Go For More in 2004!

The Pastor’s Letter is a document providing the Pastor’s view of the “State of the Church.” Before writing the letter, I seek the Lord as to what the vision is that He has for us in the year ahead.

During 2003, we experienced God’s faithful provision of resources, peace, and harmonious relationships. When the year began, we did not know what God might do, or how He would make a way for us, but we can say today, God has surely met our need. We have experienced His complete faithfulness.

Such an awareness makes it possible for us to now look forward to this year and respond to the Lord: You have led us thus far, now it is time for us to seek You with greater diligence, greater intensity, and with greater hope that all You have for us will come to pass. Indeed, God is calling us to go for more in 2004!

Many churches are characterized by most people watching and waiting for others to lead the way, do the stuff, and give them the benefits of their labors. God shows us, however, that He simply will not bless lazy people. Proverbs 13: 4 says, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Such people run the very real risk of hearing their Lord say, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (Matthew 25: 26) Frankly, I never want to be even close to hearing such a judgment on my life.

Go For More in 2004! Instead of being bench warmers, we can be God seekers. We can go for more. We can rise to the occasion and seek God for our church to become more closely a church of the Book of Acts. It is not as though we were weighed down with generations of tradition. Our church is wonderfully positioned to be open to God’s leading, open to new forms, open to new people, new ways of ministry, and new hopes for the future.

Let’s seek to form relationships within our community that will allow bridges to be built between us and our neighbors. We are not here by accident. God has called us and has planted us in this community for His purpose. Let’s take part in community efforts to bless the towns in which we live. Reconciliation is the ministry of Jesus, and He gives it to us.

We have been greatly blessed as a church. Almost every Sunday, we find that folks linger, not wanting to leave after Sunday morning worship. That is precious! It means that real love and real community is offered and found right here. How many people around us need just that kind of Safe Harbor, just that kind of family? Let’s not bench-warm. Instead, let’s invite friends, neighbors, and family members to enjoy what God has given us.

Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.”

It is not about size, but about souls. It’s not about numbers, but about disciples. A large church is not what we seek, but we are looking to be a church that is real, a church that is directly engaged in the life of the community—that is what we seek. Take a few moments and read Acts chapters 1 through 6 again, as if for the first time. See how those believers discovered what going for more could mean in the life of their church fellowship.

In order for our church to be all that God has called us to be, in order for us to “Go For More in 2004”, each one in our fellowship will want to make a personal commitment to walk before the Lord together. Of course, that’s a tough commitment to make, but think of what God can do with a church that has decided to seek God’s purpose: many people saved into a fresh relationship with Christ, people healed, God’s power released. Is seeing all that worth it to you?

With you in ministry,

Edmund C. de la Cour, Jr.
Pastor