November, 2004 

We Have Much To Be Thankful For!

This is the time of the year that the church office is busy producing various reports. Especially since we are a “mission” congregation (receiving grant money) our district needs an update on how things are going as well as where things are going; that is, “how’s the future look?” Well I must say, that looking both backward AND forward is very encouraging. I’d like to share with you just some of the highlights of our 3.5 years together in ministry:

In 2001, with a core group of about 10-15 people, the ministry began. I joined the congregation in July of 2001 when average worship attendance was about 30 per week – at only one worship service per Sunday. Offerings totaled about $33,000 for the year. We became an official, chartered congregation in March, 2003. We have now grown to a congregation of 145 members with worship attendance regularly over 100, and offerings projected to exceed $100,000 for the year! We now celebrate two styles of worship at two Sunday services, with staffed nursery available. We offer a full Sunday School program in addition to Confirmation classes. In these three years we have been blessed to celebrate 25 baptisms! We now have seven (soon to be eight) small groups meeting in homes. Our confirmation program has grown from 3 students last year to 11 students (plus their parents) this year! We have added part-time office, student & family ministry, and worship & teaching staff, as well as been blessed with a deacon in the area of outreach and worship! Furthermore, our congregation supports local relief organizations and helps support a missionary in Taiwan!

There have been challenges and obstacles along the way, but God has always brought us faithfully through them. Just this last year, we were asked to prepare to leave our minstry’s first home at Canyon State Academy, only to be blessed with an awesome opportunity to worship at a bright and spacious facility at the Queen Creek Middle School. Our God makes opportunity out of challenge! We serve a community that is growing by leaps and bounds! Some projections show that our area will grow by 120,000 people in the next 5 to 10 years! Our own congregation has grown at a rate of about 50% per year! Thank you for being part of that growth and for helping to pave the way for the many, many people who will come. Please pray that God enables us to continue our ministry of Bringing Christ to our Neighbors! In His Name.