Reconnect

A New Vision for 2021

Positives of 2020- Not everything that happened in 2020 was bad. We began working toward our vision of restoration through the help of Christ. Team Kid, a weekly children’s ministry was started that engaged both children and families on Sunday evenings. I believe an excellent ministry that will continue to be the focus of discussion for a plan of action for days to come. We saw the development of a praise team. A group of gifted individuals who collectively usher us to the throne of grace weekly through singing worship. We are on the cutting edge of a new ministry that was introduced to us in 2020, called Connect Ministry. This ministry strives to foster a more welcoming environment for visitors and helps us to examine aspects of our church that we may not continually think about. We saw families and marriages restored in Christ. We saw individuals that we’re needing encouragement become warmed by the comfort of Christ. We had one person surrender to salvation in Jesus Christ in 2020 and was baptized. We were able to renovate the sanctuary with some needed updating. The audio/video systems have been updated and are being replaced as we speak. We have continued strong financially, thank you for believing in tithing, knowing even in uncertainty, God will take care of us. We have witnessed prayers answered and God’s glorious hand shown mighty and true. Although we have indeed seen God at work, the 2020 has indeed come with challenges.

Challenges of 2020- Covid-19 has paralyzed many of our normal gathering such as Sunday School, children’s ministry, and even worship services. It has cancelled some of our outreach efforts such as VBS, A Christmas outreach, acts of servant evangelism, and the list continues. We have lost a few of our saints, they’re with Christ now. These who passed away were not from COVID related complications. We are currently in search for a new student minister. Sometimes God will allow us to walk through challenges to teach us lessons that we’d never pay attention enough to hear otherwise. Although I’ve been frustrated from a lack of connection with the people of God, I’ve learned that this season is a season that Psalm 46:10 speaks of: “Be still and know that I am God.” God has been teaching me through this season that regardless of the circumstances, Christ is enough! Christ is all we truly need. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 1:3-14. Listen to this passage and allow it to warm your heart.

A New Vision for 2021- We’ve examined a glimpse of the positives and challenges of 2020, but what does God have in store for 2021? We glean a fresh vision from God using the microscope of scripture to be our guide, constant communication through prayer, and living according to the Holy Spirit. I really believe God is asking us to look through the virus, civil unrest, and chaos of the day in order to reconnect. He wants us to reconnect to Him. A fearful hopeless world, must be rescued by a fearless hope-giving King. The instrument the King uses to rescue is His church! We have to reconnect to our purpose and reignite the power that is within us.

How do we reconnect?

Reignite a Passion for Christ (Psalm 42:1-2) “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Equipped for Ministry (Ephesians 4:12-13) “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Here are some questions you must ask. Am I growing to reproduce the things of Christ? Am I engaged in Bible study for recreation or reproduction? Is growing to reproduce other believers a concern for me?

Commit to Serve (Psalm 100:2) “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.” A healthy church must not gage success on seating capacity, but on serving and sending capability. Let none of us say that I’ve served my time, I’ve paid my dues. Let each of us serve. Let us not be the church where 10% do 90% of the work, but 100% does 100% of the work. We need volunteers for team kid, we need nursery volunteers, and the list continues.

Overcome Failure (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Navigate New Paths (Isaiah 43:19) “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” One thing that I’ve learned during this pandemic is that we to evaluate what is essential. We must ask ourselves the hard question, are these ministries we are engaged in making disciples? We’re utilizing Sunday nights at the moment to pause and pray for new paths, new insight, fresh commitment, fresh steward into what we need to be doing. This is the church’s decision. I ask you to pray as we transition from a come here church to a go tell church!

Nourish Your Soul (2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The fast track to maturity in Christ is daily Word intake!

Enjoy Christ (Psalm 51:12) “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Courageously Make Disciples (Acts 4:31) “and when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Who will you pray for that is lost? Who will you share with that needs the hope of Christ?

Teach Others the Truth (2 Timothy 2:2) “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” Who will you disciple?