Messiah's House History

Messiah's House History

The following is a brief timeline that leads up to the present:

In 2003, Jason Craft began diligently praying about a stirring God was doing in his heart. He had felt for many years that he would someday be a pastor and it seemed God was beginning to move in that direction. Jason had been the Staff Evangelist at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo for more than six years. One of his greatest disappointments during these years was seeing God do great things in people’s lives during revival and then not being able to journey with them into a new freedom as well as a deeper relationship with Christ. As a pastor he would be able to journey with people as well as disciple in a much greater way.

It was not long before Jason and Leanna asked Rick and Brenda Trafton to join them in prayer concerning the call Jason was receiving from God to start a new church. In praying with and for Jason about this call, the Lord began to put the same burden on the hearts of Rick and Brenda.

During the weekend of January 8th, 2005, The Crafts along with a few others went to talk with David Walker, Pastor of Alamo City Christian Fellowship in San Antonio. Pastor Walker offered to give prayer cover along with godly counsel concerning the many things involved in starting a church. Godly counsel was definitely desired!!! Everyone left San Antonio with great excitement; but also knowing without God’s grace; this would be an overwhelming task.

As the group came back and prayed, everyone sensed Father saying, “Yes, walk this way.” So we did. We asked the Lord to bring confirmation to our hearts as we began to walk into this call. We all stepped away from our places of service so that our only attachment was to Him. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “I will build my church…” and we decided to take Him at His word. We only told a very few people what we were doing and prayed that God would draw people to what He wanted to do at Messiah’s House.

Jason had talked with his good friend Randy Strickland about what God was doing in his life and Randy and Mary Strickland not only felt they were being called to be a part, but wanted to open their home to the children while the adults met at the Trafton’s. God works in mysterious ways. The Strickland’s and Trafton’s never talked about this and ended up moving within five houses of each other within a five month period.

The following is a brief timeline that leads up to the present:

February 7, 2005 — We had our first meeting in the Trafton home and 20 joined us.
February 21st — More than 40 in the Trafton home. At least 30 were new faces!!!
March 7th & 21st — More than 60 each night and not enough room to sit!!!
March 29th — We go to Central Baptist (who has their building for sale) and ask if they would like to rent us space as we pray about God planting us downtown.
April 11th — First church service at Central, more than 100 in attendance. Jason Craft, Randy Strickland and Rick Trafton are elders of the church.
Through the summer, attendance ranged from 60 to 125 meeting every other Monday.
Mid June — Enter into agreement to purchase building from Central Baptist.
June — Harrell Stevens becomes an elder of the church.
September 10th — First night of new schedule with Worship on Saturday evening (we baptize 7 children/adults), youth & home groups on Wednesday & prayer meeting Monday evenings.
October 1st — Miracle offering raises more that $116,000.00!!!
November 30th — close on the purchase of the Central Baptist Church building.
Through the fall, average attendance pushes towards 200 with MANY new faces weekly.
February 1, 2006 — we have grown to 41 families (87 individuals) as “members”.
Growth has pushed us to replace the pews with chairs to accommodate more seating. Every week there are more visitors than members. Praise the Lord… He is drawing His people!!!
February — upgrade sound system and audio/video equipment.