Being on "cloud 9" is feeling extremely happy or euphoric, but this pastor from Nashville, Tennessee feels he's way above that. He says he's actually "on cloud 29" and his feet haven't touched ground yet.
The reason?
After six years of holding services and meetings in temporary places, Pastor Dwayne Lewis has finally received a gift he and his congregation have long been praying for: a permanent building to house their New Season Baptist Church.
"They talk about being on cloud nine. I'm like on cloud 29 right now and I've not landed," Lewis told Baptist Press two weeks after his congregation received the gift. "It blessed my heart so much."
On Oct. 1, the Southern Baptist congregation Lewis leads will move to the 76-year-old Bordeaux Baptist Church, their new home, in a mostly African American urban community in Nashville, according to the Baptist Press.
The Bordeaux Baptist Church is giving way to Lewis' New Season Baptist Church since the former is dissolving itself after its membership dropped sharply four years ago when its long-time pastor left, according to Bobby Hatfield, a Bordeaux member who has fulfilled the duties of a deacon and trustee.
With its membership reduced to just 16 members comprising of five families, the Bordeaux Baptist Church found itself unable to cover operating costs, he said.
The Bordeaux Baptist Church held its last service on Aug. 7 in a joint celebration with New Season and former Bordeaux pastors.
The remaining Bordeaux members plan to accept Lewis' invitation to join New Season and continue worshipping in the church.
"We're sad because Bordeaux Baptist Church is home for a lot of us," Hatfield said. "But it's also joyful in the sense that God's Kingdom is going to continue to work here. We're excited about continuing to work with Brother Dwayne and his church."
For his part, Lewis recalled the moment when he announced the good news to his congregation that they will now have a permanent place of worship.
"For about 10 or 15 seconds people were in shock," Lewis said. "About 20 seconds later I get on the mic and I tell them what just happened, and the place just erupted in praise. Our prayers have been answered. We've been a mobile ministry for six years."
Lewis said their new "old" church "means everything to us" since "it means that our vision can completely come to pass, and that vision is to meet people where they are, and to build them to know that Jesus Christ loves them. That's our heart. This church means that now we can really do what God calls us to do."
