Fantastic Voyage (Part 1)

Dear Voyage Church family, it’s hard to believe that in just a few short weeks we will be celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the launch of our church. We have in our short existence rejoiced and celebrated much together (I’m talking conversions, recoveries from addiction, a baptism and spiritual breakthroughs), while also having to mourn together as well (spiritual attacks from the enemy, persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as self-isolating ourselves during this pandemic season). I have trained much in church planting, from earning a Master’s degree emphasized in Church Planting, to taking nearly every course my Mission Board offered me and NOTHING has prepared for planting a church in the midst of a pandemic. If it weren’t for God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, I am not sure how we would have survived this year. Yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way! As we look back on this year and look ahead to the next, I invite you to journey with me back to the beginning. When Voyage Church was just a vision placed on our hearts by God to impact our corner of the world. And I pray that it will galvanize our church family as we go forward-that we will continue to seek to be Drawn by His grace and Driven by His love.

Sincerely,
Ben Fleet
Pastor at Voyage Church

Do you remember the song Fantastic Voyage by Coolio? Of course you do! While there are many parts of the song that I won’t repeat, (they’re vulgar and if my Mom reads this article, she’d tan my hide…Hi Mom!) The premise of the song is that Coolio is inviting his audience to take a voyage to a place not segregated by race, gang affiliation (I mean c’mon it’s 90’s rap) or income – essentially it’s the same idea of every Jimmy Buffet song, take me to a place where I don’t have to think of all that’s wrong in the world-I can just escape! As an enneagram 7, THAT is my love language! Forget work, forget your troubles, forget the failures of your past, let’s just escape! I think that is why these songs – Fantastic Voyage, Margaritaville, Some Beach-Somewhere – resonate so much with us. We are looking for that place that will satisfy all of our needs and longings. But ultimately however, what we all discover is that regardless of race, sex or nationality, this destination is not found at our job, our family or our next great vacation; we’ve experienced all of those things and we still feel empty. So then what is the alternative? As Christians, we have come to this belief: 

That this life is not the destination, rather it is the Voyage to that destination.

As we began praying we fell in love with the name Voyage Church because it encapsulates four main truths of the Christian faith. First, there is a voyage everyone of us are on. Second, there is a person who is inviting us to take this voyage. Third, there are other people on the same voyage as you and I. And finally, there is a way for all of us to arrive at this destination. I invite you to follow along with us these next four weeks, as we unpack each of these truths.