This past weekend Southeast Christian celebrated its 50^th anniversary.  I was asked to participate in the sermon and summarize some of the highlights of the past half century.  Below is a condensed version of my comments:

About ten years ago a representative from Howard Publishing Company asked if I would write a book about why Southeast Church was so successful.  I was reluctant because we all know God’s definition of success is different than ours.  We define by statistics; God by faithfulness.

But since God had blessed us in so many ways I decided to accept the challenge.  Others joined me in trying to look back at what had been done to enable the Spirit of God to honor this church.  We listed some consistent characteristics of a healthy church; preaching that is Biblical and applicable, worship that is joyful and reverent, quality leadership, reliable volunteers, a commitment to excellence.

Yet the most distinctive characteristic, the ingredient that’s often missing in churches, is a bold faith that is willing to take God-directed risks.  God’s word promises to bless those walk by faith.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”  When we walk by faith “God is able to do more than we ask or imagine.”

The history of Southeast has been one of repeated examples of God honoring the faith of His people:

1962 – Fifty people left South Louisville Christian Church to begin a new church which was meeting in the cafeteria of Goldsmith Elementary School.  It’s risky to leave the comforts of an established, respected church and begin anew.

1965 – The new “Southeast Christian Church approves construction of an unusual, contemporary building.  It was aggregate concrete with no door in front and no windows in the side.  It looked more like a tobacco barn than a traditional church.  That’s risky.  But we discovered that it’s the people not the building that makes a church

1966 – Southeast hired Bob Russell a 22 year old minister.  That’s risky.  I was from the country and had a B.A. degree from Bible College.  This church was in the city and had some well-educated members.  But the congregation was patient and I discovered that I knew more about the Bible than most of them and the Bible contains the wisdom of God and Jesus is able to make us wise unto salvation.  As we planted the seed of the Word of God it grew and produced a harvest.

1972 – We had grown to 350 people and had a pivotal men’s retreat at Otter Creek Park.   The purpose was to discuss should we grow to be a large church (maybe 700- 800) or split into two smaller congregations.  After much discussion, we decided to stay together and grow larger for two reasons.  First no one wanted to leave.  Second, there were medium sized congregations within 5 minutes in every direction.  We knew it was risky because we were plowing new territory and it made us vulnerable to criticism.  We had no idea how large or how much criticism.  But God is able to do immeasurably more than we imagined.

1976 We had grown to 600 people and needed more space. Some wanted to build a gym, others a children’s wing next.  A committee proposed we build both simultaneously and insisted we could afford it if we all really stretched.  That was risky but it was approved in 45 minutes.  Good leaders develop a bias for action.

1983 We were averaging 1200 people in a building that seated 450 and had only  120 parking places.  We had 4 worship services on Sunday.  A relocation committee reported, “We have found 20 acres of property down street, it’s ideal for relocation and will meet our needs forever.  But we need $215,000 down or we’ll lose it.  Someone proposed that the church board provide the funds.  That’s risky.  But we collected $250,000 the next month!  The congregation responded with a 1.4 million dollar offering as seed money for a new building.

1987 On Palm Sunday we paraded down street to a new sanctuary that seated 2500 people.  Once again God did more than we could imagine and we had to have 2 services the first Sunday.  Soon there were 6000 attending and three services and closed circuit TV and shuttle-busing.

1990 we went to a Saturday night service. For that day and time that was risky.  Catholics did it but not Protestants.  God honored it.

1991 A dramatic proposal was announced to the congregation that we purchase 100 acres off I 64 and Blankenbaker Parkway for the purpose of relocating again.  At that point we’d been in the new building just 4 years.  We were still $3 million in debt.   The congregation voted 94% in favor or relocation and then backed up that vote with a commitment to raise $26 million dollars over the budget over a 3 year period.  I got a note that said, “If we raise $ 26 million over the next 3 years it will be the biggest miracle I’ve ever seen.”   We were informed by advisors that it was the largest church fund raiser ever to that point.  $31 million was pledged.  $32 million was collected.  God did more than we asked or imagined.

1998 On Christmas Eve we moved into the new facility.  Attendance jumped from 10,000 to 13,000 the first year, then soon to 18,000

2001 The congregation was informed of a transition plan.  Over the next 5 years the baton of leadership would be passed to associate minister Dave Stone who was young, talented …and had hair.  He would  become Sr. minister and we’d look for a teaching pastor to share his duties.  Transitions are risky.  It’s doubly risky to announce it 5 years in advance.  But God blessed that step of faith.

2006 Dave Stone became Senior minister, Kyle Idleman had been added as teaching associate.

2006-2012 Southeast church has broken attendance records, baptismal records, launched two very successful satellite churches, the burning of the mortgage when Southeast became debt-free and added a weekly television program.

These brief snapshots don’t begin to relate the more important stories of people finding Christ and discipled, personal spiritual needs that have been met and the thousands of lives that have been dramatically transformed by this ministry. There are nearly 200 Timothy’s that have gone out from this church. 101 ministers and minister’s wives and 73 missionaries, 53 of whom are on Foreign Fields full time.  God continues to do more than we could ask or imagine.

We eventually sent a manuscript to Howard Publishing but had no title for the book.  The editors read the Southeast story and suggested the title When God Builds a Church.  That was fitting because for nearly 2 decades in the early days of this church our opening song was “To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done’

Three weeks ago I transported my five grandsons from Gatlinburg, Tennessee where our family had been vacationing back to Louisville.  I have a five year old who is dramatic, excitable and fun.  He was pumped up about getting back home because he hadn’t seen his parents in two whole days.  If he asked me once he asked 25 times “Are we almost there?  How much longer?”

Finally as we were coming down I 64 into Louisville, I said, “Chapman – watch on your right side and you’ll see something you recognize.”  A moment later he began screaming, “MY CHURCH! MY CHURCH!   THAT”S MY CHURCH!  IT’S AWESOME!”

In my wildest dreams I never would have imagined in 1966 when I came to Louisville that one day a grandson of mine would be so excited, so proud to say, “That’s my church!”   To be honest he wasn’t just excited because he likes his church but because his church reminded him he was almost home.  That’s the way most of us feel about Southeast Christian Church.  When we come here we’re reminded, it’s been a long journey, but we’re almost home.  We’re reminded again that, “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work in us.  To him to be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.  Amen.”