State of the Church Address

Fantastic! Marvelous!  Superb! Magnificent! Unbelievable!  Exciting!  Growing! Moving! Intense!

Do you get the picture? Are things perfect? Absolutely not. We have much to learn, much to accomplish and areas where improvement is direly needed, but we are experiencing a season of God’s favor unlike I have witnessed in my 27 years as your pastor.

• Percentage of our congregation serving is the highest ever
• Most  ever believer’s baptisms in 2013 and 2014  off to a Wow start
• 52 solid Small Groups meeting year round
• Families being transformed through Family, Women’s and Men’s ministry.
• Most evenings, every room in our facility is in use.
• Grief Share has become a Community Ministry
• The depth and width of our Outreach Ministries is strong and far reaching
• A PSK audit and local Banks testify that our financial health is in the top percentile of
• all churches in America.
• Guests, especially young families are flowing through our doors every weekend.
• You are embracing the concept of Celebration, Community and Call
• You are embracing the importance of inviting and sharing your faith.
• Worship attendance across all 5 worship celebrations averaging 1100 a weekend
• I am proud of how our staff is growing and strengthening their servant leadership skills.
• We have three young, talented, high quality young men preparing for ordination.
• We are becoming a disciple making church.

In fear of sounding like an infomercial I will refrain from saying ”Wait…there's more”, but there really is. I am over whelmed and thankful beyond measure for God’s favor and your commitment to the mission. Below are a few headlines you could see in 2014…….

• Revealed and discovered BHAGS changing the world for area children and youth…
• 24 year old Sanctuary remodeled just in time for Palm Sunday and Easter
• 13,000 Eggs gathered and a great time had by all at the annual Community wide Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt
• Over 1,000 attended Good Friday Worship, 3,000 on Easter
• Men bonded with parent-less young men on Nicaragua Mission trip
• Job Opening: Facility Manager
• Gregg Gammon and Perry Allan will respectively serve as point leaders for Building Construction and Construction Finance Campaign.
• Porte- Cache  on Thomas street completed. Parking lot demo begins by June 1 to proceed with construction of New Community Space (connecting ARC & Sanctuary) , Nursery and Children’s space. 
• St. Matthew High School Graduates ready to do their part to change the world.
• Ground  Breaking for Mission outpost in Ethiopia to take place  after rainy season
• Record attendance at Vacation Bible School and Summer Camp. Young disciples challenging adults to grow in their knowledge of the bible.
• Jorge Chaco smiling in heaven. Birthday gift to Jesus proceeds help fund the completion of church in Rio Bravo. Two Mission trip groups provided the skill and muscle. 
• New Message Series:  “Radical Followers”
• Rebranding Efforts  to be revealed by Thanksgiving
• 10th Anniversary of our Birthday Gift to Jesus surpasses the million dollar mark
• New Community, Nursery and Children’s space dedication, January 2015

Blog already way too long so I will stop……..but I hope you get the point……..the state of God’s church can be summed up in one word….”Blessed.”

Dream Big!
Rick