Church of Christ in Texas seeks millions for ‘Restoration Vision’

As seen in the Abilene Reporter-News in Texas:

Highland Church of Christ is addressing the future by drawing on its past.
Just as the Church of Christ has its roots in the 19th Century Restoration Movement, Highland is launching a new version with, “Called: Living a Restoration Vision.”
The church’s goal is to raise $3 million to $4 million over 10 years to benefit Highland, Abilene, and the world. Planning for the campaign started about two years ago, said David Wray, an elder at Highland and one of the chief planners.
The congregation was told of the vision for the campaign in April, Wray said, and the official launch came Sunday when the congregation received a booklet with details and testimonies from church members.

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• Feedback
  The Church Of Christ has its roots in the New Testament. The Church existed long before the so called Restoration Movement, and was still in existence when the Restoration Movement began. Instead of wasting millions on a “new version” of an imaginary movement how about getting back to the basic, simple model Jesus gave us for how congregations should function. I recommend Keith Sisman’s book titled “Traces of the Kingdom” which shows through extensive research that the Church has always been in existence since the New Testament times, without any need for a “restoration.” God took care of the Church 2000 years ago, has taken care of the Church since that time, and will take care of His Church until the end of time. Because of this fact, there was nothing to be “restored.” You cannot restore something that was always there and always will be.

  Joseph Redman

  October, 4 2012

  Getting back to the basics of the Bible is exactly what the restoration movement was about.
  If you found an old table in an attic or barn, you would probably see it dirty, scratched and damaged. You could clean it, repair it, scrape off the damaged paint or varnish. Then you’d give it a new coat of stain or paint and polish it back to its original shine.
  In doing all this, you wouldn’t recreate it. It was already a table and had never stopped existing as one. You would simply be restoring it to what it was originally meant to be – showing it respect in its intended condition.
  The church was being pulled and damaged by men who wanted it to be other than what it was intended even while Paul was writing his letters and John was describing his vision in Revelation. And over the next centuries, it was assaulted by heretics and persecutors and people who redesigned its structure, purpose and more.
  By the time the restoration movement came about, very few still worshipped and served as the New Testament instructed. Yes, God always had a remnant of faithful. But during that movement, people in various denominations across the country began to realize that traditions of men had corrupted the church and they began working to move back to the basics of what had been the New Testament church.
  Denying that the restoration happened or was necessary is misunderstanding the meaning of the word.

  Pam Baggott

  October, 8 2012

  King Josiah wanted to restore the true worship. When they were clearing junk from the temple, they found the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8)! When they read it they discovered that God was <b>very angry</b> with them for <b>disregarding His word and was going to punish them severely. Under Josiah’s leadership, the true worship was restored.
  Reading Highland’s documentation about their restoration, one discovers that “restoring Highland” consists mainly of “renovations in the auditorium.”
  There is evidence that Highland needs a restoration but this one is not big enough. Maybe someone will find the book that tells them how to do it.

  Roy Davison

  October, 8 2012