New site and new logo

This last month a lot of work has gone forward to get a few more items moving.

Recently we have launched our new web site and landed on a logo for our new name. The churches formal name will be Common Ground Christian Church. We will be known as "Common Ground."

After a lot of work we settled on a direction and logo that would portray our desire to be a multi-ethnic church creating one culture in Christ. The graphic above is the rough draft and will be finalized soon. Let me know what you think about it.

Also, feel free to check out our website at www.commongroundtampa.com I hope you will see our heart for the lost and our vision to build a community for God.

Clean slate, works dates, and gathering a crowd

Clean Slate: Wow. The lasting work of Sherwood Oaks Christian Church is amazing. I walk through the facility and realize that these students created a clean slate for us to step forward on our construction. No single group has made such a significant contribution to date. But there gift has inspired others to join in and make a difference.

Work Dates: Our first work dates was about preparing the building for the students who were coming to spend the week in a mission trip with us. Though not everyone was able to show up, much cleaning and prep work was done.

Our next one has a lot of momentum behind it. First Christian in Clearwater,Northeast Christian from St. Pete, Central Christian in St. Pete, and former members from Central here at Tampa are coming to serve. For more info go to www.commongroundtampa.com

The next work date is scheduled for March 31 - 9:00 AM with lunch provided.

Gathering a crowd: I am excited to meet April 1st with some of the neighbors and former members of Central Christian Church. If you are interested in more information, click here.

I would love to see you there. Small groups will be launching in April and much of the launch team will be formed from dinners and events like these.

Looking back on February

February was a good month. We have had some family come to town, met face to face with several churches, and work began on the facility.

It is hard to believe, but we are 5 months from the launch of our new work. Small groups will start next month with a young adult group starting first and then an adult group starting second. We have our first BBQ at the Hankos in St. Pete on March 28th and a dinner for former members/ attenders of Central Christian Church on April 1.

Where can you get information about these events?

Well - let me be the first to introduce you to the name of our new work. The church will be formally called - Common Ground Christian Church, INC. (That's as it would be seen on all legal documents.) We will go by Common Ground. We have offically launched our new website.

Go to www.commongroundtampa.com to see who we are.

As far as family, we had a chance to hit the zoo and have some fun. Ricky is settling into school and has taken his FCAT testing. he signed up for youth football as well and will be playing for the cardinals - the local team by the church. Caden is doing well too. He is attending some library classes and making friends. Brody is growing more and more into his personality.

Kristi and I are great. We are excietd as this next month we will get to attend the National New Church Conference in Orlando as a family. Hard to believe we are 2 months into living the dream.

Pray for us as God is growing us and the work in ways we could never imagine.

Mission Trip # 1 is a great success

The first mission trip came off with great success and no major injuries.

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church - formally of Bloomington, IN, brought 7 adults and 27 students to our rescue. Only a few bites from fire ants and one hurt foot were the major injuries.

So what all got done? Here is a basic look at there week.

1) Paint hallways and classrooms on the north side.
2) Clean out office areas.
3) Remove all furniture and stuff into fellowship hall area.
4) Clean facility.
5) Remove and clean up landscape.
6) Levelize stage and repair wall.
7) Check the baptistry.
8) Clean bathrooms & Kitchen.
9) Unhook all pews.
10) Replace light bulbs.
11) Basic demographic work to our community.


They got all of this done and more. The students also had some fun too. The went to Madera Beach and Clearwater Beach. They attended Relevant Church in downtown Ybor City. Oh, and they finished the week with a trip to Busch Gardens.

All in all - we owe these students a huge thanks. Without them, we could not be where we are today in regards to the facility and the project.

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH SOCC!

Destruction is upon us.

The destruction, or demolition as the contractor calls it, has begun. The bathrooms by the lobby have been torn down so they can be expanded. As you can see, a lot of work has been done. Permits are being wrapped up and we hope to begin the construction of the new bathrooms and new air conditioning units.

Please pray for us. 4 of the airconditioning units need replaced. This is an expense of $75,000 - $100,000. Though we had planned on replacing 2 of them originally, the other 2 are were not in the original plans. This has caused us to step away from some of the remodeling and updating we had planned to do. Oh well, we all agree air conditioning is very, very important for Florida. Especially for me. (Danny)