11/12/2022
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD.....
Dear LifeSpring Family!
As you have probably heard by now, last Sunday I made the announcement that LifeSpring Church was closing its doors. A decision of this nature does not come hastily or easily, but by having hard discussions, sleepless nights, and much prayer.
We know that this came as a shock to many and because of this announcement there will be grieving and a sense of loss--rightfully so! It would seem disappointing if there wasn’t sadness, grieving, and even some anger to process. This past Monday, I had my time processing emotions that toyed with disappointment, sadness, feelings of failure, and other sincere feelings of dread and loss, but I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
The word “peace“here means quietness and rest; tranquility. The Hebrew word for peace is “Shalom.” It speaks of wholeness, harmony, completeness. I am praying God’s Shalom over us and that we would allow His peace to bring quietness to our souls even during heartache and loss.
Another announcement made was that the Lord graciously found someone that would assume the lease on our building. That “someone” is a church called Word of Life AZ. They are an amazing new and vibrant congregation that is so excited about their new location. I am convinced that this is a God ordained situation and we can bless them and believe for a great harvest through their congregation. We have paved the way for them to occupy our building and to build what we have established for future generations.
Pastors Orlando and Annette Sarganaga are powerful ministers of the Gospel and will bring Heaven to earth here in the West Valley. Pastor Orlando will be with us this Sunday, November 13 to greet us and share his vision for the West Valley of Phoenix.
There is still much to do for us to finalize details of this transition. Financially, we have obligations that must be met and house cleaning to prepare for Word of Life AZ. For us to attempt to meet our financial obligations we must liquidate items in our church to assist in paying our credit card debt and other church related commitments. On Saturday, November 19, there will be a parking lot sale in the courtyard of the building to assist in meeting some of our financial needs.
The last thing I would like to share is our final Sunday together will be Sunday, November 20. We are calling this Launching the Ekklesia, and our heart’s desire is to celebrate God’s goodness over Lifespring Church’s 38 years of life. We will share a meal together, various testimonies we be given, video greetings from various pastors in the region, a final message from me and at the conclusion, Pastor Kandee and I will pray over every person a prophetic prayer of blessing and launching into your destinies.
It will be a morning full of emotion, tears and expectation that God is at work, even when we can’t see it. I remind us of
Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing; now it will spring forth. Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
I am believing God for the “new thing” in your life and that we will see the fruit of His working in our lives as we give Him thanks for all He has done for us.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Barry “PB” Sappington
