Bethesda Community Church
Pastor Letter to Congregation for 2012 New Year
Posted on Tue, Dec 27, 2011
December 27th, 2011
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
2012 is going to be an exciting year for Bethesda! For several reasons......
First let's talk about vision. Proverbs 29:18 says without vision, the people suffer. Praise God He has given us a clear vision for the future. Our core vision has not changed. "It is to be a sanctuary of hope and healing, and to be a light which leads others into eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior." Please pray with me for many to be healed, delivered, and saved in 2012.
The Lord has also given us a vision for a Christian School. The timing is unknown but the vision is clear.
He has also given us a vision for a church and sanctuary expansion, which will provide additional restrooms, a foyer, a sanctuary capable of holding 200+, and allowing us to use our existing sanctuary space for both the school and Sunday school space. Again, the timing is unknown but the vision is clear.
We are well on the road to Emmaus with 9 adults completing the walks this year and 10 more signed up for the Spring walk! We also have some of our young people who will be attending a Youth Emmaus Walk. Praise the Lord!
All of the ministries are doing well. Why? Because of the Holy Spirit leading (and us listening), prayer, faithfulness, and dedication. Again, Praise the Lord!
And the Lord is leading me to do a Sermon Series on 2 specific topics. They are the Word of God and Prayer. Core subjects for God's people and core to seeing any vision realized.
There are many church models, preaching styles, and church growth programs. Our church model comes from the book of Acts - that has been good to us over our first 7 years and should continue. The preaching (and please hold me accountable) will be from God's Word, and I will preach all of it, not just the ‘good’ parts. So what program(s) should we use for church growth?
Something I have learned is this. Every N.T. church which grew did so because the Lord's hand was with them (through persistent and pleading prayer), and by the faithful preaching and teaching of God's Word - the people themselves being people of the Word. The church at Antioch (Acts 11:19-30) gives us this perfect example.
So we will begin 2012 with a focus on prayer and being people of the Word. This will be emphasized in the Sunday morning Messages, the Wednesday night prayer and discipleship meetings, and additional prayer and outreach meetings. I am committing to be a better prayer warrior and be more in the Word than ever before. If the whole body of Bethesda will do the same, then certainly the Lord’s hand will be upon us! Then let us rejoice in praising God for what He will do in and through us in 2012. It’s going to be good!
God bless you and yours,
Pastor Tim
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