Coming Soon. . . . .

This being only my second time in my ministry career to face the beginning of a new year, it is hard to say "Every year I do this," but so far I consider where is the church and where are we going? If we continue the way we are going, where will we end up? I ask these questions throughout the year, but especially when considering the beginning of a new year that is just around the corner.

So I have begun this process for the year to come, and here is what I have so far:
Some basic areas of ministry that need attention or continued emphasis.

• Preaching/Teaching the Word
• Discipleship/Assimilation
• Community
• Outreach

This is not intended as exhaustive. For instance, worship is not on the list. Very much needed and will probably end up on the list. At this point, our services run fine and have the elements I think they need, but always an area of attention.

• Without the teaching and proclaiming of the Word there is no point to anything that we do.
• We should see new believers coming in, they need to be discipled and brought into the body.
• We need a sense of community that we bring others into.
• We need to be reaching beyond ourselves.