of our promised land, let me ask you something. Do you hear what I hear? Listen closely; I think you can hear it.
There it is, I hear the sound of basketballs being dribbled in our gym. I hear cheerleaders leading cheers as FOFCA players compete. I hear the thump of a strong overhand volleyball serve.
I hear the crack of baseball and softball bats as boys and girls play baseball and softball. I hear the footsteps of young men running around bases playing in an adult softball league and I hear the “hut hut” call of a quarterback playing in a flag football league. Don’t you hear it?
I hear the crackle of shoulder pads and helmets as FOFCA kicks off the first home game of their first football season. I hear the drum cadence of the FOFCA marching band as they march onto the football field for their first halftime performance. Don’t you hear it too?
Do you see what I see? Look closer.
I see children getting a chance to compete athletically, a chance they would not get anywhere else. I see the smile of a child who just got their first hit in baseball, or who just re-discovered how much they love to play sports. I see people with disabilities competing, smiling, their families having fun together. Can you see it now?
Maybe you can see children and their parents huddled around as a speaker shares the love of Jesus Christ with them before a ball game. Maybe you can see the man, or woman, or child who on bended knee is asking Jesus to be their savior in a dusty dugout.
I see families who have come to our property hundreds of times for ball practices and games, pulling in on a Sunday morning, coming to worship. Can’t you see those cars?
I see families who will never be the same because God had a chance to change their lives. Families whose lives will never be the same, because of people like you.
People like you who saw the vision, bought into the vision, gave to the vision and committed to see the vision come to life. People who committed to finish!!
The vision God laid out before us years ago has begun to spring to life. Would you join me tonight in promising to come to the end of this journey and to be able to say; “I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith, I stayed committed to finish.”
Can you see it?! Can you hear it?! Will you join us in committing to finish it!?
http://www.fbcchannahon.org
