Posted on Sunday, Sep. 09, 2007
Ardent Faith Christian Fellowship
AN UNEXPECTED START: Jeffrey and Julie Watson never expected to establish a ministry on the East Coast. "We're from Southern California," Jeffrey Watson said. "We planned on retiring there."
After Jeffrey attended seminary at age 42 and received degrees in religion and music, he and Julie were looking for the next step. Jeffrey said they had been asking God "what" questions but had neglected to ask about where.
That question was answered when the Watsons visited a junior high friend in Huntersville in August 2004. "It was just blazing hot," Jeffrey said. "But we just loved it, and we had a sense that God was doing something big. " At that point, the Watsons had no plans for a church. They also didn't have jobs in North Carolina. "I wasn't sure what we would do for work, but we were sure that God had spoken to us," Jeffrey said.
THE TURNING POINT: Jeffrey soon took a job as a worship pastor at a church in Charlotte, a 25-mile drive from his house.
He believes God asked him where he was going as he was backing out of his driveway one morning.
"I'm like, `Well, I'm going to serve you,' " Jeffrey said. "He was looking for me to consider something. As we started to drive through the neighborhood, he was like, `Why are you driving past all of this need?' "
Jeffrey and Julie prayed and then gave two months' notice at the church in Charlotte. Then Jeffrey called the town hall in Huntersville, asking where the town needed help and which neighborhoods were in the most trouble.
They were directed to Lakehaven mobile home park, which Jeffrey says is a golf ball's drive from a neighborhood that is upper middle class. They decided that Lakehaven would be one of their primary focuses.
A group began meeting in the summer 2005 at the Watsons' house. They found a connection in that many had been on mission trips or led nonprofit organizations.
"We said, `We need to do this in the context of the local church,' " Jeffrey said. "We just started doing things, and out of that the ministry came."
On Sunday, that group will officially launch as Ardent Faith Ministries, a church dedicated to being a "catalyst for justice and united for the body of Christ in the Lake Norman area."
"Really, the only reason we're doing this is to bring hope into this area," Jeffrey said.
HELPING IN HUNTERSVILLE: The church has spent the summer meeting every other week to prepare for its transition from home group to church, and they also have facilitated several events in Huntersville.
Ardent Faith organized a community service day in May for the Huntington Green community that drew more than 100 volunteers from 15 churches. Volunteers gave free haircuts and manicures, mowed and weed-whacked, picked up litter and provided games and food for residents.
Jeffrey said the community service days are examples of how Ardent Faith can help bring the community together.
"I think God has just used our availability, even though we're just a small congregation."
THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH: Jeffrey said Ardent Faith will be a "very open door kind of church" that's grounded in the word of God but about a lot more than just a sermon.
"We want to see it active in our very lives," he said. The church spends part of each Sunday service praying for other churches because of its strong belief in "the unity of the body."
"Anything we ask (God) for ourselves, we ask for other churches," Jeffrey said.
The Watsons hope to build a church that encompasses all ages and walks of life, and Jeffrey said all are welcome.
Ardent Faith Christian Fellowship
ADDRESS: 13420 W. Reese Blvd., Huntersville.
PHONE: 704-875-7774.
PASTOR: Jeffery Watson.
LAUNCH: 6 p.m. Sept. 16 Sunday at Creative Ej at 12340 Mount Holly-Huntersville Road in Huntersville.
| 