Grace Upon Grace

April 2021 is the celebration of  25 years of ministry and kingdom expansion for Right Direction Church International.  In the scriptures the number 25  symbolizes “grace upon grace.”  It is composed of 20 (which represents redemption) and five, which is the number of grace, so 25 is multiplied grace (5 X 5).  When I studied this and reflected upon it, I realized that God is such a God of purpose and perfect timing.  As we get ready to break ground on our permanent sanctuary we need God’s multiplied grace as never before.  

Though I would have preferred to have built this sanctuary before now, I believe that all we need to build and complete it will be accelerated in this season of “grace upon grace” or “multiplied grace.”  When Zerubbabel was concerned about the needed resources to restore and rebuild the temple which had been ruined during the time of the Babylonian exile, God gave him a word of reassurance, “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying GRACE GRACE upon it” (Zech. 4:7).

As I reflect upon God’s grace upon Right Direction Church International over the last 25 years, it was God’s grace that allowed us to purchase our first building in 2000 for $850,000 and pay it off in two years.  In 2002, it was God’s grace that allowed us to purchase 22 acres of land for our Columbia campus in an area of town that the realtor told us we either could not find or would not be able to afford.  It was God’s grace that allowed us to build our current sanctuary in 2004 for $1.2M and then pay it off in 2005.  It was God’s grace that allowed us to build our Family Life Center in 2008 for $4.5M and pay it off in 2011.  It was God grace that allowed us to build our Kids Town facility for $2.2M in 2016 and burn the mortgage in 2018.  By God’s grace, while acquiring, building and eliminating debt, God allowed us to expand our ministry to other cities through our Orangeburg, SC, Florence, SC and now Fort Mill, SC campuses and support missions in 5 African countries.  So if we were to do all that we have done and accomplished all that we have over these 25 years by God’s grace, I’m even more excited to see what God will do for us and through us in this year of “Multiplied Grace” and “Grace upon Grace.”  

We shout to every mountain, obstacle, hill and valley, “Grace Grace!”  This multiplied grace is not only for the house of Right Direction corporately, it is also for us individually.  Acts 4:33 says, “…and great grace was upon them all.”  As you continue to support and help us to expand the ministry of Right Direction Church International, we declare that the corporate multiplied grace manifests as personal grace so you will lack nothing in any area of your life, both for you and your family.  In Jesus’ name!