2007 State of the Church Address (Excerpt Part 3)
This part was shared after relating the demographic stats and ministry index information prior to sharing the goals for this year's ministry.
Projection Transition
As I look out across this congregation, I see a congregation filled with the desire to be used of God. A congregation built upon deep and rich history. A history and heritage that reaches back several years. Today, all across America there are churches that cannot recall such a rich heritage as we have. The glorious make-up of our congregation is totally beautiful. The vastness of the experiences and journeys that each one of us has gone through serves as a powerful tool to the advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe that there will be literally hundreds if not thousands, of souls in heaven because of the ministry of our church! I believe that we’ll be amazed at the total of jewels that will be in heaven because of so many people allowing their lives to be used for the building of the Kingdom of God! I am amazed at the vast variety of people who call Life in Christ Fellowship their church. There is an enormous amount of treasure of talent that is contained in each of your lives. The beautiful deep goal to be what God desires you to be is so magnificent. The hunger in this body to win the lost, disciple believers and equip the saints is a powerful front force to what we must be and do for Jesus. I believe that we have only just seen a small portion of what God desires to do among us. Why you may ask? Because we serve the same Lord as yester years and He does not change!
When I arrived, I was filled with such a large amount of joy and fulfillment to be used of God here and to serve as your pastor! Many of you individually and together as the body of Christ, have brought to Debbie, I and our family great love and healing. While there have been and will be times of bewilderment and disorientation, I believe if each and everyone of us will practice to be patient with and forbearing toward each other in love, we will advance beyond any hindrances that may be attempting to sideline all that the church should and can be. I am filled with a high level of anticipation and belief. I so much want to do my very best for our church and our Lord! I desire to see souls to come to know the Lord in a personal and vibrant relationship. I desire for each of us to grow and discover God’s purpose for each of our lives, as designed by His divine wisdom. I desire to see adults and couples to make a deeper, life-changing and life-fulfilling commitment to Christ. For them to reach out and grasp a hold of the vision of our church. I desire to see a youth ministry to develop and grow to such a level, that it will continue to assist our youth to know Jesus Christ in a deeper relationship. A ministry from which pastors and missionaries would be called into service for our Heavenly King. A ministry that encapsulates children from the time of their birth through their college years. A ministry to help the youth understand the love of Christ. To help in leading them, each and everyone, to a life long relationship with Him. I desire to have a youth ministry that leaves no child behind.
So where do we go from here? This is a very big question and it should not be thought through lightly, for the answer reaches into eternity. Jesus instructed us as believers and disciples, to lay up treasurers in Heaven. So to do so, means we, as a church body, must fulfill the great commission, go make disciples”. To live out the great commandment “Love one another”. We must realize and remember in all we do as a church, that Christ came to make contact with people so to have an impact on them so to be connected to them. Also, we must keep Paul’s direction to the church in mind, when he said that to fulfill the law of Christ, we must have the same mind as Christ.
As we journey together, there will be times in which questions and uncertainties will arise. There will be times when we will venture a path that will cause uneasiness in our spirit. But as these times arise, we must be careful not label them as something that did not come from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. There will be times in which what has “always has been done”, should or will be no longer be done. There will be times new and out of the ordinary adventures will be pursued and done. It has been said and proven true, that the eight most deadly words for a church are, “We have never done it this way before”. There will be times that new areas of activity will cease to exist. Will everything that we do together be a flying success? Absolutely not! But just because it doesn’t work out how we would have anticipated it to, do not always mean it was the wrong thing to do. At the same time, because something seems to be working does not always mean it is the right thing to do or keep doing.
I am truly amazed at what God has done for us! He has richly blessed this church with great people. Each and every one has talents and is filled with great potential for the kingdom. I am truly blessed that God has allowed me the privilege of knowing you. I am greatly indebted to Him. While I am still in the infancy of pastorate here, I am unwaveringly convinced that God has great plans for us as a church! Everyone, and we all, each need to allow Him full access to our lives. I guarantee that He will not lead us astray. Nor will we be disappointed with the outcome.
This part was shared after relating the demographic stats and ministry index information prior to sharing the goals for this year's ministry.
Projection Transition
As I look out across this congregation, I see a congregation filled with the desire to be used of God. A congregation built upon deep and rich history. A history and heritage that reaches back several years. Today, all across America there are churches that cannot recall such a rich heritage as we have. The glorious make-up of our congregation is totally beautiful. The vastness of the experiences and journeys that each one of us has gone through serves as a powerful tool to the advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe that there will be literally hundreds if not thousands, of souls in heaven because of the ministry of our church! I believe that we’ll be amazed at the total of jewels that will be in heaven because of so many people allowing their lives to be used for the building of the Kingdom of God! I am amazed at the vast variety of people who call Life in Christ Fellowship their church. There is an enormous amount of treasure of talent that is contained in each of your lives. The beautiful deep goal to be what God desires you to be is so magnificent. The hunger in this body to win the lost, disciple believers and equip the saints is a powerful front force to what we must be and do for Jesus. I believe that we have only just seen a small portion of what God desires to do among us. Why you may ask? Because we serve the same Lord as yester years and He does not change!
When I arrived, I was filled with such a large amount of joy and fulfillment to be used of God here and to serve as your pastor! Many of you individually and together as the body of Christ, have brought to Debbie, I and our family great love and healing. While there have been and will be times of bewilderment and disorientation, I believe if each and everyone of us will practice to be patient with and forbearing toward each other in love, we will advance beyond any hindrances that may be attempting to sideline all that the church should and can be. I am filled with a high level of anticipation and belief. I so much want to do my very best for our church and our Lord! I desire to see souls to come to know the Lord in a personal and vibrant relationship. I desire for each of us to grow and discover God’s purpose for each of our lives, as designed by His divine wisdom. I desire to see adults and couples to make a deeper, life-changing and life-fulfilling commitment to Christ. For them to reach out and grasp a hold of the vision of our church. I desire to see a youth ministry to develop and grow to such a level, that it will continue to assist our youth to know Jesus Christ in a deeper relationship. A ministry from which pastors and missionaries would be called into service for our Heavenly King. A ministry that encapsulates children from the time of their birth through their college years. A ministry to help the youth understand the love of Christ. To help in leading them, each and everyone, to a life long relationship with Him. I desire to have a youth ministry that leaves no child behind.
So where do we go from here? This is a very big question and it should not be thought through lightly, for the answer reaches into eternity. Jesus instructed us as believers and disciples, to lay up treasurers in Heaven. So to do so, means we, as a church body, must fulfill the great commission, go make disciples”. To live out the great commandment “Love one another”. We must realize and remember in all we do as a church, that Christ came to make contact with people so to have an impact on them so to be connected to them. Also, we must keep Paul’s direction to the church in mind, when he said that to fulfill the law of Christ, we must have the same mind as Christ.
As we journey together, there will be times in which questions and uncertainties will arise. There will be times when we will venture a path that will cause uneasiness in our spirit. But as these times arise, we must be careful not label them as something that did not come from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. There will be times in which what has “always has been done”, should or will be no longer be done. There will be times new and out of the ordinary adventures will be pursued and done. It has been said and proven true, that the eight most deadly words for a church are, “We have never done it this way before”. There will be times that new areas of activity will cease to exist. Will everything that we do together be a flying success? Absolutely not! But just because it doesn’t work out how we would have anticipated it to, do not always mean it was the wrong thing to do. At the same time, because something seems to be working does not always mean it is the right thing to do or keep doing.
I am truly amazed at what God has done for us! He has richly blessed this church with great people. Each and every one has talents and is filled with great potential for the kingdom. I am truly blessed that God has allowed me the privilege of knowing you. I am greatly indebted to Him. While I am still in the infancy of pastorate here, I am unwaveringly convinced that God has great plans for us as a church! Everyone, and we all, each need to allow Him full access to our lives. I guarantee that He will not lead us astray. Nor will we be disappointed with the outcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment