St. Augustine VINEYARD

After our previous Pastor moved to another state we were left without. This has not deterred our faith nor our being a church in the truest sense of the word.

Vineyard is a world-wide community of churches with well over 600 in the United States. New churches are “Planted” from larger and firmly established churches into communities where the unique worship and service style of a Vineyard church might take root and flourish. Church Plants are planed and strategically placed and are provided oversight and a covering from other nearby Vineyard churches.

St. Augustine is one of those church “plants”. Our fellowship was planted from the Jacksonville Beaches Vineyard nearly five-years ago. This planting (as a verb) is still going on. We have found ourselves in many interesting locations over the last several years and seen some of our church family move on and others move in.

Moving around and meeting in ‘interesting’ locations is pretty common for most Vineyard plants, meeting in homes, store-fronts, movie theaters, even renting temporary space from other churches or local public schools is par for the course. It is our way of testing the waters and seeing where God calls us to set our roots and firmly establish a permanent church home. And, of course, having people move out and into our fellowship is pretty normal as well. Our goal, as a church, is not to capture as many people as possible to increase our numbers and finances but to help you find the right church for you. Our growth, our success, even our financial outlook is less dependent on the number of faithful within our church and more on the faithfulness of the family that is our church.

Our current condition is more grass-roots Vineyard. We’ve met in the Mall for a time. We’ve met in a small residential area off of U.S. 1. Now? Now, we are what you might call a “House Church”. We’re meeting much like the first century church (and the beginnings of the Vineyard movement some forty years ago) in the homes of the faithful. We’ve even enjoyed some wonderful services out-doors at a local public park. What better way to experience the grace and wonder of our creator than to worship out doors in beautiful St. Augustine Florida?

As for filling our pulpit, Pastor Arty Hart, from Vineyard of Gainesville, is our Area Pastoral Care Leader and has been working closely with us as we move through our transition. This has been sort of a mothering sort of care complete with sending established ministry leaders from Gainesville to share messages of hope and God’s grace to our church body. (we have even been invited to pack everyone up on a road-trip and bring our service to Gainesville once)

We are not discouraged by our situation. Quite the contrary! We are excited and encouraged by God’s faithfulness and his loving kindness.

Will we stay a “House church” doubtful, but we are joyful about the opportunity to experience the intimacy and personal ministry which is so powerful in a house church environment.

Will we get a permanent pastor? Of course! But we are also so encouraged to see the faith flowing into, through and from our body. We’re learning that church really is when two or more are gathered in His name.