Frequently Asked Questions & Responses
1. How will we know were in God's will?
It's not always obvious. Any of us is partway in and partway out of God's will at any given time and becoming refined in the process. Most of the time God doesn't show us the end at the beginning but we have to respond in faith to what he has put in front of us in the present. Sometimes you walk through an open door and find, not that you've arrived, but where the next door is. In the past few years, we've entertained several ideas for reaching unbelievers, including daughtering new churches. We saw this as one potential way of growing the kingdom from our landlocked location. We're not going through that door now because it seemed to Council that God was opening new doors, both in availability of land and the potential sale of our property. We can anticipate obstacles whether we stay or go. There is no biblical correlation between being in God's will and having it easy. While the practical implications are less obvious, were confident that God will lead the way if we measure all of our decisions against our vision and mission because they simply restate what he's already revealed in the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20).
2. Do the leaders have the whole plan figured out already but they're just spoon- feeding us?
No, the leaders don't have the whole plan figured out. That's why there were so many unanswered questions when we met together on July 20th. Many questions remain and more will arise. While Council is sensing God's leading, we are earnestly seeking his will by listening to what the Spirit is saying through the church. We need you to contribute to the process by presenting questions, ideas, and concerns that you have along the way via email (secretary@crestviewchurch.org) or leave comments in the Council hanging file folder. All we ask is that before you communicate anything to Council, you communicate first with God. This process requires trust. If you trust us with your comments, please trust us with your name rather than making anonymous comments.
3. What's the interim plan?
We haven't developed an interim plan because until July 20th we didnt know if we had sufficient support from the congregation to negotiate a contract with the Mennonite church. The Mennonites have stated that we would most likely be able to share at least some of the space for a year. Some Crestview folks have expressed interest in exploring options for interim facilities. Council is beginning to anticipate what well need in the interim, but its not too soon to forward your concerns for the issues well face in the future. The plan will be communicated as it unfolds.
4. If the church doesn't change, then why change location?
This was probably the most frequently asked question on July 20th, and for good reason. If the church doesn't change, then we don't need to change location. As Mark has said before, the implications of what were talking about are much less about the location of our church than the direction and future of Crestview. If Crestview is willing to become the kind of church where our neighbors come to know God through us, we will experience the kind of growth that makes our current facility a liability. We don't have that problem right now because we have not become that kind of church yet. That's why pursuing our vision and mission is of primary importance. While location is clearly a secondary matter, we feel we need to explore some of the options God has placed before us.
5. How many people are committed to the move?
We're amazed and grateful to say that we haven't heard anyone express disagreement with Crestviews vision, our neighbors need to know God, which is key to our unity and our future. When we met on July 20th we learned that the vast majority of those present supported ongoing negotiations. The exact numbers will become apparent if we have the opportunity to gather to vote on a formal contract from Boulder Mennonite Church.
