Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship Church Dedication

Church Dedication December 12, 2021 1:00pm

“A SEASON OF IMMEDIACY” 2 Chronicles 29:36

KINGDOM BUILDERS Christian Fellowship 1431 17th Ave Oakland, CA 94606 www.kingdombuilderscf.org

Message From Pastor LJ Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On behalf of First Lady Karen and myself, we are honored to be part of this congregation and fellowship. I praise God for your love for us, your commitment to the ministry, and your financial support that made this building possible.

As a congregation, you have demonstrated to my family and to me the true meaning of unrestrained love.

As your pastor, I pray constantly that through my preaching, teaching, leadership, and service that the Kingdom Builders membership is as proud to have me as its spiritual leader as I am to have each of you among the flock that I am charged to lead. As a Pastor, I thank God for the wonderful privilege of being His under shepherd at one of His best churches.

Our legacy of service gives us a lot to recall…a lot to reminisce about…and even more to be thankful for. God has been gracious and exceptionally generous in showering His richest blessings upon Kingdom Builders. As we remember the cherished deeds of the past, let us not lose sight of the brilliant vision that is yet before us. It is a vision that will require us to stir up the gifts and talent God has given to each of us. It is a vision that will take all of us, working together empowered by the Holy Spirit, to bring it to fruition.

As I look to the future, it is my prayer that we will continue to work at finding solutions to heal the brokenness of our society and work even more aggressive to provide support and resources that give hope to those who are counted among the least, the less, and the lost.

To our guests, I truly appreciate your support of our ministry and count your presence on this special occasion as an authentic display of genuine Christian fellowship. We are honored to have you celebrate with us and value your friendship, fellowship and love.

To all that had a part in this program, Thank you! Your commitment to making this celebration a time of great joy is evident in your results. I am grateful for your diligence, energy, and excitement for one of the most important seasons of the year.

Beloved, let us all use this observance as a catalyst to refuel our zest for the Lord's work, to renew our commitment to Jesus, and to revive our hunger for the Word of God. I pray that this occasion will inspire every believer to "Stir Up the Gift of God" and fan into the flames a powerful Christian walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Christ’s service,

LJ Jennings LJ Jennings Senior Pastor

Program Praise and Worship

Kingdom Builders Praise Team

Prayer of Dedication

Deacon Harry McGee

Welcome

Sister Brenda Tims

The Occasion

Brother Lavell Spence Video Presentation

In Our Residents Own Words Dream Center Prayer of Consecration

Pastor Kenneth Melton Pastor LJ Jennings

Oakland Dream Center is a transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated male adults. It is our vision to assist men in becoming all that God has called them to be.

Our mission is to empower holistic wellness and hope through supportive care, advocacy, and recovery, all in a healthy, productive and aspirational environment.

We are a community that encourages, develops and promotes personal responsibility of one’s own life and destiny built on a foundation of love and spiritual regeneration, all for the purposes of helping one to realize their full life’s potential.

Congratulations to all our Dream Center Residents

Church Dedication

Sunday, December 12, 2021 @ 1:00pm Our history as a church is great; for the past 12 years of our existence God has blessed us and his face has shined upon us. In 2009, God spoke to Pastor LJ to organize a “ministry like no other” and from that call Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship was born.

The ministry began as a home bible study in the home of Pastor LJ and First Lady Karen. Eight hungry souls gathering each week to hear the word of God. The gathering quickly grew to 16 then 24 in weekly attendance. The weekly bible study swiftly outgrew Pastor LJ and First Lady Karen’s family room and we needed to quickly adapt to the blessings of God. Leveraging our people resources, small group studies were initiated. Our one weekly bible study turned into 6 small group studies taking place throughout the week in the Oakland area.

Realizing the hand of God on our ministry, God again spoke to Pastor LJ to lead Gods people in organizing a Sunday service where the small groups could come together in collective worship. In October of 2009, Kingdom Builders hosted its first service at the Holiday Inn with 70 people in attendance. Our inaugural service was Spirit filled and 12 new souls were added to the church. Our church continued to meet at the Holiday Inn for the next 90 days until God blessed the church to secure an old bank building in East Oakland.

Members and volunteers gathered daily and during the evening hours to demolish and rebuild the former bank into a beautiful edifice for the glory of God. Located on a prime corner and intersection the church continued to experience growth and the expansion. As new members continued to join, new ministries were added to address the needs of both the community and parishioners. Through the work of the members a weekly food distribution feeding more than 350 families each week was launched, a health fair was initiated, a Father’s day pancake breakfast was served, carnivals, concerts and comedians graced the neighborhood. Free car washes, showers and washing of clothes was offered to those in need. Economically, the church opened a thrift store, a furniture store, a maintenance company to put people to work and began housing men in a sober living environment. In 2017 Kingdom Builders launched the Dream Center, a 100 bed facility for formerly incarcerated men. All of this because of the faithfulness of God and His people.

With numerous ministries and volunteers in place the church quickly became a 7 day a week operation and our former bank building, after several remodels could no longer serve our purposes. With few building options available at the time, Kingdom Builders began having services in the auditorium of Roots Academy School (formerly Havenscourt). The school provided enough seating for our Sunday services and offered plenty of classroom space as well. While hosting our Sunday services at the school, the church also secured administrative space that allowed for our continued operations during the week.

While continuing to minister to the community, Pastor LJ continued to seek a location that would allow us to not only continue our work but expand. During the height of the pandemic in 2020 God led Pastor LJ to our current location. The facility was a three building shuttered Lutheran Church that had been vacant and boarded up. The buildings were in disrepair due to vandalism and homelessness and required both a vision of its potential, and a commitment to its restoration. After a successful capital campaign and with help of the Lord we closed on the building and immediately began our remodel. Today, much of the three buildings have been remodeled and now serves as our worship headquarters, offices for our ministry and community work and houses men in our Sober Living Environment.

Today, under the leadership of Pastor LJ, Kingdom Builders has; a thriving transitional housing program for men recently released from incarceration (Dream Center), single family homes that house men recovering from drugs and or alcohol (KBCF SLE), a thrift and furniture store, numerous ministries dedicated to building the total person, a community engagement non-profit arm and a 41-unit affordable housing development currently in pre-development with another 45 units slated for phase II. While faithful men and women aided in the work of this ministry we recognize that none of this was done on our own, it was the Lord and His mighty power at work in us and through us. Psalms 127:1 – Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. We, the members of Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship, are witnesses that the Lord built this ministry because we know our limitations and our resources were small in comparison to what was needed to fund all these ministries.

Today, we are glad that you are joining us to dedicate this building and property as we praise the Lord for his mighty acts. We never would have made it without Him. We can truly say that God keeps doing great things, thus our theme for this dedication service: A Season of Immediacy”. The presence of the Lord is truly with us at Kingdom Builders.

Dedication Service The purpose of this ceremony is to set aside the building for the work of God. A Christian church dedication ceremony includes prayer, praise, testimony, congregation response, and agreeance, designating the building for God’s use and asking Him to bless the building and grounds.

We give thanks to God, for the gifts of His people, and for the work of many hands, which have beautified and furnished this place, for the celebration of your holy mysteries.

Program Prayer Scripture Reading Musical Selection

Pastor Kenneth Melton 2 Chronicles 7:1-16

Brother Landis Graden Brother Benton Smith

The Purpose

Sister Ashley Shaw

Presentations

Sister Brenda Tims

Introduction of Dedicating Officer

Pastor LJ Jennings

Musical Selection Dedicatory Exhortation Dedication Call and Response

Brother Benton Smith Bishop Ernest Jackson Grace Tabernacle Community Church Bishop Ernest Jackson Kingdom Builders Congregation

Dedication of the Building Bishop - “Having been prospered by the good hand of our God, and who enabled us by His Grace and Power to purchase and renovate this House of Worship to be used to the Glory of God, we stand in reverence before His Holy Presence to dedicate this building to Him. To the glory of God our Father, from whom comes every good and perfect gift; To the honor of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Redeemer and King; To the praise of the Holy Spirit, our source of light and life, and power – our Sanctifier.

Congregation: Amen Bishop: Lift up your heads, O ye gates, be lift up, ye everlasting doors; Congregation: And the King of Glory shall come in.

Bishop: Who is this King of Glory?

Congregation: The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.

Bishop: Lift up your heads, O ye Gates! Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors!

Congregation: And the King of Glory shall come in.

Bishop: Who is He, the King of Glory?

Congregation: The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Bishop: Glory be to God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Congregation: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Bishop: Since by the grace of God and under His good providence, this House of Worship has been provided to Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship, that it may be set apart for its proper use as a House of the Lord, a dwelling place for God’s Glory, and a house of prayer for this people, we now dedicate this place in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We set this House apart from all common and worldly uses as a sanctuary of Your presence, where we may gather for worship and fellowship; where we may celebrate new life through the sacraments; where we may confess our sins and receive Your forgiveness; where we may study your Holy Word; where we may administer the business of Your church; where we may dedicate our lives, our time, our talents, our treasures for the advance of Your kingdom; where we may meet together as your family, to enjoy Your gifts and blessings; where we may come in quiet meditation, in prayer and with mutual love, and experience Your Presence and Glory as You dwell among us in wisdom and truth, Congregation: We do now, with joy and gratitude, humbly dedicate this building.

Dedication of the Building

(Continued)

Trustee(s): Recognizing that the Almighty God does not dwell in houses made with hands, that heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, and that He cannot be contained in the heaven of heavens, much less this house cannot contain Him, we follow the admonition and directive given to Moses who built a Tabernacle in which His Name would be recorded and His honor dwell, and wherein His glory was sanctioned, we now consecrate this building as a House of Worship. We designate this sacred place to our God where together we will gather for worship, praise, thanksgiving, and prayer.

Here may His inspired Word be shared, His sacraments be administered, His people be blessed so as to serve Him well within this community and with a vision for the salvation of the world to increase His Kingdom as souls are saved by faith in the Saving Lord, Jesus Christ, we now accept this building for its intended use, with thanksgiving to God. Bishop: We are gathered to dedicate and set apart this building which God has prospered His people to build for His glory. This shall be a place where the Gospel of salvation shall be shared through the ministry of God’s Word and where Christian lives shall be developed toward spiritual maturity through Christian fellowship.

Congregation: With joy and grateful hearts we join in this act of dedication for this building.

Bishop: In remembrance of all who have loved and served this church, establishing the heritage we now enjoy, and who are now part of the Church Triumphant, Congregation: We do now with reverence and gratitude dedicate this House of Worship.

Bishop: To God, Everlasting Father, in whom we live and move and have our being, and from whom comes every good and perfect gift, and by whose mercy and grace we are saved; Congregation: We humbly dedicate this House of Worship.

Bishop: To Jesus Christ, our crucified, resurrected, living and coming again Lord, who gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins and who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Congregation: We gratefully dedicate this, our Church building to His glory.

Bishop: To the Holy Spirit, source of life and light, comforter of all those born again, and the one who alone can apply the finished work of Christ to the soul and give the new life of faith in the Son of God to all who would receive Him. Congregation: We prayerfully dedicate this Church building.

Bishop: God, You who are present in all place of Your Dominion, to accept the services of all Your people: hear us, we humbly pray and by Your Holy Spirit consecrate this house we now dedicate to You for the worship of Your Holy Name, the ministry of Your Word and the administration of Your Sacraments.

Congregation: We dedicate this house.

Dedication of the Building

(Continued)

Bishop: For comfort to those who mourn, for strength to those who are weak, for help to those who are tempted, for guidance to those who have lost their way, Congregation: We dedicate this House of God. Bishop: For worship in prayer and song, for the preaching of the Word, for the teaching of the Scriptures, and for the fellowship of the saints, Congregation: We solemnly dedicate this House of God. Bishop: For the sanctity of the family, for the purity and guidance of children and youth, for the renewal of fellowship and the building of Christian character, Congregation: We dedicate this building.

Bishop: As a tribute of gratitude, of faith and hope and love, an offering of thanksgiving and praise from those who have found salvation and experienced the riches of God’s grace.

Congregation: Gratefully, we dedicate this House of the Lord.

Bishop: For the privilege to send forth the gospel into all the world, the giving of hope and courage to all who labor in service to the Lord, Unison: We, as laborers together with God, now join hands and hearts and dedicate ourselves anew to the high and holy purposes to which this building has been set apart. We pledge our loyal devotion, faithful stewardship, and diligent service to the end that in this place the name of the Lord shall be glorified, and His kingdom shall be advanced; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Dedicatory Prayer:

Bishop Ernest Jackson

CONTRIBUTORS OF THE VISION On behalf of Pastor LJ Jennings and the entire Kingdom Builders Church Family, we extend our sincere appreciation and thank you to our members, friends and supporters for your generous contributions in helping us to acquire and remodel this church building.

Elaine Adkins Augusta Anderson Lyn Beasley Rutha Camper Larry Candies Ruth Carson-Parrish Cheree Dunlap Elroy Eastman Toni Eastman Kenneth Edwards Elvira Escobedo Carla Galbraith Lauren Govain-Eastman Landis Graden Beverly Griffith Michael Grisham Alberta Harris Stacie Hinton Rutha Camper

Brenda Husband Jerome Jacobs Karen Jennings Lauren Jennings Lena Jennings LJ Jennings LaRonda Johnson Michael Jones Lorna Jones Janine Jourdan Alice Kennedy Briana Keys Mary Keys Deborah Mahoney Janeen Malone Kevin McCall Harry McGee Kenneth Melton Karen Jennings

Edna Newsome Curtis Norris Charlesetta Perkins Andre Picker Tommie Powell David Price Alze Roberts Sandy Sailor Desiree Shaw Ashley Shaw Audrey Smith Sharon Smith Lavell Spence Renee Strong Willie Turner Helen Walton Deborah Washington Ravyn Whitley Barbara Williams

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen, Amen, Amen.

May His favor be upon you and a thousand generations, and your family, and your children and their children and their children.

May His presence go before you and behind you, and beside you, all around you and within you, He is with you.

In the morning, in the evening, in your coming and your going, in your weeping and rejoicing, He is for you.

The Blessing, Kari Jobe