I’m still in awe of the incredible way God showed up in our Healing Place Church Arena as we read through the Bible in there last week. Apparently I’m not the only one, either. Check out this email I got from our friend Stacie Gardana:

Just wanted you to know how amazing I think it was having the Bible read this week and that watching online really touched me. I wasn’t able to be there to read but I was able to watch the the first reader and kept it on whenever I was near the computer at night. I also got up and turned it on first thing in the mornings. I was so inspired and hopeful of the things to come in our new space. It was such a reverant moment hearing, “In the beginning.” At some point during the week, I realized there was such a feeling of safety knowing that there were others keeping watch during the night. I wonder if that was the feeling people had in cities knowing that there was someone in the watch tower keeping an eye on things? It gave me a new vision of HPC truly being that city on a hill. We are a people who can bring God’s peace and feeling of safety to the hurting. We know it is not about a building but about each and every person who steps into the building and each person who is sent out from that building.

I can’t wait to hear about the miracles that God began this weekend.

I really like what Stacie said about the watchmen on the wall. During our reading through the Bible, over 300 people participated. We read all 66 books of the Bible, then the Gospels and Acts again. That means we read almost 900,000 words, over 35,000 verses, and 1,326 chapters. Those 300 people were like watchmen – keeping watch in the Word of God through the night. What a great way to begin preparing ourselves for moving in to our new worship space… with the reading of God’s Word.

Thank you to those who read, and those who watched live online. I believe you were part of something that in the spiritual realm was a historical time for us as a church.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” - Hebrews 4:12 NLT