Usually, when we hold a membership class, this question invariably comes up, "So why the name Wellspring?" It's at this point I sigh and sheepishly tell the story. When our church first began, we were located in Walnut Creek, so we called ourselves Walnut Creek Community Church. Not a great name, but it made some sense. With the name, we were also able to get the domain name wccc.net.
Eventually, we moved away from Walnut Creek and had to come up with a new name. But at this point, so many people (ok, so many people, but it sure seemed like it at that time) were finding us on the web through the domain name wccc.net that we didn't want part with it. So what did we do? We found a church name that fit the domain name. That's right, that type of short-sighted thinking was how I/we processed things in those days.
So at the time, we began thinking of good w-words. My wife was leading women's ministry and she happened to name the group Wellspring Women. And so, we thought, "Hey, that's a good word. Why don't we use the name Wellspring as in Wellspring Covenant Community Church." And with a bunch of pats on the back, we thought we were brilliant--good name AND we get to keep wccc.net. Is it any wonder that I look back at such moments and can't help but give thanks to the Lord for grace to overcome such moronic thinking?
Why am I writing about this? I saw this post at Bob Kauflin's blog on Keith and Kristin Getty's new song written with Graham Kendrick, entitled: "My Worth Is Not in What I Own." You can watch the video. It's a beautiful song with wonderful lyrics:
Eventually, we moved away from Walnut Creek and had to come up with a new name. But at this point, so many people (ok, so many people, but it sure seemed like it at that time) were finding us on the web through the domain name wccc.net that we didn't want part with it. So what did we do? We found a church name that fit the domain name. That's right, that type of short-sighted thinking was how I/we processed things in those days.
So at the time, we began thinking of good w-words. My wife was leading women's ministry and she happened to name the group Wellspring Women. And so, we thought, "Hey, that's a good word. Why don't we use the name Wellspring as in Wellspring Covenant Community Church." And with a bunch of pats on the back, we thought we were brilliant--good name AND we get to keep wccc.net. Is it any wonder that I look back at such moments and can't help but give thanks to the Lord for grace to overcome such moronic thinking?
Why am I writing about this? I saw this post at Bob Kauflin's blog on Keith and Kristin Getty's new song written with Graham Kendrick, entitled: "My Worth Is Not in What I Own." You can watch the video. It's a beautiful song with wonderful lyrics:
My worth is not in what I own;
Not in the strength of flesh and bone.
But in the costly wounds of love at the cross.
My worth is not in skill or name;
In win or lose, in pride or shame.
But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross.
I rejoice in my Redeemer, Greatest treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other;
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.
As summer flowers we fade and die:
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by.
But life eternal calls to us at the cross.
I will not boast in wealth or might,
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light.
But I will boast in knowing Christ at the cross.
Two wonders here that I confess;
My worth and my unworthiness.
My value fixed–my ransom paid at the cross.
(c) 2014 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) and Makeway Music (Adm. by musicservices.org).
In reading the chorus, I saw the word Wellspring and my heart skipped a beat. This song expresses well [no pun intended] the significance of Wellspring. As Jesus says in John 4:13-14: "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." In other words, when the gospel of Jesus pentrates one's heart, they will overflow to be a blessing to others. It will exude the glory of the Son and that truly is a good word.
So like Charlie Brown's blockhead moment of picking that small, droopy tree, maybe as Linus came to see, the tree isn't bad after all. Similarly, maybe the name Wellspring isn't bad after all either.
So like Charlie Brown's blockhead moment of picking that small, droopy tree, maybe as Linus came to see, the tree isn't bad after all. Similarly, maybe the name Wellspring isn't bad after all either.