By Al Johnson
Over the past year, we have watched God at work among us. We’ve seen men and women come to faith, families grow, marriages strengthened, and our reach expand both in the room and online. Our worship gatherings are full, our kids ministry has outgrown the space it was designed for, and the need for a student ministry is no longer a distant vision. It is a present reality.
The Lord continues to stir in us a longing for a permanent home. While we are still waiting for him to open the right door to the right building, it is increasingly clear that he is preparing us for what’s next.
OUR CHRISTMAS GIVING CAMPAIGN
During our year-end Christmas Giving Campaign, we asked the Lord to provide $60,000 above and beyond our regular tithes and offerings. These funds were intended to help us prepare for future renovations on whatever building God provides and to begin setting aside resources for a future student ministry.
And here is what happened.
As the campaign came to a close, we were just a few thousand dollars short of our goal. Then, at the very last moment, an anonymous gift came in for the exact amount needed to reach it.
By God’s grace, the full $60,000 was given!
Not a dollar more. Not a dollar less.
It was a moment that reminded us that God is not only faithful, but precise. He supplies what is needed, when it is needed, in ways that leave no doubt that the provision came from Him.
From the beginning, this campaign was never about a number alone. It was about participation. It was about obedience. It was about trusting the Lord together and aligning our hearts with what he is doing among us. And in every way that matters, this season has been a tremendous success.
A POSTURE OF GRATITUDE
Scripture warns us about the danger of forgetting to give thanks. In Romans 1, Paul describes a people who “knew God, but did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,” and as a result, their hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21). Gratitude is not incidental to faith; it is essential to it. Thanksgiving keeps our hearts soft, humble, and rightly oriented toward Jesus.
- We are thankful for every prayer prayed.
- We are thankful for every dollar given.
- We are thankful to be a church united with Jesus on his mission.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD—AGAIN
There was a season not long ago when simply making payroll felt uncertain. We walked carefully, faithfully, and dependently—and the Lord sustained us. He has brought us from scarcity to stability, from uncertainty to preparation.
This season of generosity positions us well for whatever door God opens next. It allows us to move forward wisely, not anxiously. It reminds us that God often prepares his people before he reveals his plan.
As we move into this new year, we do so with open hands and hopeful hearts. What we ask of you now is simple: continue to pray. We believe the Lord has a location for us, and we trust that his provision and faithfulness will continue to meet us there.
Jesus himself is our greatest gift. Let’s make it all about him this year.