New Creation Presbyterian Church to use grant for its building campaign
June 14, 2019
LOUISVILLE – New Creation Presbyterian Church, a 1001 New Worshiping Community in Hendersonville, Tennessee, plans to use a recent $50,000 award for its $2.5 million building campaign.
New Creation Presbyterian Church, which is running out of space in a warehouse it rents, hosted a barbecue as part of its celebration after becoming a PC(USA)-chartered church in 2018. (Photo by Mike Price)
New Creation, which became an official PC(USA) chartered congregation last year, was named a winner of a $50,000 2019 Sam and Helen R. Walton Award in March.
Walton Awards are given to new worshiping communities for excellence in furthering Presbyterian mission. New Creation is bursting at the seams with energy and excitement.
At its first service seven years ago, 11 people showed up — if you count the Rev. Keith Gunter, wife Amy and their three children. Now with more than 100 adults and 50 children on the charter roll, New Creation conducts worship services in a warehouse. Despite having two services, the church has outgrown the space. The Walton Award will help New Creation move forward with its building campaign, which families in the church have started pledging money to.
Quarterly, on “Missions Sundays,” the entire congregation volunteers in the community in lieu of attending the usual church service. This foray into the community inspired moms in the church to partner with foster moms to create and maintain an on-site closet full of clothing for free use by area foster agencies that care for children in need.
The Walton Awards were established through the Presbyterian Foundation in 1991 as part of a $6 million gift from the late Sam and Helen R. Walton. The gift included an endowment of $3 million to be used to help new worshiping communities and congregations with site acquisitions and capital improvements.
Paul Seebeck, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Today’s Focus: 1001 New Worshiping Community
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Yvonne Wathen, OGA
Jennifer Whalen, PMA
Let us pray:
Lord, help us to love our neighbors as we love you. Let us feel your embrace when we embrace others. Amen.
Daily Readings
- Morning Psalms 84; 148
- First Reading Song of Solomon 2:8-13; 4:1-4a, 5-7, 9-11
- Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
- Gospel Reading Luke 19:41-48
- Evening Psalms 25; 40
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