Pastor's Blog: What's Next?
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Moving into a new year always inspires us to think about the days ahead. Granted, leading up to January 1 we pause to reflect on the previous year: the big events, the popular movies, the hot trends. But once we break out the new calendar and see 2018 staring back at us, we lean forward into the future in anticipation of all that is before us.
Speaking of which, there is indeed much for us to be looking forward to in terms of meaningful ministry at MBBC. Just this first month we have a number of opportunities that promise to help us experience the spiritual growth for which all of us yearn. Aside from the regular weekly and monthly ministry activities, we have some special ones that have been designed to form us into a closer community of faith while also addressing some of the aims and objectives of our recently adopted Vision 2020 strategic plan.
One of the highlights of each January is the Deacon Ordination service, where we set apart a new group of servant leaders. This year’s service will take place at a combined service on January 21, at which you’ll hear from eight ordinands, a larger than normal number that speaks to our church’s ability to balance continuity and wisdom with fresh faces and new insights.
Additionally, a new opportunity for all women in our church is the inaugural Women’s Retreat, which will be held at Pursell Farms the weekend of January 19-20. The combination of study, fellowship, and fun offers women in our church an opportunity to get more connected with other women who share similar needs. There’s still time to register. Go online to our website (www.mbbc.org) to register, or contact Mary Splawn at mary@mbbc.org. But space is limited, so make your reservations today.
Lastly, if you’ve ever wished that you knew how better to speak about your faith with friends, families, and colleagues but have felt unequipped, we have planned a four-week training session, titled Just Walk Across the Room. While the title may sound as if it treats evangelism somewhat lightly, in truth it approaches that part of our discipleship mandate in a way that relieves our anxieties. Most models take a confrontational approach; this one, however, looks at how we might leverage our existing relationships (or develop new ones) to connect others with Christ in a non-threatening way. The training session will begin January 21, at 5 p.m., in Heritage Hall. No registration is necessary.
So, as you can see, we’re beginning a new year with a big bang. Our hope is that all that we experience together in January will propel us into the rest of 2018 so that it becomes one of the best years ever at MBBC. I invite you to join me in praying toward that end, but also putting feet to your prayers by taking advantage of as many of these opportunities as possible. If you do, our church will be stronger and better for it, and just as importantly, so will you.
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out…and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over…. Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things for you'” (Josh. 3:1, 5).