Creative Fundraising

Two girls from our church were at a family yardsale last week when they had a brilliant idea: let's set up a lemonade stand and raise money for PCC's building!

They proudly found me yesterday morning and presented me with this bag filled with money. Way to Go, Angelina and Karley! You are making a difference, and I'm so proud of you!

Thanks for your help!

Pastor Brian

p.s. (for the rest of us) Creative ideas from all of us will allow us to finish the building and pay off the debt. So keep thinking! And thanks for your hard work, too!

Christmas Offerings

Last week, we did something unusual...we took a special offering in addition to our normal offering. It was something we wanted to give people the opportunity to do on their way out without feeling pressured.

We decided that this year, the Imagine Christmas series was a good time to emphasize four particular perspectives or vantage points of Christmas: children, single moms, dads, and God. What does Christmas look like from their point of view? Each of them has a unique look. We also decided that each week's special offering would pertain to the unique perspective we were studying. Last week, you gave over $700 to help meet the needs of our children. I'll tell you more about tomorrow and the coming weeks when we get to them. But I don't want you to be surprised.

I also don't want anyone to feel pressured. However, this is our opportunity to give beyond generously. When God sent His only Son into the world (and when Jesus freely chose to come), He gave far more than was required. He was giving beyond generously. He was giving lavishly. We were in need. God had what we required.

I am reminded, especially as I study the different perspectives and angles of Christmas in preparation for these next few weeks, that God has blessed me - and most of you - in a lavish and superabundant way. Yes, with family, friends, life, health, etc, etc, etc. But, frankly, also with money. And I look around and I see that single moms are struggling and dads have lost their jobs and people are losing their houses and some of them don't know how they'll eat next week or where they'll live next month...and I have the capacity to do something about it. Not for all of them - but if we do it together, we can do something. God gave it all for me. Showing the love of God means, in part, that I am to be sacrificial for others, too.

That's why we're doing these special offerings.

It's not because we love money; our money does not even belong to us.

It's because we love people. Because God loves people. And we are His hands and His feet. 

We can help. Let's make a difference this Christmas.

Building Update

Brian took a walk through the building today and we followed along...this is the first in what we hope will be consistent video updates of this project.

We also hope the quality will improve, but - hey, we're just learning how to do this!


Powhatan Community Church Building Update November 2008 from Beth Brawley on Vimeo.

It's Rising Up!

With the current state of the global economy and the challenges of rising prices, many of us are thankful these days for employment.  A steady job and the opportunity to work and earn a paycheck is something we sometimes take for granted.

Several skilled laborers are working diligently to build the facility that will be our first permanent "home".  We are grateful for these people who are using their time and talents to bring this dream to life.  We are also thankful that we are able to provide an opportunity for these folks to support their families through gainful employment.

Take a moment today to pray for these folks.  Although it's doubtful that you know them by name, God knows them; and their hands are guiding into place the pieces of a building that will allow us to "bring up there down here".  We are fully committed to the vision God has given us to reach people who have been unaffected by traditional churches and guide them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.  We believe that this structure will allow us to reach further, deeper and wider - and to continue to do exactly what God has called us to do.

Your prayers matter.  Your voice matters.  Your contributions matter.

As I pulled in the lot this morning, I found myself cheering out loud in the car!  What an awesome sight!

The cross continues to stand firmly where it was planted when we broke ground.  This is a constant reminder of why we are devoting ourselves to this mission, and Who we live for.

"Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ."  Colossians 3.23-24  The Message

Put On Your Hard Hats!

This was a VERY welcome sight today - the big yellow crane has been unleashed and is, as I type, working hard to move steel into place for the first permanent structure for Powhatan Community Church!

The energy and excitement here at the work site is palpable.  Even the workers are grinning and cheerful as they buzz around in their Bobcats, set mortar and fasten steel beams.  You can't help but be excited by what is happening here - especially in light of what God has already done!

Chauncey Starkey is the Project Manager for the building, along with his other responsibilities as the full-time Church Administrator.  He spends much of his time pouring over blueprints and plans and doing his best to ensure that the building process is proceeding as planned.

The primary task for these fellows today is setting the second story beams in place as the crane moves them into position.  They are focused on the job at hand; over 20 workers are here today, each with a specific task and area of responsibility.

Here, masonry workers are preparing the front of the stage in anticipation of pouring the actual floor within the next few days.  Sawing blocks kicked up huge clouds of dust and dirt.

It's exciting to see this part of the building taking shape, knowing that very soon our musicians and teaching pastors will be standing here leading us in celebration and teaching us from God's word.  Just last night, music and tech team members stood out here on the 'stage' before our rehearsal to pray for the church and the ministry that would take place in this room.

The workers are a fun and cheerful bunch; as I roamed around with the camera, this fellow gave a shout and said, "Take a picture of ME!"  He posed for us and I dutifully snapped the photo, while his co-worker laughed and said, "We ain't gonna replace the camera if you break it, man."

We are giving sacrificially and generously to make this building a reality.

We are getting a great opportunity to impact and invest in lives in a way that will resonate for a lifetime - and beyond.

...Go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. - 1 Timothy 6.18-19 The Message

Each of us has a hand in this project.  Interested in finding out how you can help?  Need more information?  Contact us at (804)598-1174.

One Truck At A Time!

Now THIS is exciting!

Work continues in earnest on our building.


Concrete trucks are rolling at regular intervals and things are definitely moving forward!

Are you praying about this? I hope so! God has set an enormous task in front of us! He has already built Powhatan Community Church by bringing people together. We are now responding to His call to build a facility that will be used to further God's kingdom and the mission to which He has called us.

This is all part of His plan, for His purposes, and He gets the credit. Meanwhile, we get the opportunity to participate, to get excited and to dream big dreams about what the future holds!

If you haven't had an opportunity to hear about the vision God has given us, please contact the church office and let them know that you would like more information about the REACH campaign. If you haven't yet started to give, you can start now. We are all in this together, and together we are going to celebrate what God has done, what He is doing today and what He will do in the future!