What Did You Say Your Name Was?

When Was It Written
This article was written for the Sunday, October 21, 2007 worship guide. 

Who Wrote It
Kevin Wood, Pastor


WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME WAS?
Over the course of the past year I have been asked no less than 50 times the following question: Why did you name your church “The Church at Trace Crossing”? Why isn’t your church called something like “Trace Crossing Baptist Church” or “Trace Crossing Community Church”? What’s the deal with this name thing? Typically, the question comes from someone trying to understand what flavor or style of church we are. They want to know are we Baptist? Methodist? Non-denominational? Are we contemporary or traditional or blended? Deep down, I think they also want to know if we handle rattlesnakes or not.

Without trying to sound like a prerecorded message, I give the answer I believe gives backbone to our name. I start by pointing out three passages of Scripture.

The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed… News of this reached the ears of THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Acts 11:19-22

In THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH… they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3

1"To the angel of THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS write… 8"To the angel of THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA write… 12"To the angel of THE CHURCH AT PERGAMUM… 18"To the angel of THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA… 1“To the angel of THE CHURCH AT SARDIS… 7"To the angel of THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA… 14"To the angel of* THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA…” Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 14

The church at Jerusalem. The church at Antioch. The church at Ephesus. The church at Smyrna. The church at Pergamum. The church at Thyatira. The church at Sardis. The church at Philadelphia. The church at Laodicea. It seems the early church’s only means of identification was to say “The church at…” I like the simplicity of that. That’s why we are “The church at…” It’s a mark of our past.

The other part of our name “Trace Crossing” comes from our community. I thought “The Church at Tupelo” was a little arrogant, since there are so many other people in this town who are a part of Christ’s body. But “Trace Crossing” comes to us at least in part because Tupelo is the town where the Natchez Trace crosses US-45 and US-78. And if you know the story of the Trace, it’s an old, old road that’s been traveled by people of all kinds: black, white, rich, poor, young, old, etc., etc. It’s a perfect picture of what the body of Christ has been throughout the ages. And so the name “Trace Crossing” tells us about our identity as a church. It’s a mark of our present.

Finally, since heaven will be the collective congregation of those people who walked the road of Christ, her name there won’t be marked by any denomination or affiliation. In heaven there will be no Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of God, or Church of Christ. It will simply be The Church at Christ’s Throne. That’s why there is no denomination in our name. It’s a mark of our future. Our name then is a reminder of our destiny not our division. It is a reflection of our eternity not our today.

That’s why we’re named The Church at Trace Crossing. Simplicity. Identity. Destiny. Eternity.

Originally printed on Friday, October 19th, 2007