Heritage Plaza
a vision to come

by Tri Robinson

Before I entered full-time ministry in the eighties I was a U.S. History teacher for twelve years. I have always been fascinated with the stories and events that established our nation. I also found that the most effective way to teach was to simply tell the stories in narrative form.

Kids love to hear the truth about their roots - somehow it tends to give their life more meaning. Children today seem to be out of touch with their heritage and as a result, many struggle for a sense of personal meaning. Numerous times the Bible tells us to teach our children about their godly heritage. For example in The Message, Psalm 78:1-4, it tells us...

"Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee. We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation - God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. He planted a witness in Jacob, set his Word firmly in Israel. Then commanded our parents to teach it to their children so the next generation would know, and all the generations to come - Know the truth and tell the stories so their children can trust in God, Never forget the works of God but keep his commands to the letter." (The Message)

One thing that our modern day culture seems to overlook is the importance of establishing a living memorial in our children. If you have ever visited old England or New England you are made very aware of the many memorials and monuments that mark key historical events of the past. These monuments cause us to recall all that the Lord has done to establish us as a nation. Several times I have visited Plymouth Rock and while there, I can't help but visualize the Mayflower standing alone on the edge of an uninhabited land over 300 years ago. Plymouth Rock has served our nation as a stone of remembrance much like the stones that God instructed Joshua to pile up in Joshua 4.

Vineyard Boise is not a temporary work of God. I believe with all my heart that the Lord wants to establish us as a people that will continue to build upon the history of his heritage of faithfulness. For this reason it is on my heart to build a heritage plaza in conjunction with our upcoming expansion. 

I have a vision for a fountain in a plaza that is made up of engraved bricks that commemorate significant events in the lives of those in our church family. 

I would like every child who has been dedicated in the Vineyard to have an engraved brick placed in the plaza so that years from now they can return to this fellowship and remember the day they were dedicated to the purposes of God for their lives. 

I would like to see every couple that has been married in the Vineyard have a brick with their marriage date inlayed into the plaza so that they can show it to their children in the future. This monument would commemorate the day that young couples made a covenant before the Lord. 

I also would like to see couples celebrate their 10th, 25th and 50th anniversaries with engraved bricks as 'stones of remembrance' of thanksgiving and faithfulness. 

I have had a vision of our children and grandchildren returning to this plaza through the years to come - to remember these historical events that might serve as landmarks and memorials in their lives. I believe that this concept is something that is missing in today's impersonal and fast moving world. This welcoming fountain and plaza with engraved bricks would help provide our present and future generations with a sense of spiritual stability - a lasting reminder of God's faithfulness.