We fully believed that we were heading to a Fall launch for our second Ballantyne campus, to be alongside the Stone Creek Campus. We hired Bill Babson to lead it and began location negotiations. We are still going to launch that campus and Bill is still going to lead it, but it is going to come in early 2009 rather than this Fall.
Why?
Because God has led us to open up a Mint Hill Campus first - this Fall - under the leadership of Doug Irvin.
I am pumped about this for so many reasons:-The Mint Hill Campus' proximity to the Matthews Campus and the fact that many Matthews people will join it will relieve the crowded conditions in Matthews while our auditorium is being finished.
-Doug is center cut by God to lead this thing in this area.
-We get Bill's expertise and experience in Stone Creek as we move to two services in the Fall, and this gives him more face time to get to know the Stone Creek folks who will help launch the new Ballantyne Campus in early 2009.
-Mint Hill is crying out for a church that is sold out to connecting people to God - people who are far from God and His church.
What can I do, you ask? (I love how you always ask that).
1. Pray for Bill, Doug, and their families for wisdom, strength, and protection.
2. Pray for the final negotiations for sites in both Mint Hill and Ballantyne. We're excited about where we think we are headed.
3. Pray and ask God if he wants you to be part of the launch team in Mint Hill.
I am so glad to be part of a church that is all about Giving Ourselves Away...and that is willing to include people in that!
