Wow! So grateful for the Westpoint Church family and the way we are praying and processing through this possible West Orange Baptist relationship. You have sent in some great questions and thoughts. Great insight and concerns. So thankful.

Some of you have simply called or spoken face to face with a minor point of clarity here and there. We have not recorded all of those, but suffice it to say those face to face interactions have mainly revolved around three concerns:

:: will that facility be adequate for our children's ministry?
In short, we will have to make some immediate improvements to it, but it should be adequate for the short term. In the long term, West Orange Baptist had someone give a gift designated for a building to be built to serve families in their church family and in the community. The designation of that gift would be honored if the merger takes place, and the "new" Westpoint Church family would act on the intent of that gift.

:: will our current leadership structure remain rather than a "congregational" type of leadership structure?
Absolutely yes. This has been the stance of the Vision Team from the first meeting with the West Orange Baptist leaders. We will not adopt their governance and leadership structure. Now, we will solidify our processes of becoming an elder as well as of what it means to be a part of the Westpoint family. In so doing, it will hopefully offer clarity and beauty to all involved of how we can be a church family together and seek the Lord for His direction together, all the while with the Vision Team still making the overall decisions of the church family acting as a representative body of the congregation.

:: how will we be proactive to care about the West Orange Baptist people in this process?
This is vitally important. This is not some sort of "hostile takeover." We are a family, and we would need to see the people of West Orange Baptist as new members of the family. That implies two very important things - (1) that we respect them and desire to see their strengths utilized in the unity of our body serving and moving together in the everyday, AND (2) that we take proactive initiative to LOVE FIRST. The essence of the Gospel is the message of a God who did not wait on us, but loved us first. Took the initiative. The Westpoint family will be challenged to love first, to take the initiative to connect with and begin to walk with the beautiful people of the West Orange Baptist family.


To say I am so proud of the way we have continued to be concerned about the people of West Orange Baptist through this process would be an understatement. I am so grateful for how the Westpoint family desires to engage and involve them as family if this process goes through. And even if it doesn't, the sentiment has been that we should encourage and partner with them regardless.

So thankful to the Lord for how He is teaching us about His love.

SO, without further adieu, in the order which they were received, here are the questions and thoughts sent in with answers below each that will hopefully help answer the concern or question:

1. How comfortable will West Orange be in adapting to Westpoint's embrace of modern technology? How will they feel or react when our pastor or congregation reads the Bible from their media device?  Will they be capable of following our vision or events via the social media?  Will they be really be okay with a rap video for Mother's Day?  Will they feel disenfranchised?  Will our modern approach versus their "old school" approach create a divide?

Great question since we utilize technology so much. The day that we gathered with them, an iPad was used to read the Scripture and notes during the teaching time. We used visuals on the screen, which they had not typically done. The comments that got back to me were all positive.

The communication of vision and events would have to take on an additional facet. We would have to make some hard copies available at all times for vision emphasis and announcements. That would be a slight change if the move occurs.

On the rap video:

All I can say
Is we need to pray
Day after day
and work for uni-tay (unity)

Frustrations to deal
Disappointments to feel
Expectations must be real
For this relationship to seal

Sorry, couldn't help it. Seriously, though, the divide in methodology may be wide in some ways. But the Lord and Spirit and mission and purpose are not. If we are patient to love and steady to sow for the Christ-honoring things, we will reap what Jesus intended, IF we hold each other accountable to keep surrendering personal agendas for His.

Gonna take some relationship efforts on both sides.


2. Our teens are engaged--it is beautiful to witness.  Will this merger engage more youth in West Orange without risking our own students current level of commitment?

We believe it would be a beneficial move. Tommy and the leadershis' comments have all been regarding the fact that the location of the West Orange Baptist campus allows for connection with more middle schools along with West Orange High School AND East Ridge High School, both of which are represented in our current student body.
 

3. Is the West Orange Baptist Church building geographically located in an area that is strategically located to most effectively minister to the people the leadership feels called to minister to?

Good question. We believe so, and here's why. The campus is central to East Lake County and West Orange County, which is where the Westpoint family lives and is being the church. The campus would allow for some unique opportunities to minister to the people of our community into which we were asked to go and be the church originally back in 2002. AND, the facility would force us to send out to make disciples in our respective neighborhoods and start more community churches, fulfilling our focus to send rather than just gather.


4. What steps is the Vision Team taking to lessen the chances that the excitement for “having our own building” or “missing a great opportunity” or the “cravings of sinful man, lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what man has and does” cloud their leading of the Holy Spirit?

Great question!!! We have from the beginning made it clear that we have been being the church without a campus and we can continue to do so. We have also held each other accountable to be praying and seeking and processing, taking it slow and cautious, asking the hard questions, not naive to how difficult a merger like this could be. I believe we have been firm and honest with each other relationally, challenging each other to stay focused and not be enamored.


5. We trust God and Westpoint leadership to do what’s best for our Westpoint family.

Thanks!!! We really are listening together for direction and listening to the Westpoint family, too, as they are hearing what the Spirit is saying. Very important for all the input to be considered.


6. We read the letter that you sent out and were honestly in disbelief.  It's not every day that anyone (or any establishment) gives away real estate and especially for the glory of God....truly amazing! We are excited for Westpoint to have a facility to grow in and perhaps offer more opportunities to reach out to the community because of it.  I'm sure there will be obstacles to overcome but we are excited for the prospect of this happening for the church if it's something that will benefit everyone involved. We are praying for the situation and for the church leadership team.

Thanks so much! Means a ton!


7. What types of improvements are going to happen in the children's ministry if we move? Specifically using a good Sunday school program like we did two yrs ago? I know it was one Westpoint paid for, but I believe it's very important. Also having a "training" class for all the volunteers would be helpful. Let them know what's expected of them.(They are teaching our children), how to teach lessons, manage the classroom, encourage respectful behavior, etc.

Good question. Josh and Kelly are working so hard to develop Compass Kids to keep becoming the ministry and equipping agent that it needs to be. They are so surrendered to Christ and to teaching His ways to the kids and parents. With Josh being so consumed with the Cafe, it has been difficult to focus on the parents and volunteers like he and Kelly desire to do. We are working on some options to help make that more possible.

On the curriculum, please talk to Josh and Kelly about what you would like to see. They are so approachable and open to the suggestions of our invaluable volunteers.


8. What ever happened to our drama ministry? A skit every other month would be a great change to the Sunday routine.

You are so right!!! We are actually working on it. I believe we had some miscommunication in the last month that some of us thought was going through. Hopefully corrected this week. Can't wait to see the creativity and worship expressed in this way!


9. Should the Lord bring our two congregations together, what specific ways will we look to extend grace to the West Orange Baptist folks?  They are used to a very different form of governance and a more traditional form of worship.  It seems to me that we need to be willing to modify our style of worship to include some of what they are used to. The blend of worship at our joint service in Oakland seemed well received and offered a good mix. The change away from a congregational government may take some getting used to for the West Orange Baptist group.  We will need to be sensitive to them, listen well and seek their wisdom and experience that comes with age.

Great wisdom and love here. Thanks for this question and insight.

More "specific ways" will certainly come if the move takes place, but here are a few suggestions. We will need to proactively have meals and drink coffee and recreate with and serve alongside of them, taking initiative to specifically engage and invite them to do that with our families and our SENT groups. Some of us will need to join their Sunday morning small groups that currently exist (Sunday School), in order to "love first" and proactively connect. We will need to allow for who we ALL are as a family define the ways we express ourselves and respond to God in worship, since that is what "worship together" is – a response of our together expressions, not a mandate for our personal preferences. We will need to go serve neighbors and nations with them, because we see in the Scriptures the most profound relationships develop around mission together. We will need to validate and give value to their insight and wisdom, humbling ourselves to learn from and with them.


10. These are my thoughts. I'm being honest. I like that we don't have a building and we serve those whose building we use. But it's not about me. Sometimes I think about the sheer amount of "baggage" from a place that has been "battling conflict" for ten years. God is big enough to handle it... but you know the adage... "one bad apple." It will be a tough uphill climb. For me, driving distance is an issue I'm starting to think about. On the positive side, I love that as a church we are always looking for ways to get together rather than separate. Big plus :)

Thanks so much for being honest. We, too, like that we have not been weighed down with high costs of overhead and debt and stuff that often comes with a building. It is reassuring that West Orange Baptist would not bring with this possible move any debt, if the move happens.

The conflict is hard to stomach, too. It is encouraging how the people of West Orange Baptist over the course of the last six months have begun to unite around a renewed hope and possible future. Many of them, we are told, are more excited than they have been in a long time. The fact that the current platform through which conflict has come would be taken away through this possible move is worth noting, since the "congregational" structure of decision-making would change.

The driving distance I have heard is a concern for two or three folks that have mentioned it. It does add about five to seven minutes to the drive for those driving from the east and from the south of where we currently gather. For many, it is much closer, though. Hard to think of it as give and take on this one, but it really is. I hope this will be something worth working through, and maybe we can give a few gas cards to each other to show some love :-)

And thanks for the "big plus" comment. We definitely want to take Jesus' prayer for unity among His followers (John 17) seriously.


11. We're praying for the Westpoint Pastoral Team and West Orange Baptist leaders that you all will be granted God's wisdom and guidance during meetings/discussions concerning our possible merger. We are also very excited about the opportunity God has blessed both our church families with and graciously welcome the day that we may all walk in fellowship together!!

Thanks for the prayers and encouragements and walking in this together!!!


12. Does West Orange Baptist currently have a pastoral team, pastor, or deacons? If so, will our pastoral team be merging together with theirs, or would a leadership restructuring take place?

West Orange Baptist has an interim pastor and three active deacons. We would not add on a pastoral team member in this possible move. We are still discussing through whether those three deacons would even desire to be on the Vision Team. We will FOR SURE solidify the becoming-an-elder process so that it is easily understood by all, and then give the opportunity for adding one or two leaders to the Vision Team. This has been on the Vision Team's mind through this process.


13. Has consideration been made for the various teams we have created, i.e...together team, vision team etc...? Would these teams be restructured? or continue the same work in the new church family?

They would continue to lead out in the vision that Westpoint continues to hold, hopefully with some new, excited members!!!


14. If any, what group associations, i.e...Church of West Orange, National Baptist Convention etc...is West Orange Baptist currently a part of? Would the new church body continue these associations?

West Orange Baptist is currently associated with the Greater Orlando Baptist Association and the Florida Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. We would continue these associations, but as you can clearly see on our website, and it has been there for over seven and a half years, Westpoint has existed in these associations via healthy relationships since inception. This would not be a change for us. The change would be rather for the West Orange Baptist family. Westpoint also associates with theChurchofWestOrange.com, with ReproducingChurches.com, with the Ekklesia Network, along with a few others. These relationships would continue.


15. At this point one would/could assume that our Sunday morning worship gathering would relocate to the campus of West Orange Baptist.  Specifically, Is there currently a mortgage payment? If so, would we be part of or take over that mortgage? In general, what would our financial responsibility be to the building itself?

There is not currently a mortgage payment. There are only operational costs for the campus and facility. Those costs average out to approximately $4500 a month currently. We now pay approximately $3000 a month for the use of space at Whispering Oak Elementary School five hours each Sunday. We would obviously be able to use the West Orange Baptist campus 24/7. This does mean that we would need to be willing to commit that extra $1500 per month in giving to make that work.


16. Thank you all for taking the opportunity to answer our questions in this format. It shows your commitment to us and our inclusion in this large and detailed process. Thank you again for all that you do. We look forward to seeing all the other questions and responses that were submitted!

Thank you for being willing to send in questions and be involved in the process. WE REALLY VALUE how the Holy Spirit speaks to and leads the entire church family.


17. What is West Orange Baptist's expectations of daily workings and duties of the pastoral team as it compares to what the Westpoint pastors are doing now? How might it change what they do in the future?

Great question! Their current expectations as far as I can tell are for their interim pastor to teach in Sunday mornings and Sunday nights and Wednesday nights, be in the office a certain amount each week to be available, and be willing to assist with folks when there are crises. They like any healthy church family also care for one another and don't just rely on the pastor to do all the caring for one another. We would need to emphasize this even more if we want to keep growing as the church together the way Jesus intended. We would need to allow the pastoral team to be available for counseling and crises, but to see the SENT groups and the togetherness of our church family be the avenue through which we daily care for and proactively meet the needs of one another.

The way things might change into the future for the pastoral team? The simple answer is we would have a central office at which we would keep certain office hours, both together as a team at times as well as individually. Other than that, it is unsure what changes might come. So far, their leaders have not expresses any specific expectations they have on the matter. Please share any you might have with us via email or face to face. Definitely want to have candid conversation about any expectations, since expectations are what lead to disappointment and disappointment to fractured unity. If we can stay communicative and open, we should be able to grow in love and unity on this matter very well.


>> WELL, thanks so much for all the questions and insights and encouragement!!! Please make an effort to be there for the Family Meeting face-to-face "Q and A" Sunday morning from 11:15 to 11:45 following the worship gathering. Hopefully these answers will either suffice the questions sent in or allow for better follow-up and more efficient use of our time all together.

We love you guys so much. So grateful for our church family! Let's keep praying and listening together for wisdom and direction. Look forward to the conversation Sunday morning.

~the Vision Team