Some 30+ years ago a vision of a New Testament church is Sebastian, Florida was held dear. During the early 80's part of that dream was fulfilled when the land that holds our facilities was purchased. In spite of obstacles, Sebastian Christian Church managed to hang on and move forward. Ernest and Judy Miller began their ministry at Sebastian Christian the first Sunday in December 1992. The then "
meeting place" was costly, cramped and offered little possibility for growth. A move to Sebastian Masonic Lodge afforded a hope for the future, while a thoughtful, loving monetary gift was the beginning of the dream realized. The congregation of Sebastian Christian was determined to construct a building and funds began to amass. God blessed the pure motives and dedicated prayers of many. Plans were completed, legal hurdles addressed, and the building became a reality! Shared sweat and a lot of volunteer hours preceded our "move in" Sunday, September 7, 1998. Paul reminds us that "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work" (Hebrews 6:10). As we grasped the truth, Sebastian Christian Church grew steadily. All phases of the congregation blossomed as new programs were begun and new faces appeared. The second phase was a needed for classrooms and nursery facilities. The "new" building was a wonderful addition. Gradually, what began as a lot of room began to shrink. It became necessary to put up more chairs as worshippers entered on Sundays. Once again, the vision of a worship center began to grow. And once again, God greatly blessed us with adequate financial gifts and support from all the congregation. The result is the beautiful worship center we use today. The history of Sebastian Christian Church will always be important, but we need to focus on the future. Jesus reminds us in John 4:35, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest." With the adequate growing room we have, our focus must be on the work to which Jesus calls us. As we learn more about Him, we shall be better equipped to share the Gospel. We see lonely, hurting people everywhere and we have a responsibility to be Christ-like in dealing with all people. Never let an opportunity for service lapse into idleness. As we labor today, pray for tomorrow, may God grant His favor on us. May we never lose sight of our ultimate home in Heaven.
