RESTORATION

Now search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now, and search from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything as great as this ever been seen or heard before? Has any nation ever heard the voice of God speaking from fire—as you did—and survived? Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes. He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other. // Deuteronomy 4:42-35

In Deuteronomy 4, Moses prepares Israel to enter the Promised Land by reminding them of God’s incredible faithfulness and love for them. No people had ever experienced such a miraculous deliverance and consistent provision as Israel had experienced coming out of Egypt and into the Wilderness. As their wandering days became numbered, God commanded Moses to ready this nation for a significant transition: To make the Promised Land their new home.

This invitation to make the Promised Land their new home required not only a great faith (Crossing the Jordan, “Renovating” Jericho, etc), but also, a great obedience. God redeemed them from Egypt, gave them His Law (to shape and form a people for His glory), and now provided them a home to rest from their wanderings. Their incredible deliverance from Egypt, the provision of the Law, and the gift of the Promised Land encouraged to Israel to take note of their great God but also to take seriously their role as His people.

I believe that Bay Cities Fellowship, like Israel, has been a blessed recipient of God’s loving mercy and  sustaining grace. After (almost) 7 years of our church-plant wandering from one rented place to another, the Lord provided a permanent home for us through a merge this summer. We knew the buildings would require work, over time, from deferred maintenance but we felt comfortable moving forward given the circumstances. That said, just days after their merge became official, Hurricane Helene came through and flooded our entire property. Basically, we needed to clean out and restore every space across of our entire campus (four buildings of approximately 10,000 square feet).

Even though we had begun developing plans to address, at some point, every space on our property, by no means did we anticipate the need to address all of the deferred maintenance (roof, landscaping, bathrooms, etc) and damaged property (AC units, stage in auditorium, our entire kid’s wing, etc.) essentially at once. That said, I believe that despite these challenges, we’ve been given a divine moment orchestrated by the Lord to live out our vision of becoming a colony of heaven in a country of death. So, I would humbly and prayerfully ask you to help us create our new home in Ozona.

Phase 1 — Becoming Functional

We’ve already kicked off this phase by cleaning out the damaged stuff from the Hurricane along with commencing  work this week through kindness of volunteers from Washington. That said, here’s an overview of Phase 1 to address the deferred maintenance and the damaged property so we can become functional again as soon as possible:

• Restoring our sanctuary to gather for corporate worship.
• Creating clean, safe, and welcoming spaces for our children and youth.
• Repurposing spaces for our groups, classes, and staff too.
• Replacing a roof and multiple, damaged Air Conditioners
• Developing an official Master Plan with a construction firm for Phase 2.

Addressing these five steps will help us settle in to our new home and provide a space that we pray offers the aroma of heaven for all who enter. To accomplish Phase 1, between the quotes and estimates we receive, we believe that the total will be $150,000. Once Phase 1 is completed, we will share the scope and sequence of Phase 2 — Becoming Optimal.

However, for now, here’s how you can help:

• If you’ve not joined us in prayer, please read about our plans for prayer by clicking here.
• You can give a one-time gift or a recurring gift by clicking the button at the bottom of the page. Just select “Building Fund” in the “Give To” option.
• You can also give by mailing a check to Bay Cities Fellowship, PO Box 339, Ozona FL 34660 or simply give in person at one of our Sunday Gatherings.
• You can even help purchase specific items for our kid’s spaces by clicking here. 

Thank you for taking the time to hear our story and consider supporting Bay Cities Fellowship during this pivotal moment in our journey. Your prayers, generosity, and encouragement mean more to us than words can express. We believe God is using this season to shape our church into a beacon of hope and faith, and we are humbled by the opportunity to partner with you in creating a space where lives can be transformed by His love. Whether through prayer, financial support, or sharing our vision with others, your involvement helps us take one step closer to becoming the “colony of heaven” we are called to be. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in and through our community!