Mortar & Stones

What makes us a great church?

We want to be great.  We want to make a difference.  We want to make a lasting impact.  So how do we get there?

Often we look back to the ‘glory days’ and think that if only we do what we used to do, we will be great.  Or we think that if we copy the other ‘great’ churches, we will be great like them.

But can we truly be great without God?  If we want to be truly great, for God, then you and I need to be united together, inviting God to lead and work in us and through us. We need to, in unity, get out of the drivers seat of the church, and let God do the steering.  If this is to be God’s church, He needs to be part of the equation.

So how do we do that?  We pray, and we pray together.

[Watch this page for new prayer initiatives]

Do you have a story about how prayer has impacted your life? We want to celebrate that with you and share it! Contact the church office. We will work with you to find the best way to get your story in front of our community!

It had been a very hot summer, with no rain for some time. There was none in the forecast. The land was getting very dry. I prayed to God and asked for rain. In the driveway was my car with the window wide open. I clearly heard God ask me, “Why is your window open?” In my mind I replied, “Because it’s hot!” He replied, “If you really thought I was going to make it rain, would you leave it open?” I went to the car and closed the window. Less than 24 hours later, it poured! —Bruce Martin

Subscribe to our blog to receive prayer reminders delivered to your inbox every weekday morning

ARE YOU PRAYING FOR YOUR PASTOR? Click here to learn four pressing reasons your Pastor needs your prayers.

Every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., join the group in the gathering room to pray for the service and needs of HMC.

Watch the full video of Judy’s testimony HERE

What makes us pray?

I find it intriguing how when a tragedy hits, people naturally turn to prayer. Even self proclaimed atheists find themselves turning to prayer. I remember back to a day in history that not many will forget: September 11, 2001. A day of tragedy and darkness for so many, and a day where it seemed like everyone in the USA had turned to prayer. Why? I think it is in those moments of pain and despair that we realize no matter how strong we think we are, there are certain things we can’t handle within ourselves; if God is real, we know we need His help.
Why does only the drastic prompt prayer? What if prayer was less about the dramatic events, and more about the every day, all day life that God wants to lead us in?  What if prayer was less about God rescuing us from our pain, and was more about us having a relationship with God?  What if prayer is less about a frantic, individual, and desperate plea for help, and was more about a group of people, who want to know God, seeking Him together for His will and plan?
Like stones in a field, each one of us is different, offering our individual gifts and talents to the betterment of the whole. By coming together, with a shared goal of strength, we can become the strong Church that God calls us to be. With prayer as our mortar we can move forward, confident in the knowledge that God is with us, guiding and directing our movements as we continue follow God into His future for us.
I believe that God wants to do something amazing in this church. I believe He has called us, for this time and place, to be a church that is made up of “generations following Jesus together” who then seek to “Gather and Go.” And I believe that as we do this, God is going to bring a sense of newness and revival to a church that has seen a lot, heard a lot, and may be tired. I am convinced that before any revival starts, prayer needs to be happening.
So, as we seek to be built up on the foundation laid by Jesus; as we seek to be built up together in unity, are we praying?
—Pastor Dave