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It’s a simple sign sprouting from a flat patch of North Texas prairie:
Future Church Home of Prestonwood. But to Pastor Jack Graham, it
speaks volumes.
“It reminds us that this isn’t another church; this is Prestonwood – one
church at two locations. I encourage everyone to go and look at the
property and pray for the people of that region and pray that we’ll get done
what we’re praying for in these days.”
And, these days, the excitement surrounding the North Campus is electric
with energy, with families signing up daily. They come from different
backgrounds and they come for different reasons, but they share a calling
– setting the foundation for the North Campus in this “new frontier” of
flourishing communities near U.S. Highway 380 and the future extension
of the Dallas North Tollway in Prosper.
On a Wednesday evening in April, families headed off to make history
in the life of Prestonwood. They were among the more than 200 who
gathered for the first time in homes, much like the early church of the
New Testament did, in Prosper and Frisco and other nearby cities.
As people shared testimonies,
it became clear that God had been
moving in hearts just as He’d been
moving in the heart of Pastor Graham.
For about 18 months, Pastor
Graham had been praying about the
purchase of 120 acres of land near
that intersection.
And what Prestonwood staff and
members and others learned little by
little is that the Holy Spirit had been
calling many to be a part of this “new
thing.”
“To meet new people and hear their hearts, you would think they’d been
a part of Prestonwood forever,” said North Campus Pastor Matt Surber.
“Most of these people have never been to our church. This just confirms
that God is moving and He is putting the same desire in people’s hearts.”
Mark and Teresa Robertson heard about the new campus from a friend.
The Robertsons had helped start a church in
Plano then joined a smaller church upon moving
to Prosper.
“But for about a year, we hadn’t really felt
like we were being fully used to our capacity,”
Teresa said. “We asked, ‘Lord, what do you want
us to do?’ When we heard about the North
Campus, we knew immediately that this was
the right thing.”
The Robertsons, who have 9- and 12-year-old daughters, felt moved to
offer their home as the Bible study location for middle-schoolers, taught
by Carter Morris, a student minister at Prestonwood. The first week, 21
students attended. The second week, it grew to nearly 40.
The students played hard but also prayed hard. While some enjoyed
“knock out” basketball, others played football. And while some jumped
on the trampoline, others played catch with Shadow, the Robertsons’ tireless
Labrador/Chow mix. They filled up on sodas and ice cream sundaes.
But Carter made it clear, “We’ll have fun, but when it
comes time for Bible study, we get serious.”
And, frankly, that’s one of the things that has attracted
students.
Jordan Airhart’s parents are hosting a Home Bible
Study Group, so he attended the students’ group the
first week. He thought it was so cool, he invited six
friends the second week.
“It’s fun and all, but I like having a cool youth minister who really teaches
you and not someone who just gives you a message and goes home,”
Jordan said.
The fact that many of these families are young families has been apparent
in the need for childcare. At the Indoor Bounce Party in Prosper,
where Prestonwood initially provided childcare for newborns to sixth
graders, the numbers reached upwards of 80 children.
The Kauffmans are among those young families. Grant and Carmen,
who have three young children, joined Prestonwood
just a few months ago, were baptized on
Christmas Day, and began getting settled in with
their new church family. But when the McKinney
couple heard Pastor Graham talk about the
“new frontier,” they saw the new location as a
great opportunity.
Now, they are pleased to be meeting new friends at a Home Bible
Study Group hosted by Jim and Cheryl Wicker, not having to drive as
far to church, and seeing a new congregation spring forth. Starting on the
ground floor allows for a unique chance to serve and help in any way they
can, Grant said.
“To have this wonderful thing that’s a part of our life move closer to us
– it’s hard to describe,” he said.
Though the new location will make it more convenient for members
like the Kauffmans, Pastor Graham said that is really not the priority.
“We’re doing it because our members there, so many of them, have
come to us and said, ‘We want to reach our neighborhoods for Christ; we
want to reach our schools, our kids’ friends, but it’s more and more difficult
to make the long drive and to be involved and engaged at Prestonwood.’”
So, Pastor Graham said, we will go to them.
“We just feel a sense of call, and really, destiny, that this is a part of God’s
plan for Prestonwood,” he said. “We’re confident that if we will stay humble
and usable and available, that He will use us in a great way in that area.”
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