This is a picture of the church I grew up in - Berryhill Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. The church is still alive today, but this particular building was bought and torn down by the City of Charlotte to expand the airport several years ago. What you see here is the backside of the sanctuary with the education wing under construction in the back. This picture was probably taken during mid 1960's. My mom posted this picture on her facebook page today and seeing it just brought back a flood of memories.

This is more than just a building to me. It's the church where I grew up. In this building is where I went to Sunday School and learned about Jesus. I went to VBS in these classrooms you see being built. My parents dedicated me to Christ here. I received my first communion here. In these buildings I committed my life to Christ, was baptized, called into the ministry, went to RA's, was ordained as a deacon, licensed into the ministry, married, and ordained as a minister of the Gospel. I preached my first sermon here!

My Grandpa Simpson was my pastor here. He is Pastor Emeritus at Berryhill Baptist Church. I can see him standing in the pulpit. He always seemed so big and strong to me. He had a much better preaching voice than me. An image of my Grandma Simpson sitting in one of the pews, a few rows from the front (stage right) is forever burned into my memory. This is where I worshipped with friends and family. My parents had a mural placed in the baptistry in honor/memory of my Grandma and Grandpa Simpson. I have memories all throughout these buildings and all over the grounds.

Did I mention that Karen and I were married here? So were my parents, my sister Carmen and her husband Steve, my aunt and uncles like Merle and Tony, Reba and Steve, and Rita and Carey and a few cousins too. Do you see the door opening to the left in the picture? On my wedding day I stood just outside of that door with my dad - just he and I - talking about life stuff. And when it was time to go into the sanctuary for the wedding, my Grandpa Simpson (wearing the same cleric robe I still perform weddings in today) and Rev. Charlie Smith met us in the hallway to walk in together. I'll never forget that.

I played a shepherd in the children's Christmas pageant here when I was a little boy. My local library was the one in this church. I remember what this place smelled like. I remember the asbestos tile on the floors, the color of the carpet in the sanctuary and the green-apple trees out back. My favorite songs to this day are the ones I sang here from a Baptist hymnal.

Anyway, this is more than just a "church building." This is where God changed my life. Some of my greatest memories and most important decisions were made here - in this place. It's more than just a building of brick and mortar. This "is the House that built me."

At Rocky River Church, we are building a "church building" - but it is SO much more. We are building a place where God will meet with us. Our children will make some of their greatest life decisions in the place we are building today. I'm so thankful that men and women of God made the sacrifices necessary to build the church where I grew up. One day, others (like our children - and people we don't even know yet) will thank us too. Their testimony will include a place - they call "more than a building" - called Rocky River Church. It is worth the sacrifice. It is worth the cost. It is worth the worry. It is worth the wait.

To God be the glory!
Jimmy