John 4:14
The Story of Wellspring
For the last fourteen years, there had been an uneasiness matriculating in my mind and a burden stirring in my heart for the people of North Carolina. As I stayed in touch with close friends in North Carolina, we often joked about my family relocating there from Maryland to do ministry. However, we agreed that God would have to do something miraculous to get us there since He called the shots. Besides, we enjoyed being Marylanders.
Vision
When I joined my current church in 1997, I remember being struck by my pastor's impeccable integrity and his heart for the people of North Carolina. His desire was to one day support a work in Charlotte, the birthplace of his mother and the home of many of his family members. I had no idea that years later, I would be the one packing up my family and starting that work. Well, God had another plan in mind.
In November 2004, I attended a men's conference whose theme was 'Gathering of the Eagles..' I had no idea why God wanted me there other than to obtain rest for my weary soul. The first night of the conference was specifically for pastors. This seemed somewhat insignificant to my life as a pastoral counselor, staff minister and seminary professor. As I reluctantly approached the doors for the opening session, I felt awkward but curious. Why was I there? My ministry passion at the time was to build counseling practices and support local churches.
After the first night, God began speaking to my heart. I sensed that God was convicting me because I, as an eagle, was rapidly loosing the will to fly. God was using the truth of His word to expose my heart. Throughout the conference I felt God renewing my strength and my perspective. God was renewing my soul and planting in me a vision that was the sum total of deposits he had placed within me over past years. Something was happening within me that was convicting, scary, new, powerful and promising. I knew God was birthing something distinct and fresh within my heart. A church plant was on the horizon.
As I daily travailed in prayer over what this vision looked liked, I began to develop a mission, vision and passion statement along with core values for the church. After I penned all that was on my heart, I began asking God for a name for this vision. God took me to John 4, the account of the woman at the well. As I read and re-read the text, it coincided with everything that God had given me on paper. My heart settled on the name Wellspring Church . "a 'well' of water (truth and love) springing forth unto eternal life (John 4:14)."
Charlotte
Soon after returning from the conference, I attended chapel at Capital Bible Seminary where I am a professor. To my surprise, there was a dynamic gentleman from the Southern Baptist Convention speaking about church planting. Immediately, tears welled up in my eyes. He said, "If God is calling you to plant then you must begin praying for a location.." I'm sure you know what I did. Over the next few days, the floodgates of confirmation begin to point to Charlotte, NC. Everywhere I went, everything I heard, everyone I talked to about church planting pointed to Charlotte, NC as a place where God could use a contemporary, multi-cultural, evangelical church. My life experiences, heartbeat, and vision had found a new home in Charlotte, NC. I am privileged to partner with God as he continues to write the story of Wellspring Church.