The local church is by its very nature an unstoppable force empowered by an unlimited resource uniquely positioned as an avenue of grace connecting people to the foot of the cross, Jesus Christ and the heart of the father. It is limitless in potential, abounding in love and Gods vehicle of service to the world.
Genesis 28 shows us that the church is the house of God in which people can stop, rest, dream, be ministered to by angels, hear from God, receive promise from God and be comforted by God. The church is a place and a space for people to feel safe, belong and encounter God. We can also see from Pauls writings in the New Testament that the church, the ecclesia is described as a body and a bride with Christ at the centre of everything within the church.
Ephesians 1 : 23
“At the centre of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
On a personal note I love the potential that the local church has to redefine the identity of the community and environment it finds itself positioned in. We know that Gods heart is for transformation and restoration and he uses healthy life giving churches to make that reality come to life.
Im believing that the future of Omagh is so much brighter than the darkness of its past and confident the church has a significant role to play in bringing life love and hope to its very heart .