Chapter 3: Rent a church

By the time the doors opened on Highway 21, Christ Community Church Mooresville had already learned a familiar rhythm: Ask God. Trust Him. Watch Him answer.

When the church had been faithfully setting up and tearing down for two and a half years at East Mooresville Intermediate School, God showed up in an unexpected way. This time through unexpected generosity. A family stepped out in faith with a $100,000 gift to begin looking for a bigger and more permanent space. It was a clear reminder that this story was being written by God, not human strategy.

That provision opened the door to a new opportunity, an old Jehovah’s Witness building off Highway 21, across from Shepherd Elementary School. For a growing church, it felt just right for the season. The building seated about 250 people and included office space for staff. It needed care and intentional updates, but it fit.

There was just one problem.

There was no space for children or youth.

So the church did what it had learned to do. Ask God. Trust Him. Watch Him answer.

While CCCM was praying for provision, their sending church, Christ Community Church Huntersville, made an unexpected call. They had two modular classroom buildings they no longer needed.

“If you can move them,” they said, “they’re yours.”

Once again, God’s timing was unmistakable. Using only a portion of the original $100,000 gift, the church transported and installed the modular buildings on the Highway 21 property. What had felt like an obstacle suddenly became a clear answer to prayer.

Then the real work began.

The church family came together in full force. Walls were painted. Carpet and tile were laid. Granite backsplash appeared in bathrooms. Decks were built around the modular buildings, creating welcoming spaces for kids and students. Furniture, labor, skills, time—people gave whatever they had.

The same team spirit that had defined their portable-church days at East Mooresville Intermediate School followed them to Highway 21. Everyone had a role. From willing hands preparing the space to church members reading the whole Word of God aloud in the Worship Center, every corner of the property was touched. This new rented space was beginning to feel like a home.

In 2010, three and a half years after the church began, CCCM officially launched services in the Highway 21 building. For those who had spent years unloading trailers at 6:30 a.m. every Sunday, the ability to simply walk in, pray, and prepare to worship was a milestone. It was a moment of deep gratitude, another quiet reminder of God’s kindness.

And God wasn’t finished.

As Mooresville grew, so did the church. Families began coming not only from Mooresville, but also from Troutman and Statesville. With growth came new responsibilities, and the church, in regular rhythm, turned to God and His word for guidance.

Studying the book of Acts, they noticed a clear pattern: churches were led by teams of elders, not individuals. So CCCM prayed and fasted, asking God to shape their leadership according to His Word.

God answered.

The first group of elders came from a wide range of church backgrounds—Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and more. What united them wasn’t tradition or style, but a shared commitment to biblical leadership. Together, they carried the responsibility of shepherding the church, guarding doctrine, caring for people, and prayerfully leading every decision. It was another moment of asking and another clear answer from God.

For the next decade, the Highway 21 campus became a hub of worship, discipleship, missions, and community life. But as attendance grew, new challenges emerged. The parking lot was filled beyond capacity. Families parked across the highway at Shepherd Elementary and crossed a busy road each Sunday. Additional services were added. Ministries expanded. Small groups multiplied.

Growth was a gift, but it revealed a truth the church couldn’t ignore.

They were outgrowing the space.

So the elders prayed and fasted again.

“Lord, what would You have us do?”

One elder reached out to a local banker for advice about purchasing land. The response was unexpected: another church in Mooresville was preparing to sell 17 acres. The pastor was a friend, and when contacted, he shared an incredible story. God had already told their church it was time to release the land. They hadn’t listed it. They wanted it to go to the right hands.

Both elder teams prayed and fasted separately, asking God for clarity. Within weeks, both congregations sensed the same answer.

Yes.

The agreement felt almost unbelievable. CCCM would pay off the remaining $225,000 mortgage and receive all 17 acres. The church stepped out in faith, and within nine months, every dollar was raised in cash.

Once again, the pattern held.

The church asked. God answered.

Standing on debt-free land, amazed by God’s provision, the future still felt wide open. But one thing was certain: the same God who sent them, sustained them, and provided for them wasn’t finished writing their story.

And now, as we celebrate 20 years of God’s faithfulness, we’re invited into that same rhythm to ask, to trust, and to watch God answer again. This season isn’t just about remembering what God has done; it’s about stepping into what He’s still doing among us. Here are a few ways you can be part of that story right nowPrayer & Fasting Day — April 20 Join our entire church family as we pause together to pray and fast, thanking God for His faithfulness and asking for His wisdom and guidance for the road ahead.

• Elder Nominations — due by March 31 As we learned in this chapter, elders have always played a vital role in leading and shepherding our church. If you're a member, share who you believe should join this team. Nominate an elder HERE.

• Monthly Story Videos Each month, we release a story video featuring interviews, photos, and memories from CCCM’s 20-year journey. (Watch March’s video here.)

• Lobby Displays Our 20th anniversary display grows each month! Have a photo, testimony, memory, or artifact to contribute? Email sydneyc@cccmooresville.com

• Celebration Sunday — April 26 Join us for special worship services and a community-wide celebration as we honor 20 years of God’s faithfulness. SAVE THE DATE!