Summit Lake Mary: Opening Doors
The following was written by Garry Abbott, Lake Mary Campus Minister
What is it about keys? A couple of years ago, my son’s favorite toy was a set of old keys. For him, these were the tools to unlock exciting new places that were the stuff of dreams. On particularly creative days, the keys could open doors to a wonderful future home and future life that seemed both far off and incredibly possible in the same breath.
But it isn’t just my son who loves keys. For all of the reasons he loved them, I still do. A few days ago I was given a new key. This is a key that opens a door to something that is both far off (in some ways) and incredibly possible. In one aspect, it is just a key to a currently empty office building in Lake Mary—to a building that is the same today as it was before I stared down at the gold-colored, notched piece of metal as it was presented to me.
But in an incredibly important way, this key means something far bigger. This key will open doors for ministry to occur, not just on Sundays but every day of the week for the Lake Mary campus of Summit Church. The truth is, the vision God has given this church simply can’t be relegated to Sunday morning. Our call is far bigger and more beautiful than that. Our call is to form a biblically functioning community that reaches people (because they are loved deeply by God and should matter to us), connects in Christ-centered relationships (through groups that meet throughout the week), teaches truth (in the context of community), serves others (because this campus will allow us to reach further and deeper with the love of Jesus to help where we live look more like what God intended when He created the world and said that it was good), and worships God (in a way that is life-giving and tangible to those who follow Jesus and those who don’t). That can’t happen in all the ways it should if we box it into just one day.
Jesus says that those who boldly confess Him as Savior and seek to order their lives accordingly have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:18) so that we can participate in what God is doing in this world. When we open doors to the offices in Lake Mary, or when we open the doors to Lake Mary High School to worship on Sundays, it’s not just about having a space to gather (although that is so important). It’s about so much more, as we seek to be people more like my son, who recognized that open doors mean the chance for something wonderful. We get to be a part of ushering in a kingdom of hope and joy and peace and love and restoration that was begun when Christ came to us and continues as the church is willing to do everything we can to go to others to reveal the truth that all who will may come to Jesus. Keys can be a big deal, because they can open new doors in new places for new people.
What seemed so far off as we began to meet together in March to talk about the idea of this new campus is now just days away. By August 20th, our Lake Mary Campus staff will be up and running in the offices at 100 Technology Parkway. And on Sunday, August 26th, we will have our first services at Lake Mary High School (9 a.m. and 11 a.m.). We will have an incredible place to gather on Sunday for worship, and the offices will be a place where you can come and have a cup of coffee (Who needs to go to Starbucks? Plus we will have better books), have a meeting or Summit Connect group gathering, or meet with a minister for pastoral care. There will be spaces for trainings, rehearsals, and even Student Ministries. All of this means the Lake Mary campus will be a full and vibrant expression of Summit that will allow people to be supported as we take next steps in following Jesus individually and collectively, and boldly invite others into lives of faith.
I am so excited about what comes next for this campus. I am so excited that we will be gathering in the place that God has called us to. And I am excited that as we go, we do it remembering that we have been given keys to use in opening doors and inviting people in. Please keep praying, connecting, serving, and inviting, because those are really important keys to be entrusted with.
by Communications
Category Communication