You are not here by accident.
The same God who brought our family to Liberty brought you here. Whether you have been part of this church for decades or are joining us for the first time, I believe God has MORE for your life.
When God began leading Tammy and me to Liberty in 2006, the timing did not make sense. Tammy had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and had endured a fourteen-hour surgery. She was weak, facing additional treatment, and unable to travel. From our perspective, this was not a good time to move, but God kept speaking through His Word.
The week we were supposed to come, Tammy woke up crying. She did not know if she had the strength to do it. I was ready to call and tell the church we could not come. Then we opened our daily devotion, and God reminded us again to obey His call. When we arrived, we got on our knees and told the Lord we were there by faith. We were reporting for duty.
Looking back, we can see what we could not see then: God’s plan and His timing are better than ours.
Now, as we begin MORE, we are stepping into a new season together. And it starts with what God wants to do in each of us.
1. God Has MORE for You
In Ephesians 3, Paul begins his prayer by reminding us who God is:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named…”
—Ephesians 3:14–15
Too many people think of God only as an angry Judge. But through Jesus Christ, we know Him as our loving Father. He owns everything. He is our source. And He has brought us into His family. That family includes those who came before us, those walking beside us, and generations still to come. We are standing on the shoulders of people who trusted God and stepped out in faith. Now it is our turn.
God never intended for you to live the Christian life alone. We need one another! There is strength in praying together, studying God’s Word together, and following Him together.
And the MORE God has for you begins in your inner being.
Paul prays that believers would be strengthened through the Holy Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, able to understand the greatness of Christ’s love, and filled with the fullness of God.
God offers you more strength, more depth, more understanding, and more fullness.
There is nothing wrong with praying about physical or material needs. But God starts with the spiritual. He wants to change who we are on the inside. What is your next step? Maybe it is baptism, attending Life Track, joining a group, reading your Bible daily, or growing in prayer. Maybe it is learning to give God your first and best or inviting a neighbor to church.
Whatever that step is, do not miss what God wants to do in you.
2. God Has MORE for Our Church
Paul’s prayer continues with the promise at the heart of this journey:
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
—Ephesians 3:20–21
God is able! His ability reaches beyond our prayers, our plans, and even our imagination.
For more than a year, our leadership team has been praying about where God is leading Liberty. We believe He is calling us to a seven-year vision to expand into a family of congregations, pursuing the lost in Hampton Roads, the nation, and the world.
That vision includes four commitments:
Launch campuses. We want to make the church more accessible so more people can hear the gospel and experience Jesus Christ.
Adopt churches. We want to revitalize existing churches as Liberty campuses, helping establish gospel ministry in their communities for generations to come.
Foster congregations. We want to partner with like-minded churches, strengthening the family of God and advancing the gospel together.
Equip leaders. We want to develop pastors and ministry leaders through coaching, shared resources, conferences, and ministry training.
This vision reaches beyond the name of our church. We want to see God glorified in His Church and create a legacy of faith for generations to come.
Every Person Taking a Next Step
MORE begins with a two-year discipleship and generosity initiative. Our primary goal is 100% engagement.
We want every person at Liberty to seek the Lord and discover what He is calling them to do. Senior adults, young adults, students, and children. Every one of us has a next step.
Our financial goal is $75 million over two years. That includes $40 million for our ongoing ministries and annual budgets, along with $35 million to invest in our existing campuses and the vision ahead. Our plans also include giving $1 million to international missions over those two years.
Behind every dollar are people who need Jesus. Behind every campus, partnership, and leader are lives that can be changed by the gospel. Generosity helps loosen the grip of greed and materialism. It teaches us, and the generations watching us to put God first. There is something deeper in life than getting more stuff!
Now Is the Time
We do not have forever to do what God has called us to do.
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
—James 4:14
Time is measured in minutes, but life is measured by moments. This is a moment for our church to trust God, step out in faith, and follow where He leads.
Jesus promised to build His Church. The question is whether we will be part of what He is doing.
As we begin this journey, open your Bible. Pray. Use your MORE guide. Walk through the curriculum with your group. Ask God to show you your next step.
Start with this simple prayer:
“God, what do You want to do IN me and THROUGH me?”
God has MORE. Let’s go on the journey together.
If you’re ready to take your next step, whether that’s baptism, or something else, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.
