A possible land purchase for our future

From the Pastor’s Desk (253)

Thoughts and ideas come to my mind from time to time regarding New Life. Some ideas, I quickly forget and don’t remember. Some ideas, I remember and share with the shepherds or the team leaders, and they get implemented. Some ideas, I remember and share with them but don’t get positively received and therefore, don’t get implemented. Many of these ideas that don’t get implemented, I let go and move on. But a few of them stay deep in my heart and do not go away. And I have a hunch that they are indeed from God but perhaps we as a church are not ready or prepared to receive them yet.

One of these thoughts that would not go away from my heart is moving New Life to a more strategic location to reach more people in Houston for Christ. This has been a conviction of mine from 20 years ago when I was just 36 years old.

Looking at the map of Houston during that time, I noticed that Beltway 8 and I-10 was the most central location. I also sensed that we would need about 20 acres because we are committed to staying with the KSC. So, I asked two members of New Life who were knowledgeable in this field to do some research and then share with me. And to this day, I vividly remember having a meeting with them one evening at Denny’s on Hwy 6, listening to their findings and the possibilities for a relocation. It was a night filled with hope and excitement.

But unfortunately, we chose not to proceed with this because the KSC did not feel comfortable about purchasing this land. (Please read From the Pastor’s Desk (78) that I wrote on February 9, 2003, to share with New Life members about this decision.)

However, the thought of relocating New Life to a more strategic site would not leave me. And ever since the decision not to purchase the land in 2003 until today, I would often think about how and when we could possibly move near Beltway 8 and I-10 because as far as Houston is concerned, this remains the most central location. When I was living in Katy commuting to church, I prayed to God almost every day for 10 years to give us a land that would be about 20 acres as I drove along the Beltway 8 feeder road.

As you know, Houston has developed rapidly over the past 20 years and almost all available land has been bought and developed along Beltway 8 near I-10. But miraculously, the land that is on Beltway 8 and Tanner, which was under contract, came back on the market, and LT, together with a couple of members have been inquiring of the possibility of securing it. New Life’s present financial situation is very good due to our members’ faithful and generous giving and also our LT’s prudence in managing God’s resources. And if we are to purchase the land, the current plan is to do it without having any capital campaign.

Some of you may wonder or ask why I am proposing this. The following are some of the reasons:

1. We are committed to staying with our KSC to help and build up one another. Possibly in ten years, New Life (or ESC) may get bigger than the KSC. In the earlier years of New Life, the KSC has been very gracious and generous towards us. As we get bigger and more mature, we, too, must be gracious and generous towards them.

• As a pastor, I always feel very grateful to those of you who drive more than 30 minutes to come to church. I lived in Katy for about ten years and commuted every day, driving 23 miles each way. It was far. But more importantly, I know that it is not easy for you to bring your VIPs to church, who may live more than 30 minutes driving distance away from the current location.

• Just as our previous generation, both at the KSC and New Life, who sacrificed much to provide us with what we have now, I would like for us to do the same for our future generation so that they, through our sacrifice, could do even greater ministry for God’s kingdom.

• If the decision gets made to proceed and New Life ends up purchasing it, then most likely, the land we have in Katy will need to be sold at some point to help pay for the construction cost unless God clearly leads us to build something there. Also, our current facilities will need to be sold at the most appropriate time.

In order to inform New Life members and make the decision as a family in regards to this land, we will have Family Meeting on Wednesday, October 7, after HOP. All are welcome! It’s an exciting time for New Life!

Your pastor,

Eric