New Around the Mission
A Space and Place for HopePointe
January 20, 2009
Coming Full Circle -- A Space and Place for HopePointe
Coming full circle, the Rev. Clark Lowenfield of HopePointe Church in The Woodlands, Texas, is rejoicing in God's providence as the congregation settles into their new facility, the same campus where he pastored over 10 years ago. Now HopePointe is sharing their blessings with other ministries in the community that need a place to call home.
Their new location is ideally situated on ten acres in the geographic center of The Woodlands community where 80,000 cars drive by daily. Ten years ago it served as the campus of Trinity Episcopal and, most recently, Woodsedge Community Church.
HopePointe "It is one of the most coveted sites in our area, and so we were stunned when the leaders at Woodsedge came to us sharing a word they felt was from God that they were to offer us the property and take one million dollars off the appraised value," says Lowenfield.
"They told us that they prayed about it for three months before coming to us - so we prayed for three months before answering," he reports.
Since accepting the offer, the church has witnessed an unprecedented outpouring from several Christ-honoring churches in the community who have been extremely supportive of their ministry. "They have given money toward our capital campaign and have donated numerous things for the interior. One church alone gave us tables valued at $10,000," Lowenfield says.
The blessings are overflowing. Lowenfield's passion for Godly stewardship of facilities is foundational for "paying it forward," offering use of their facilities to three separate congregations on Sunday and a Spanish pre-school and Dutch middle/high school during the week. "We have been given so much that we have had the privilege of giving some away to other churches in desperate need," he notes with joy.
"We now have a Korean church, a Chinese congregation and an emergent twenty-something group all meeting weekly on our campus," he laughs. "They have expressed a desire to do a corporate service on Ash Wednesday -- remarkable because that is a day that is not normally a part of the religious tradition of many of them."
Seeing unbelievable waves of newcomers every Sunday since their first service in the new building on December 21, 2008, it is obvious that their new "space and place" have meaning to people and to God.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Archived News
