Dear Cornerstone Family,
If things have gone according to plan, I am dodging bears at 10,000 feet backpacking the Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop in Grand Teton National Park. As many of you know, there are few places on earth more beautiful than the Grand Tetons. This particular hike has been on my bucket list for years.
If my physique and backpacking do not strike you as a match, you’ll be heartened to know I’m not alone. With me are a few of Cornerstone’s best and brightest: Preston Brooks, Mark Elliot, Mark Mitchell, Eric Smith, and Carl Ware. If I go down, these brothers have promised to abide by the “no man left behind” policy. They will carry me on their backs to Franklin, or at least to a spot where I can be helicoptered back to civilization. I really hope by the time you’re reading this that I’m not out of breath, but my breath has been taken by the majesty of Mount Moran and the serenity of Lake Solitude.
Closer to home, the churchwide fellowship between services last Sunday was fantastic! I am grateful to Dan Fiedler, Church Life Coordinator, and the Hospitality Team for providing plenty of coffee and goodies to enjoy. I loved getting summer updates from many of you and meeting lots of new visitors.
Speaking of visitors, summer is a time when new folks move into our area. If you see new faces in worship, please take time to stick out your hand, extend a greeting, and exchange a name. Even further, grab lunch together. Let’s keep extending gospel hospitality to everyone we meet (Romans 15:7, 1 Peter 4:8-10).
Finally, in case you missed the announcement, Cornerstone is under contract for the two-story historic Victorian home next door, 132 3rd Avenue South. Mr. Will Kesler, Ministry Expansion Team Chairman, shared three weeks ago about the unique opportunity the Lord has put before us to potentially acquire the building next door for ministry, fellowship, and classrooms, which we desperately need. But the real value would be the opportunity to build a new sanctuary behind the home. This new 300+ seat sanctuary would give us a larger space for our congregation to worship.
We still have significant hurdles to jump and many questions to answer with the city of Franklin. Meetings later this month will hopefully be clarifying. Please pray for these meetings and for the Lord’s direction.
If the Lord swings open the door and this vision is realized, we will be in a strong position to continue impacting the Franklin community for the next 20+ years. But you need to know––for this vision to come to fruition will require significant financial commitment. Said another way, the Lord may be giving us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to Christ and his church through sustained sacrificial giving over the next several years.
Toward that end, we are asking every Cornerstone member to start considering what you might be able to do to help us (1) acquire the property next door and (2) build a new sanctuary. This congregation has a long history of deep generosity. Let’s maintain that commitment and be ready when the time comes to give sacrificially of the resources our Father has stewarded to us.
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us. Until then, let’s pray, pray, and pray some more. And let’s get prepared to give, give, and give some more.
Your servant,
