Rock Chapel Business Meeting Thoughts

Looking Back

We’ve faced a year full of challenges; never could have imagined everything we would face during 2020

And yet, God has sustained us...

We’ve been able to have fairly regular in-person services

Everyone has been faithful in giving so that we were able to meet all of our needs and continue paying everyone

We’ve been challenged to be flexible… and we’ve succeeded!

But there have also been some behind-the-scenes things...

The board has rewritten the bylaws and we’ll be presenting those this year

We’ve gotten word that we won’t be losing the property until 2024-2025

In some ways, it’s felt like we’ve been stalled out almost since I arrived with the property situation.

But as we came to the end of this year, I was impressed with a couple of scriptures...

“Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:15-16

“Redeeming” the time.

If there’s anything this past year should have taught us, it’s that our time is limited - as James says, our life is a vapor.

God has been faithful to entrust us with a great deal - with people, with money, with property.

It’s time that we redeem the time by moving forward into what God has for us.

So, the question that we must face is… how? Where is God leading us?

Other verse - Deuteronomy 6:4-12

We must move beyond coming to church and toward bringing church home. Christ must become the heart of every home - and that’s what the church needs to focus on.

Every kind of home - married, single, widowed, childless, lots of kids, etc.

We must become the kind of place where people can learn how to follow the way of Jesus in their everyday lives

Bring worship into our homes...

Spiritual Disciplines like prayer, fasting, scripture, etc.

Parent Training Sessions that will empower families - planned for April

Events that focus on bringing us together as a family - ladies tea, men’s retreat, etc.

Practical small groups that focus on living out our faith in our lives

Opportunities to serve within the congregation & outside!

So, here’s where I want you to focus your prayers...

THIS YEAR...

I’m praying that God will provide us with the perfect piece of property, right where HE wants us to be.

Once we’ve found it, I’ve shared with the board that I’d like for us to build a parking lot and an outdoor pavilion - a storage space, a small kitchenette, and bathrooms.

We’ll set it up as a base of operations to begin building our new facility and to begin reaching out to our community.

If we can get that done this year - or at least get moving in that direction - then we’ll be ready to begin using it next year… for fellowship picnics, summer bible studies, etc.

And also for outreach… for our Fall Festival, Live Nativity, etc.

But in order for this to happen, it’s going to depend on God providing what we need… so, if you would be willing to fast and pray with me this year, I would encourage you to choose one day or week a week and let’s pray and fast.