Moving Forward

Imagine with me the opening credits of each Star Wars film.

Each line moving farther away from the viewer - getting smaller as it goes.

Each time telling a little bit more of the story, but leaving you wanting more.

Excitement builds because you're moving forward in the ongoing saga.

 

 

Well, our permit saga with the city has ended! And now we are moving forward to the next part of our story. But let's have a quick recap...

 

After months of hold-ups with health permits (due to misinformation and building 'needs' based on the whim of the inspector), we got our health permit on September 2nd. (I'll pause here for the raucous applause.)

 

And then September 17th saw our fire marshall inspection permit come to pass. This was another unexpected challenge as we were made to get an OUTSIDE exit sign to hang up on the building behind us. A retired Baltimore City electrician told us he had never even heard of that in all his jobs in the city in over 40 years. But we got it done.

 

Finally, September 18th came. And with much trepidation, we submitted to the final building inspection. God's mercy shone down on us, and within an hour of the building inspector checking out the space, I was down at the permit office getting our final permit!

 

'These things I have spoken unto you, that in me, you might have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world.' John 16:33

 

This verse gave me hope for the past 6 months as we battled to get this project done. And I say battled, because I believe God's spiritual forces in the heavenly realms were waging war on our behalf to get the doors of The Light opened up at 1015 N Charles St. And through the prayers of the saints - and the many who were the hands and feet in getting the physical work taken care of - God got it done.

 

So now what? 

 

The temptation is to take a break. Sit back. Enjoy the fruit of our labor. 

 

But the reality is, the building isn't the fruit that we're looking for! God didn't call us to start The Light so we could get a another building refurbished in Baltimore. It was just one of the chapters in the beginning of our our epic story!

 

Now comes the part where we join Him in His work. 

 

But here's what the building is allowing us to do: 

• Sunday mornings from 9-10 we have 9 people meeting for discipleship.
• Sunday mornings from 11-12:30 we have our Sunday service.
• Monday nights we have leadership meetings.
• Tuesday mornings from 7:30-8:30 is journaling and discussion.
• Wednesday nights we have our misional community service.  - About 30 people are coming out for Bible study, men's small group, prayer group, and women's small group.
• Thursday thru Saturday nights are open from 5-9 for gallery viewing and informal hanging out.
• And Fridays or Saturdays from now til Christmas have Art show openings/Poetry slams/Open Mic Nights/Art-worship nights and more taking place.

 

All these things we have a place for now. A gallery where artists, students, graduates, neighbors and friends can experience the love of Jesus and the warmth of a place to belong as they see what a creative God we serve.

 

And those are just the things happening at 1015 N Charles St.

 

Be praying for teams of our MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) students as they do a 'Dorm Storm' this coming week - October 6-9. They'll be going 2x2 to each floor, knocking on doors and passing out information about The Light and our upcoming art show opening on the 10th.

 

We were just on campus on Friday September 26th for a community invlovement fair. We were invited to be there by the school and were able to make several great connections with different organizations such as the MICA Alumni Newsletter. They offered to include all of our gallery info and show information in every newsletter! We also were able to meet some 60 students in the two hours the fair ran and get contact information for art work submissions.

 

We were also featured as 'Critics Pick' in Baltimore's 'City Paper' for the mural organized and done by four of our members at one of the top hostels in the world here in Baltimore. One of the things that made this so exciting was that the mural was reviewed in the 'Best of Baltimore' edition of the paper. Easily one of the biggest issues of the year!

 

So, from on-location events to off-location events, people are hearing more and more about The Light. Thanks for all your prayers and support as we step up our outreach and programming to make use of what God has given us!