Tauren Wells Launches New Church: ‘Just The Beginning’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Christian artist Tauren Wells officially launched his new church in Austin, Texas, January 28.
“Today, we officially launched Church of Whitestone with 3,500 friends! We’re embarking on an incredible journey to help people discover their God-authored identity through whole-hearted relationship with Jesus, and today was just the beginning,” the church posted.
“OOOOOOH FAM! Sunday was a day we’ll never forget and we can’t believe we get to do it all over again this Sunday with YOU!” Wells posted following the opening. “Upon this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18). Let the waters rise, let the wind blow, let the storm come because I KNOW what I am standing on…our rock has a name and his name is JESUS!”
The church’s name is inspired by Revelation 2:17, which reads, “To the one who overcomes, He will give a white stone with a name engraved on it that only they know.”
“This verse shows us that there is a part of ourselves that we haven’t even met yet; that our true identity is so hidden in Christ that it’s deeper than all the layers we believe make us, us. God holds our white stone, our identity and our purpose,” the website states.
Wells and his wife, Lorna, opened up about their decision to serve as head pastors at the new church in an Instagram post last year.
“Through the planting of a vibrant, life-giving, community of faith, Church of Whitestone, we are assuming our calling as Lead Pastors of the church that God placed in our heart more than 10 years ago. The vision is clear, ‘helping people discover their God-authored identity through whole hearted relationship with Jesus,’ and the time is now,” the couple wrote.
The church is the culmination of years of preparation and expectation.
“I was practicing piano,” Wells recalled when their dream began. “And a professor came into my school and said, ‘Tauren, are you called to preach?’ I said, ‘Yes, Sir, I think I am.’ He said, ‘Don’t get too wrapped up in the music.’ I now understand that the full assignment has not been songwriting and performing; the rest of the essay is still yet to be written.”
“My why? To call greatness out of others,” the singer added on Instagram. “I want people to know that their story is possible. That God can use their lives, their wounds, their talents, to elevate his kingdom.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Christian artist Tauren Wells is opening up about what he hopes to achieve with his soon-to-be-launched Whitestone Church.
“I get asked constantly now, ‘when did you feel called to start a church?’ or ‘will you actually be the Pastor? Others have asked, ‘are you crazy?! why would you do this?’” Wells wrote in an Instagram caption. “I’ve wrestled with all that…being misunderstood or my motives or sanity being questioned. All I can come back with is, I’m not crazy, I’m called.”
Wells explained in the accompanying video that “this dream to minister and to plant a church was already being cultivated in my heart.”
“Our heart, our goal, our mission is to help people discover their God-authored identity and a whole-hearted relationship with Jesus,” he said of his hopes for Whitestone Church. “We want them growing with God, living in freedom, discovering themselves, and being the difference.”
- Content: +4Share:
- Content: +3