In A True Work of God:
Changed Hearts
what many consider to be a true work of God, Cornerstone Fellowship and The Gathering merged to become one church. Its new name is GracePoint Church. The merged church met together for the first time on May 23, 2021.
Shiroma who is the founding pastor of both Cornerstone Fellowship and The Gathering credits Pastor Travis Laney (Cornerstone's interim pastor at the time) for being the catalyst for this merge. Shiroma said that Pastor Laney first approached him last summer about Cornerstone and The Gathering "Merging was not even on my radar merging. last fall," said James Shiroma, who pastored The Gathering prior to the "I did not think it was a good idea when Travis first brought up the idea to me," merge and is now the lead pastor of Shiroma said. "But Travis was very GracePoint Church. Shiroma said that persistent because he strongly believed both churches were doing well on their that merging was part of God's plan." own and did not need to merge. "I have never seen anyone so selfless "However, over the last few months, we and sacrificial like Travis. It would have have seen God change people's hearts, been easy for Travis to have seen including mine," Shiroma said. "What all that he did leading Cornerstone we thought were barriers were really forward and decide to stay. Instead, not barriers. God revealed through Travis worked hard to make sure the people and circumstances that He merge happened and that the church is directing this merge. Because God was in good shape for me to take over." is bringing two significant churches This past February, Shiroma entered together like this, it is becoming more a series of many discussions with evident that He has a great purpose Cornerstone leaders, leaders from The for GracePoint Church."
JU L AUG 2 0 2 1
8
hp b a pt i st . net
