Dedication of NHCC Ministry Center

Last week, Sunday Night Koinonia met for the first time at our new ministry center. We started with worship led by Ted, Greg and Eric, followed by the dedication of our new building. About ten of us gathered in a circle outside in front of the entrance to pray for our new ministry center and anoint the building as the rest were inside watching the children. Sue started the dedication by reading Leviticus 8:1-12 which records how Moses anointed the tabernacle according to the command of God. Tying into this, Dave spoke on how the first tabernacle was literally inhabited by God's Spirit, but now God inhabits buildings, such as this one, by inhabiting his people with his Spirit. And by inhabiting his people (you and me) God in effect can inhabit not just this building, but all of Oakland, Pittsburgh and wherever we go. As Jesus said, "for where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Dave then anointed the doorframe with olive oil in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and we all prayed together for God's blessing on our new ministry center and that God would use it and us to be a blessing to the students and community of Oakland.

We then went back inside for a tour by Greg of the building and some great goulash (pasta in a tomato meat sauce) made by Kelly. After the tour we gathered for some prayer together and had a quick meeting to decide Koinonia's meeting time. We decided to meet 11 AM Sunday mornings starting October 15 until such a time as a regular Sunday worship service begins at our new center.

Click here to see the photos/slideshow of the building tour.

At the time of this writing, CSF Friday Night Fellowship and New Hope's Sunday Koinonia are meeting weekly at the new center. Future plans include a coffeeshop type ministry called Connections Student Center which will feature free wireless internet. Also, discussions and prayers are in the works to start a new Sunday morning worship service there with the help of student ministers, Doug and Kiki Cherry, from CrossSeekers.