In November of 2015, we shared the story of Josh and Andrea Kuck, who decided to move to Chelsea, Mich. with their family to plant a church. Today’s story is an update on their ministry – enjoy!
At the beginning of 2016, Main Street Church was a small gathering of just a few families (pictured at right), meeting weekly in a living room, praying for God to grow their church. As they prayed, God answered. As the Kuck’s and their fellow believers shared their vision with the community around them, God provided a perfect place for their needs: an old factory building on Main Street, Chelsea, as interest from others in the community started to grow.
They started hosting services once a month in July, in their ultra-modern church building complete with brick walls and concrete floors and high industrial ceilings. As they did so, they prayerfully made plans for building updates, church meeting times, and community outreach.
The Kuck’s have been hard at work reaching out to the community around them, getting the word out about Main Street. They hosted several seasonal events, including a Valentine’s Day party in February, a basketball party in March, a kid’s soccer party in September, and a trick-or-treat party in October. This past December, following a community parade, more than 600 people enjoyed hot chocolate, s’mores, cookies and live music during Main Street’s second annual Lights Out event.
“Over the last four months, an average of 45 people attended our once-a-month service,” wrote Kuck this past October in his newsletter. “Our core team is strengthening and God continues to mold our culture and values around His Word.” This past November, as attendance grew, Main Street advanced to two services a month, as well as moving their weekly Bible study to the new church building. However, there are still many changes and transitions ahead as the Kuck’s establish themselves and continue to seek God’s direction.
“As we look towards the future our growth has been steady, however in this rural context our growth is slower than anticipated,” says Kuck, who hopes to launch weekly public services in 2017. “As some of our first-year support begins a natural fade for our second year, our internal giving is not yet to the point of bridging the gap.”
Currently, Kuck plans to prayerfully add to the support systems already in place, as well as looking for supplemental income to free up current and future resources for the church.
“It has been a crazy and exciting year,” Kuck notes. “God is working in and through our church to fulfill the mission He has placed in front of us. We keep that mission front and center. Nearly every week a new family is coming to check out what we are about. It is humbling to see how He continues to provide us with what we need.”
[Connect:] Click here to send a note of encouragement to the Kuck’s.
This story first appeared in GraceConnect eNews. To subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter that includes news and information from congregations in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, click here.