So many memories, so little time! As we celebrate Arborlawn’s 15th anniversary, those of us that experienced the unification of Westcliff and Overton Park from the beginning all have different perspectives depending on our vantage point. I’ve shared before that as a Westcliff staff member, things weren’t quite as rosy behind the scenes. Nothing scandalous or outrageous, but I remember very well the time between Overton Park’s congregational vote “yes” and Westcliff’s congregational vote scheduled several weeks later. It felt like we were being dragged behind wild horses and forced to make decisions when we weren’t 100% sure that Westcliff would have the same answer.
Once the vote was “yes,” legal consolidation began, as did the task of moving from Westcliff’s campus to Overton Park’s. Tables, chairs, office furniture/equipment, musical instruments, artwork, altar paraments, and worship supplies had to journey from Selkirk Drive all the way across Hulen Street to Briarhaven Road. Of course, being a typical local move, it wasn’t completed in a single trip, day or week. That mile and half route became emotionally long and arduous for me. At one point during those first few months, I cried every day for three weeks straight. Again, no one was mean or unbearable, and in fact, the Overton Park folks were very kind and gracious, but I was grieving—grieving the loss of institutional identity; grieving the loss of a building that, even though it had its issues, was still comfortable and familiar; grieving that some of the Westcliff members had chosen not to move forward with the rest of the congregation.
In addition to feelings of grief, there was anxiety from being thrown into an unfamiliar environment with “strangers.” Even though I knew in my head that Arborlawn was birthed and orchestrated by God, it took a little while for my heart to follow suit. Meanwhile, I had let all the little details distract me from seeing the most important purpose of the unification—worshiping Jesus Christ as one body of believers!
Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:19-22 speak just as clearly to modern-day Arborlawn as to the Christians in Ephesus –
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”
Dear God, thank You for giving vision and passion to the founding leaders of Arborlawn. May that foundation built on Christ Jesus continue to further Your kingdom, bringing honor and glory to Your name.
Written By: Sherry Roth