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Pastor's Points January 2017

Dear Church Family,

As we enter a new year my main prayer for us is that we can get “Back to Basics.”  By that, I mean to focus on the main thing that we have been called to as followers of Jesus.  Of course, I am speaking of the call to make disciples.

Jesus gave us this task right before He left this earth (Matthew 28:18-20) and it is a task that is still not completed.  So many things push in on us in life and if we are not careful we find ourselves doing a lot of things other than the main thing we have been called to.  I know as your pastor that God is calling us to rededicate ourselves to the task of making disciples.

Each of us must invest in ourselves and grow in our own personal walks with the Lord, but that is not the only dynamic of making disciples.  We are called to invest in the life of others.  We need to do life together as the body of Christ, as a church family!!  We all need to be invested in and we need to invest in others as well.  In my message on January 1^st, I laid out an overview of the importance of this process.  We considered the earthly ministry of Jesus, as well as instruction that the Apostle Paul gave to his young son in the faith, Timothy.  Those truths are the foundation of where we are going as a church in discipleship.  I would encourage you to go online and listen to that message if you were not in worship on January 1^st.

Over the next several Sundays I am going to be speaking on this topic as we consider the importance of making disciples; getting “Back to Basics.” Four words will be used over the next weeks for us to really consider how we are going to make more followers of Jesus.  Behold, Belong, Become, and Beyond.  Make sure to be in worship as we consider what I am calling “The Disciples Declaration.”  As followers of Jesus we need to declare: I am going to Behold, I am going to Belong, I am going to Become, and I am going Beyond.

2016 has come and gone with all its joys, challenges, blessings, and hardships.  It is now 2017 and we must look forward to what God has for us to do for His glory!!  I believe with my whole heart He would have us to get “Back to Basics” and make disciples who will in turn make disciples and take the gospel around the world all for His
glory!!!  Let’s get to it!!!

I love you and I love being your pastor!

Pastor's Points December 2016

Dear Church Family

It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of 2016!  This is a year that I will never forget!  I have experienced absolute heart ache ,as well as absolute joy in this year.  At times, I have felt as if I was riding an emotional rollercoaster.  I am sure you have had years like this as well.  But Jesus has been with me every step of the way and He makes it all OK.  My hope is not found in my circumstances, my hope is found in Jesus!  And I can say that He has been faithful every step of the way!  And I can also say that I am excited as I look to the future and think about what God is going to do in 2017!!

2017 is going to be a year of God moving in great ways!!  In 2016 God impressed on my heart about the need for us as a church to reconsider our discipleship process.  We have put some foundational things in place by calling a pastor of spiritual development, establishing a biblical counseling ministry, and beginning our special weekend growth initiatives.  In 2017 we are going to consider how we can reinvest in making disciples.  We are going to consider how we encourage each person that is a part of our church to grow as a disciple and then be used by God to help others grow as well.  I truly believe God is going to grow us like never before!!

I am also excited because 2017 is going to be the year that we pay off our existing debt and meet our goal of being debt free in ten years.  This was a goal that we established back in 2008 when we entered our building campaign to build the space that we currently worship in.  To be debt free by the end of 2017 we are asking those of you who made a pledge to the “Greater Things” campaign to consider extending your pledge by one year.  I so appreciate your sacrificial giving for the last three years!  Paula and I know what that requires, and we are excited to extend our pledge by a year to meet our goal of being debt free.  I pray you will consider joining us as well!!  But I know that there are many who are here now who were not here when we entered this pledge drive.  We built in faith praying that you would come and many have.  Would you then consider making a one year pledge to help us meet our goal?  We need to raise at least $92,000.00 to be debt free by the end of 2017. With your help, I know we can meet or exceed this goal.  Please pray about what you can do. You can give a one-time cash gift if you would like, or you can make a pledge to be paid out over the course of the year.  Pledge cards are going to be in the lobby area through the month of December.  Please fill a pledge card out and drop it in to the box.  Our pledges will begin in January 2017.

I love you and I love being your pastor!