Dear Cornerstone Family,
This past week the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met in Louisville, KY. The General Assembly is the once-a-year national meeting of our denomination designed to address the business of the church.
I will take time soon to update you on a few key matters coming from the General Assembly this year. For now, I am pleased to report it was a wonderful week of worship, fellowship, deliberation, and decision making. I am coming back from Louisville very encouraged by the health and growth of the PCA. Stay tuned for more updates soon.
In case you missed last week’s Cornerstone Family Meeting, we reported on several important church matters. Two matters are so important and timely, I want to take a moment now to recap them for you.
Financial Update—Our fiscal year at Cornerstone runs from July 1 to June 30, which means today is the final Sunday in our fiscal year. Last week our finance team reported that despite a slow start to our fiscal year we are now on track to meet budget. That’s a big answer to prayer, and we thank God for your faithful giving to the work of ministry throughout this past year. God is using you!
In addition to a financial update, the finance team gave a brief presentation of the 2026-2027 budget. If you have any questions about our finances, or would like a copy of the handout from last week’s meeting, please feel free to reach out to Whitney Ruff in the church office at admin@cstonepres.org
Expansion Update—Now, the really big news coming out of last week’s meeting was the announcement about the property right next door to the church. We are currently under contract to purchase the historic Victorian home next door, 132 3rd Avenue South. Mr. Will Kesler, chairman of the Expansion Team, shared the story of how the property came back on the market, how we landed the contract on it, and the due diligence process we’re in the midst of right now.
Most importantly, he shared the vision for next door. We would use the existing home for ministry, fellowship, and classrooms—which we desperately need—but the real value would be the opportunity to build a new sanctuary on the back of the property behind the home. This new sanctuary—projected at 350 seats—would give us a dedicated and fitting space for the congregation to gather week by week for worship.
Now, this is all very much in process. We still have significant hurtles to jump and questions to answer with the city of Franklin. That said, we have seen the Lord open doors so far and we are prayerfully walking in faith until the path forward is confirmed one way or another.
Right now, we are asking you to pray. Pray that the Lord would continue to lead the way, to guide us according to his will, to provide the resources we need if this opportunity materializes, and to unite us as a church family around this opportunity to continue growing right where we are––on the corner of Church St. and 3rd Ave. in the heart of downtown Franklin.
Let’s seek God’s face and keep pressing on together in faith. Our faithful Lord will show the way!
Your servant,
