Archive for July, 2008

Vision Casting

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

We are less than a month away from our first vision casting meeting.  The Vision Casting will be on 08.08.08 and is for everyone interested or curious about Capstone Church.  Both I (Walt) and Chris will be speaking about the vision, mission, and plans for this new church for Fountain Inn. 

We will be having FREE FOOD for anyone who wants to listen to this crazy idea called Capstone.  The meeting will be at the Barrineau’s home on Main St. If you could please email Chris at Chris@Capstonechurch.net and mention your numbers (kids welcomed) that would help us make sure we have plenty of food.

After this meeting we will have a better idea of those who want to start this journey with us on Sept 7th as we begin meeting together as a Core Team for Capstone Discovery.  You will have to come on 08.08.08 find out more on Capstone.

 Hope to see you on 08.08.08

Why another church?

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Some folks might be wonerding: “Why does Fountain Inn need another church?”  It is a valid question.  The South is often called the Bible Belt because of the number of churches located here.  And the Upstate of South Carolina is sometimes referred as  the Buckle of the bilbe belt because of the image of “churches on every corner.” 

Yes it is true that there are many churches, esp in the South.  Buth not is all good in the church world in North America.  Check out a few of these stats:

  • Recent research states that there are now 195 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the top four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.
  • During the last ten years, combined communicant membership of all Protestant denominations declined by 9.5 percent (4,498,242), while the national population increased by 11.4 percent (24,153,000).
  • The United States was once the number one sending nation of foreign missionaries but is now the thirteenth largest receptor nation.
  • Each year 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors forever; yet only 1,100 to 1,500 new churches are started. 
  • These are just a few of the disturbing numbers that have led many to say that the North American church is dying.  There are millions of people who don’t know Christ and don’t see the local church in a positive light. 

    Capstone wants to change that.  We want Christ to transform lives, save families, and impact a community.  Our message of truth will be the same Good News Christ taught, but the package might look a little different.  In Matthew 9 Jesus said:

    “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

    Capstone wants to be that new wineskin.