Well, it finally happened! After 2 years of God stirring up Curtis and Amanda and spooning them onto the same ministry page and after six months of praying and planning with a core group of believers, Bayou City Fellowship blew open its doors last Sunday, September 11th. On so many levels, it was the Sunday of my life…and, just so you know, I’ve loved me some Sundays. You’ve got no hater here. Ink can’t convey what growing up in the church meant to a child who’d come from early victimization and was all but paralyzed by fear and insecurity. I know my story is not everyone’s but, for me, church was a safe place. A happy place. A lively place even long before the days of praise bands and raised hands. It was there in that small circle of Sunday school chairs in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that I met the love of my life. It was there that I memorized my first Bible verses and, there, my head plunged beneath the waters of baptism at the ripe old age of nine.
If I’m counting them right, I’ve belonged to about 6 or 7 churches in my 54 years and most of those changes were necessary because of moves. I can’t say that a single one of them was intolerable. If you’ve been around the LPM blog very long, you may know how dearly I loved HFBC and what tears I shed in saying goodbye to the church where I’d worshipped for almost 30 years. At first the sense of lostness was palpable. Then, suddenly, as I crouched with other believers way out on that limb, in the throes of desperate prayer, and complete dependence on God for this infant church, it was like quart of Red Bull started coursing through my veins. People would ask from time to time, “Are you guys scared?” Well, alive is more like it. Alive and AWAKE.
It’s been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been part of. Many of you who have been involved in church plants have said the same thing. I guess one reason is because it’s just so out there. History can’t make it float. Heritage can’t make it float. Habit can’t make it float. Only Jesus can make it float. If He does not shine His face upon us, we will fizzle out like a year-old sparkler on the 4th of July. The other big thing from a personal standpoint, making it so exhilarating is the band of new relationships. How often does somebody make 50 new friends without getting on Facebook? I know at least 20 children’s names and they know mine. OK. So I have candy in my purse. Is that against anybody’s religion??
Sunday two weeks ago, we had our BCF dress rehearsal. Everybody on the core team has at least one job to do so we got there early and into our places. (The first wave at 7:00 AM. The second wave at 8:30. That’s my wave. Service begins at 10:00.) I’m on the host team so we mostly practiced welcoming each other at dress rehearsal and we taste-tested the coffee at our makeshift coffee bar. Other teams were practically as busy at dress rehearsal as they’d be on opening day. The utility team and the children’s team require the most hands on deck because they have to set up and tear down every week. God graced us lavishly with space to rent at Houston Christian High School (Beltway 8, close to Hammerly – a gorgeous school and a great one). So, on these Sundays, halls and gyms transform into children’s areas with bright primary colors, songs, sounds of laughter, and stories about a great big God and a Savior who could walk on water. A Man who could take one boy’s lunch and feed thousands. Someone who said, “Don’t hold back those children from me! They’re what the Kingdom of God is all about!” We feel like God gave us one of the most gifted couples in our entire area to head up our children’s ministry. I pray for Dustin and Cassi second in line only to Curtis and Amanda. I wondered if they’d be overwhelmed on opening Sunday but their team was prepared, all the children welcomed and well cared for, and I saw nothing but smiles as I picked up Jackson and Annabeth.
Oops. I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll back up and give you a short run-down of our first Sunday from the pitifully biased point of view of Blonder Than She Pays To Be:
I got there a few minutes behind schedule because I’d asked special grace from the pastor’s wife. Saturday’s simulcast in Lubbock made for a pretty late Saturday night so, by the time I got to the church, everything was already in high gear. This was the scene at the welcome center for the children. As you can see, we were getting a few things ironed out before our guests arrived.
We met for prayer in the gym and, after our pastor asked us to get in small groups and agree in focused intercession, one of our team members also requested that we gather around Curtis, lay hands on him and call out to God in his behalf. It was such a powerful time that I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I could get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. At this point, you realize that we didn’t even know for certain that anybody else was coming. We were “in the presence of the God in whom [we] believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17 ESV)
After prayer, we all scurried to our places. Mine last Sunday was beside those at the front door to the chapel. I will work in the children’s area pretty regularly but, when I’m in big church, I get to be on the team that welcomes people. I always wanted to be on the welcoming committee at HFBC so I’m ecstatic about my new job. I get to serve in this capacity as long as I don’t clog up an aisle or a door so I intend to stay light on my feet on Sundays and move from place to place. (I have promised Curtis and Amanda that I will not let BCF become a place for signing books or taking pictures. I just want to be a fellow church-servant so badly. On our first Sunday, that’s exactly what I got to be! A good sign indeed.)
I wish you could have seen the host team and I staring through the glass doors for signs of guests. Sure enough, by 9:30 they were coming. To say that we tripped over one another to welcome people is an understatement. Mind you, we’d been planning this moment for 6 months. It might be safe to say that there were some among the host team who were willing to elbow others to get to the guests first. I’ll not mention any names but, if I remember right, I think her initials were BM.
Side note: Someone who will remain nameless but is related to me had brought donuts for the team to dress rehearsal the week before and I couldn’t eat one because of a bread-fast I was observing for the simulcast. I could not WAIT to sink my teeth into a warm Shipley’s on our opening morning and, lo and behold, no one brought any. I said to my son-in-law Colin, “I’m starving for a donut.” (A sick exaggeration, of course.) He said, “I don’t have a donut but I do have some peanut M&M’s. Would that do?” In a pinch, YES!
At the exact moment I threw a handful in my mouth, our first guest walked through the door. Not to be outdone, I flew over there, chewing as fast as I could, and greeted her with great enthusiasm and with tiny chips of brilliant red, blue, and green lodged between the opening teeth of my lifelong overbite. In hindsight, I wish I’d waited. I saw a piece of peanut on her shoulder after I hugged her. I wanted to swat it off but I was afraid she’d think that I thought she had dry scalp. It was a lose-lose. Another of our team members was equally enthusiastic. She showed us later how she’d nearly wrapped herself like a pretzel around the first guest she got to greet. (Don’t be scared to visit. If we can’t bring ourselves to settle down some over the next few weeks, we overzealous ones are prepared to take medication. Or have it forced upon us. Maybe we could wear a relaxation patch of some kind.)
Then I looked inside the chapel – still about 25 minutes before the service – and spied two women from the back with really cute gray hair. I descended upon them like a seagull dive-bombing a surf. We are hoping to no end that God will build BCF into a multigenerational body of believers so gray was one of our favorite colors last Sunday. If we don’t turn out with many senior adults, I’ll pray about letting my hair go its natural color. And I feel utterly certain that God will say no.
Their names were Irma and Joanne. I’m talking about the two women in the chapel. Stay with me here. And, are you ready for this? They are SIESTAS. Yep. Siestas. They live in Houston and knew about Bayou City Fellowship through our blog. In fact, I do not doubt they are reading this right now. Hi, Irma! Hi, Joanne! I loved meeting you both! Are you coming back this Sunday? Huh? Huh? I, of course, asked them if they’d be coming to our SSMT celebration but Irma said she’d found so many verses to be a bit daunting. I bet many of you can relate. But I told her the same thing I’m telling you: it’s not too late! Choose a psalm with 20 verses and get busy!
Back to BCF. The host team got the chance to welcome many people on Sunday. We think we had about 500 in all, counting the children. We were ecstatic. It was the perfect size for our first Sunday because we had a room full of worshippers without being overwhelmed. Our praise to God knows no bounds. Our whole family was involved. I wish I could see your faces when I tell you that Melissa manned the coffee bar. She did a splendid job, but when she ran out of half and half, you’d have thought we were on the edge of Armageddon. The Texas Pecan coffee was other-worldly in my opinion but she quipped, “WITH NO HALF AND HALF???” I agreed. It was unheard of. I just adore her. No one on earth is like her. Colin, Melissa’s man, was extremely busy because he is on the utility team, setting up and tearing down. (She is, too, by the way.) During the service, Colin passed one of the offering plates and, honestly, if I loved him more, I’d throw my back out. I would not trade him for anything on the planet. Melissa sat on one side of our hard-working pastor’s wife. (Don’t get me going on the pastor’s wife. It will put me over the edge. She is taking her place right beside her man and I am so impressed with God through her that I hardly know how to handle it. I have begun to call her First Lady. She has failed to acknowledge the honorific, however.) My older sister, Gay, sat on Amanda’s other side. It is a picture that will be engraved on my mind as long as I have memory.  I sat on the other side of my sister and Keith sat next to me. And his handsome twenty-two year old nephew sat next to him. And it’s very likely that any unattached young woman within five years of him wished she were sitting hitherto.
And, Curtis?
Well, Girlfriend. Curtis preached.
I do mean Curtis PREACHED.
And I got a word.
And many of us rededicated our lives. I’m not being facetious. I really did. 54 is no time to shove everything over to the young. They need you to stick with them. And, oh, Lord, have mercy, I NEED THEM. I’ve hardly known what to do with myself since giving up Sunday school. I have a new job at church now: it’s called Whatever. I’ll rock babies. I’ll tell stories to children. I’ll welcome guests. I’ll help Melissa with the coffee. I’ll pass the offering plate (and probably try to peek in it). Whatever. I’m in.
Because I love church life. Even in all its imperfections and missteps. Even with its questionable reputation. Even though, at best, it can only point to Jesus and feign to replace Him. God used it to scoop me up when I was freefalling into an abyss. God used it to light a torch in me for missions and for the lifelong study of Scripture. God used it to teach me how to take a messy stab at teaching. God used it to show me how to love and to be loved. God used it to teach me how to forgive and feel forgiven.
Infinitely more than that, Jesus loves the Church. The big One. The one we’re only a speck on the face of. We – a people crouched on a tiny new dot on the Kingdom globe – want to take our place, shoulder to shoulder, with all the others who lift the Name of Jesus sky-high for any eye to see.
We want to take our place next to you.
And, if you happen to find yourself shoulder to shoulder with me, you might check your person for a rogue piece of peanut M&M. I’m a hugger, you know.
Beth, you continue to be one of my greatest role models. You demonstrate the heart of a mother, the passion of a disciple, the joy of being the daughter of a King. You paved the way for me to see what it looks like to follow Jesus, in real life…even through this example of your commitment to your daughter and her husband. To strengthen the next generation of faith at the cost of your comforts. Your legacy is passing way beyond your family…it is touching mine, and in turn my own children as God reshapes my thinking and priorities through your example. Thank you. Thank you for your wild passion for God and the way it has ignited mine.
Love in Christ,
Lisa
God bless you and this new church. I felt tears running down my cheeks as I read this and hear your enthusiasm and quick breaths as you wrote. This is so wonderful for you all and God’s Kingdom. Wishing you guys every blessing and sending my love. I needed this this morning.
Thank you for the “church encouraging words”!! My family has attended our church in Shreveport with the same fellowship of belivers since my grandmother’s days,and I’m 56, so do the math. We’ve seen lots of highs and a few lows, but your love of this way of life rings true to my ears. I know no other way to serve the Lord Jesus without first starting with my “home away from home” (Baptist, anyone?) The 4 year olds that we taught years ago thought we lived there. Now many of them are in the couples class that we mentor. It’s just a family like no other! Enjoy your new venture on the way heaven! Praying for you and your family
Oh my heart is just overflowing for you all! 🙂
My brother is getting ready to start seminary full time… I can’t begin to imagine how I am going to feel when I get to see him preach his first sermon! Yay! 🙂
This post full of enthusiasm that I’m excited way over here in Ga!! Can’t wait to hear about the great things God does in and through you guys! I’ll take a peanut M&M hug anytime!
Oh, how I wish I lived in Houston while reading this…I’d be there this Sunday if I did!
Oh Beth, you make me giggle out loud! Praise God for being with your team as He plants another church. Praying for God’s will through this for you all!
Such a delight to read on so many levels.
Now may God bless you today (Saturday) with all you need to do it again tomorrow for His glory! 🙂
So thankful that God is the God of endurance and encouragement…. we need it to serve Him and His church and the world! 🙂
Beth,
So excited for you and your family and all the worshippers. I love church so much that I something think that I might just die from the emotion of it all or at least weep loudly! I know you couldn’t be prouder of your daughter and her hubby. It is so great to be excited about something that has staying power, literally and figuratively. God’s church is definitely the place for that. Love you, Beth.
Lynda
Thanks Beth for the post. As we were leaving after siesta picture at simulcast, I was thinking you had a long evening ahead of you. I was also wondering how the first service went. Thank you for vividly showing us. May God bless this new church.
Thank you, Thank you Beth for this post! It’s my favorite so far! And thank you for the simulcast Sat. I attended with a group of friends which we were all wondering who was the BFF. Good laugh. And I got me a word too.
Thanks Beth for the update. 500 newcomers! Wow! God is good. New City Church in Long Beach CA has been praying for BCF. We started as a church plant too. God be glorified for His work in Houston TX. With much love, Grandmamitz.
Praise God! Lord, may BCF preach, teach, and live out a faith in such a way that people will never be the same again.
This weekend we are celebrating 20 years of Harvest Baptist Church. Our senior pastor began this church in the basement of a bank. Then spent 7 years at the Middle School in our tiny Ohio town. Now we have a beautiful church building which has been expanded and we continue to grow and see hearts changed by Jesus. We have just hired our 4th pastor and glory to God I am serving as the director of our brand new women’s ministry. (Please pray for me and this ministry).
I pray that God will do huge things with this infant church all to the glory of His great Name!!!
You have such a colorful way of expressing yourself! Love it!
Beth, God bless you and yours! My daughter, Kelly, son-in-law, Rondell and my precious three year old granddaughter, Kaidance recently rededicated themselves at their home (and my old home) congregation. Nothing (save God himself and spending time with them) gives me more joy that listening to Kelly talk about God and her church family! I’m finally discussing God’s Word with my daughter!!!!! I’ve prayed for godly women to mentor her because Mom is so far away (I in Sacramento and she in OKC) and through my heart is bruised ever so slightly to hear my baby girls talk about “Ms. Carol” (and old friend who is being a second mama and grandma to them) so much, I rejoice in the fact that God has answered prayers and overflowed my cup in knowing she is a part of a loving, welcoming and encouraging church family.
Enjoy your babies with your Lord,
Gwen
Ever see those M&M commercials? I could just see a whole one, sitting on the lady’s shoulder with a smug expression, going “You missed one.” Hmm..an angel M&M on one shoulder and a…ahhh..never mind! I only came on here to say two words: “YOU ROCK!” 🙂
Blessed be the Name of the Lord,
Carol in AL
Thank you so much for your loving tribute to both this specific church and church in general. I hear so much criticism (especially from fellow church-goers) about church and it hurts my heart. I, too, love church and have so many happy memories of growing up in church. I thank God for the wonderful people who ministered to me through the church and now I try to give back in as many ways as I can. If that makes me a “church-nerd” so be it. I’m glad to know there are others out there who feel the same way!
blessed…that’s all I got…just blessed!
Your enthusiasm is so contagious! I love it. I have to admit though, you stopped me cold when you said it’s not too late to join the Siestas…just pick a book of Psalms with 20 verses and get to it. Can I? Can I really? I SO want to be a part of it!
Many prayers going to your family
OHMYWORD!!!!! i am just spilling over with joy and expectant HOPE with you and BCF!!!! how freaking awesome! i loved every word and you have me here laughing and rejoicing with tears of emotions streaming down my face!!! i love church for some of the same reasons -for being my family and the safe place of healing and growth its been in my life. too much love for words. I AM SO EXCITED WITH YOU!!!!! i want to come visit!!! 🙂 and if you leave peanut chunks on my shoulder there is a good chance my coffee splashed back at you so we’ll just call it even.
How exciting! Thanks for sharing. It’s so encouraging to hear/read what God is doing, evenmoreso with your family’s love for God and His kingdom. Grace, love and mercy lavished to you all! Continue on… Eph 3:20-21
LOVED reading this update! I’ve been so excited and praying, so I kept checking Twitter to see how things went, but I’m such a detail person that I was even more excited to be able to read this! Definitely will continue to pray as God continues to lead everything and everyone involved with BCF and more. . .
Thanks for sharing your day Beth! We are also part of a church plant at Calvary East Valley, meeting in a school and setting up and tearing down every week. It’s been a blessing to be a part of and to be in this chapter of service to HIM. My boys get to experience what it means to serve early on. I am thankful, even though at times it can be daunting, it is so good to see His hand in it all.
Wanted to thank you for the simulcast too. My sister and I joined at Red Mountain Community Church and it was such a blessing. My sister came to visit for a full 2 weeks ( from IN), a God-thing as we had not been together for 4 years. To look in each other’s eyes and say that ending declaration was just priceless. We both expressed how our mom was looking down from Heaven and smiling!
Love in HIM,
Karen from AZ
We were there and it was just as awesome for those of us visiting BCF for the first time as it was for Beth and the rest of the core group. Praise God.
For some reason this post is making me ball my head off! I’ve been sensing for a time now that God is moving me away from my church and I’m yearning for a church like this! So thrilled for you all that get to be a part of that! Praying about my jealousy right now! 🙂
Thanks for taking us along for the ride of your first open Sunday. May the Lord continue to bless you all as you follow Him in obedience!
Oh Beth, that was beautiful! I was praying for your new church last week, and it’s wonderful to hear how many people showed up and how God was working through all of you! (And I’m with Melissa on the half-and-half!)
What a blast to read this post! Sometimes church can seem just like another place we have to deal with for the week with misunderstandings between members, meetings to attend, and lessons to plan BUT your post made me concentrate on the many blessings you receive when you attend church. The great hymns, sermons touched by God, smiling faces and hugs from your Sunday school kids.
I have to share a story from a little boy who has just started coming to my SS class (grades 1st – 3rd). He was telling the story of Joseph including the betrayal of his brothers, hardships in Egypt and journey to leadership in Egypt. He got the whole story right which really impressed me BUT he got Joseph’s name wrong and called him John. I told him he did a great job but the man’s name was Joseph. So later in the SS hour he told me the story of Joseph again but this time Jonah was the name he used. What a blessing. And to think if I hadn’t showed up that Sunday I would have missed it.
This just brought me to tears! I’m so excited for your family – and for the community that God will bless through this work! Both of my kids have hearts for church planting and I so hope they land somewhere close by when school/seminary is done so I can be a “whatever” church worker with them! God bless you all!
Just heart “In Christ Alone” two times on Pandora the last two days…
Everytime I hear that song I remember my first Beth Moore event several years ago. Travis sang this song and while I adored the woman and her books and words and teachings for YEARS prior, I never loved her more than in the moments in which I sang that song with her and gazillions of other women (and men) and watched her Praise her Father. My Father.
Hearing that song takes me back to that day, to that moment, its good.
Love ya deary
Thanks for sharing this wonderful day with us – I too have been praying and was anxious to hear some details. Praising God for all He is doing….
Blessings to you all!
Oh Beth,
I am so happy for you and your family! I am 58 and I can so relate. I met Jesus, was saved at 9, and learned so much of the Bible in my childhood church. I have had the joy of church planting once in my life. The elation is indescribable especially if your family is gathered around you as mine and your was. The prayers that God answered…the lives that were touched…the ministry that was done. Living in a “free fall of faith” is like nothing else! You just keep gasping for breath..the breath of the Holy Spirit and following God’s lead one step at the time. Many blessings to you all. Thanks so much for sharing.
honorific 🙂
So fun~
Loved this post.
PTL! Psalms 84:11-12 come to mind…For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. You have trusted and God has supplied, what an amazing God we serve!
I plan on coming to BCF when I am there for the SSMT event. I can’t wait to hear Curtis and to worship our great God with you and your family.
I know Im a bit late but was working and having troubles getting on here; so here’s my 18th verse!
veronica, Atlanta ,Georgia matt 6:21 says ‘ for, where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (NIV)
OH! I was rejoicing with you while reading this! I am one of those who would tell you that being part of starting a new church is absolutely one of the most powerful things to have happened in my life. Don’t you just love it?! It is a glorious adventure. And I will add – there is a very special and unique bond among that core group that will last the rest of your days here on earth.
Sometimes I think I may be a bit odd for loving Sunday morning so much. Thank you for your enthusiasm and love for your local church – and The Church.
Love it.
How exciting!! To be able to serve with your earthly family made it even more special, I’m sure! Believing God for good things as ya’ll step out in obedience to Him. It’s all about Kingdom girlfriend!
SIESTA BETH, Oh how your entry took me back 20 years to when my hubby and I were a young couple (pre-children) who were part of a church plant! We found the church when the first 59 members were renting space in THE MALL of all places! Worship and shopping in the same place, well, some people thought they had a slice of heaven on earth! Anyhooo, we were delighted to then be in on all the planning and working on the actual construction of our church building. It was so exhilerating to be part of something bigger than yourself, knowing God had it all planned out who He was going to bring into those doors. We were a tight-knit bunch who felt like family to each other when you are all trusting God together for a common goal of reaching souls. You will be utterly amazed at the bond you “planters” will have in these first months/years. So I am THRILLED for your family as you experience what God has already done to open the doors, and what big stuff He has in mind in the days ahead! Awesome awesome! What JOY! I am sitting here smiling to my little self as I think on God’s provision for your church! PTL! How I do wish we could get in on the experience all over again with you, but MN is a bit of a commute to Houston on a Sunday morn! : )
so happy for u!!!
Sweet Beth,
We continue to send our prayers and blessings to you down at BCF. It is exciting to hear how God is answering our prayers 🙂 Can’t wait to come visit in January!!
This is way beyond exciting! Sounds like everyone involved is truly loving the chance they have to serve the Kingdom in this way! Such a great way to love on your community.
M&M Hugs,
Lynda
Dear Siesta Mama,
I want to thank you for the live event last weekend!!! our “small” group of two, were very encouraged and challenged to say the least. I had bookmarked the new church website and have been praying for well actually as long as Amanda had posted it on her blog. I am so excited, amazed and Jesus, and thrilled for you all in this new ministry. I am also aware that anytime we do anything for KING JESUS, someone always wants to try and rip on it. I respect that you have boundaries in place to honor this new ministry. Many hugs, much love and prayer!!
Does anyone know whether or not those horses that were shown at the Simulcast survived? I have a dear friend that was concerned and wanted me to ask.
Thanks 🙂
Beth, I cracked up reading this. I felt like you were telling just me how things went! Hahaha. I, too, have been in that untimely space between stuffing something in my mouth and needing to greet someone!! haha You’ve given me a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the value of gathering on Sunday mornings. I’ve done it my whole life and have skipped out a couple of months here and there but have needed to take another look and see it through Jesus’ eyes.
Enormous blessings to you all. I have no doubt that you’ll have hair colors of every sort clogging up the rows of seats in no time at all!!
Margie
I loved this post. My husband was on staff at a church plant and this brought back many memories. Unfortunately we had to leave the church with broken hearts and dreams. It was nice to hear an exciting, positive side to starting a new church! It helped to remember the things that were good even amongst the pain.
Amazing!!! What a blessing to read this blog. Thanks be to God for your words…It puts so many feelings I have into real words for me…
I will pray for the new church!!
PS We’ve met face to face in Nashville, TN!! I’ll never forget it!
Thank you for this post. I am still laughing my head off about the peanut M&M’s. God love her!
Enjoy your Sundays.
I am so happy and excited for you all! May God bless your fellowship. Would love to visit, if I was a bit closer!
I wanted to die when I read you have been calling Amanda the First Lady!! And then I almost did die when you used the term “honorific”! LOVE!!! (I was at the simulcast and totally got it!). Congratulations to BCF and its first Sunday! May your second Sunday be just as wonderful!
THE H A R V E S T HAS BEGUN AT BCF!!!
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”
Kim Safina