Coach’s Corner

IT’S OFFICIAL!

The Grove Church will be changing it’s name to Second Chance Church.

There are many developments and sources of input that have contributed to this change.  When taken in total, it seems abundantly clear that God has been urging us to follow this path. Here’s a brief overview of how this came to pass:

• We began in a living room 4 years ago and named ourselves The Grove.  There was some very intentional imagery and symbolism in that name.  The word grove is defined as something that is “planted to bear fruit“.  That’s exactly what we intended to do.
• As we met and sought God’s direction for our church, we discerned that God was challenging us to become a church that accomplished the Great Commision and the Great Commandment while also connecting to men and raising them up in their faith.
• Shortly after our grand opening, we realized we needed more space than the location we were meeting in provided.  Some of our men were aware of a building that was currently up for sale.
• Those men went to check out the building after hours and discovered it to be unlocked… it was if they were being invited in.
• I was informed of this the next day and went to check out the building myself.  Upon walking in the lobby, I spotted a piece of stained glass with the initials SC standing out.  I learned that the building had once been a nightclub called Second Chance.
• The building had fallen on some hard times and was actually slated for destruction.  Our discussions to purchase the building gave the building a second chance for survival.
• After our purchase, several ministry leaders, including Dave Murrow and Bill Perkins, strongly suggested we change the name to Second Chance Church.  Their thinking was that it was a name that immediately implied some real meaning for those considering attending.  Who doesn’t need a second chance in life?  How many people need to give faith and God a second chance?  How many of us need to give others a second chance?  Someone even offered that if the Bible had a subtitle it would probably be, The Holy Bible, A Book of Second Chances!
• Since this began gathering some momentum of it’s own, I have conferred with numerous people in ministry circles about the name.  Every one of them… AND I MEAN EVERY ONE… has immediately responded enthusiastically about the name and what it means.
• Our advisory team of men began contemplating the name change about 6 weeks ago and we advised our congregation about the possibility two weeks ago.  Yesterday, after giving a few more thoughts about the possibility of a change, our people agreed enthusiastically to change the name.

We are excited about the depth of meaning that this name implies.  I have needed numerous second chances in different areas of my own life.  And it is the amazing grace and love of Jesus Christ that has granted those chances.  I didn’t deserve them, but I desparately needed them.  Every one of us speak to that truth in our own experience.  God is in the work of redeeming things.  He illustrated that in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  But he doesn’t just stop with people.  He redeems things that were once used for other purposes but are now used for his glory.  The very building we are in has been saved and redeemed from destruction.  What a powerful picture for us all.  To say that we go to Second Chance Church immediately offers an opportunity to share the story of how God has given us a second chance.  It’s an open door to share the good news of Jesus.

There will be details to be worked out.  There will be existing things that will go through some change.  But we are now and will always be a church that celebrates Second Chances.