The Great Room Celebration

It was a joy to be together in the Great Room this past Sunday as we gathered to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. I am so thankful and proud of how we poured into that room for the last several months, working together, giving together, and praying to “possess the promise” of this building that God has given us. Being with you on Sunday filled my heart with joy and my spirit with anticipation for all God is doing.

Join us in the weeks ahead as we continue to celebrate and enjoy the new space by celebrating and enjoying God IN the new space – a place for a family of Jesus followers to gather, grow, and fill the world around us.

A Special Thank You

Thank you to each of you who gave time, prayer, and finances to this project! This demonstrates what a community can do when His Spirit moves us together to give into His Kingdom’s purposes. Not to have a nice room, but to have a space we can place before Him, like the widow with the jars and the oil (2 Kings 4), and say, “God, fill this room with Your presence until it overflows to the city around us. May this place be a beacon of hope and life, to call people home through Jesus, to know and follow Him and be transformed by Your Spirit.”

While the story of this room is about all of us coming together and pitching in, there are a few specific people I would like to recognize:

• Trevor Bruce has been our General Contractor since the beginning of this project seven years ago. He has been an excellent partner, sticking with us through all the changes, twists, and turns of a large project like this one.
• Dale Southmayd is our project manager, and he has volunteered so much time and expertise to keep this project on task, on budget, and on schedule. I know we have given Dale a headache or two, but he deeply believes in this church, and this project and his faithfulness to walk it out with us has been a gift.
• Howard Durkee worked in the room every day, volunteering countless hours of general labor for months. We would not have made it without Howard, and we honor his gift of time and heart—serving, interceding, and willingly pouring his time and energy into this place.
• Andy Southmayd, a pastor and a craftsman, moved this project along in countless ways. Over the years, there has been no closer friend or ministry “companion” to Kate and me than Andy. It is an honor that God has allowed us to walk alongside him throughout this adventure. Andy’s diligence as a shepherd and steward reminds me that while we often want vision and direction from God, those who follow through with the work are RARE. May we follow his example, and may our desire for vision and breakthrough be matched by our commitment to follow through. Thank you, Andy.
• Chadd Noland (Redefined Finishes, painted the entire room, and sanded the beams), Joe Bean (Bean Electrical Contractors), Pacific Electrical Contractors, Spirit Meller (Sanct Architecture), Advanced Heating and Air, and Rain Media (sound, stage, and lighting).
• Tom Boyles, John Ivey, Ryan Fields, and Bryan Beaudry helped put together the sound, internet, and lightning.
• Aaron Frymire helped us get our electrical across the finish line.
• Jake Hayes hung doors and installed windows; Josh Thomason (and sons) built walls; Finn & Atticus Hayes, Kellen, and Austin Rhoden helped with the floor and electrical conduit; and Mary Southmayd helped us make the sound panels (among other things).
• We would also like to recognize and bless the City of Medford for helping us through this whole process. Although the city employees (inspectors, planners, and admin) often get a bad rap, they were great to work with throughout the project.

Thank you to each and every person who gave time, prayer, and financial resources to Living Waters to complete this phase of our building renovation!

May this continue to be a story of our community, moved and led by His Spirit to sow into something bigger than a room or building can contain – something that wouldn’t last for months or years, but generations!