Looking Back - Looking Ahead

The New Year’s Baby of 2012 is on our doorstep – the year of 2011 to look back on with thanksgiving and the new year ahead to anticipate God’s ongoing blessing. It really is remarkable when I consider the many ways that God has worked in and through our church family over the past year. Mostly we see His hand of grace in the lives of individuals who are growing through the regular ministries of Sunday worship gatherings, Cachagua contacts, Half Time Wednesday evening connections, Tuesday’s Heart to Heart groups, and Men’s study group gatherings throughout the week. The stories of lives being changed, strengthened and blessed through these weekly avenues of ministry is truly encouraging. But there are notable high points beyond this base that give cause for great thanksgiving as well.

Even as I write these words our team of the Smiths and the Combs are boarding a plane for Ethiopia, there to serve the families of SIM missionaries for their bi-annual retreat. And while they are there they will travel to Afar country with our missionary friend, Ken Riegert, to hear and see more of God’s work around the camel watering center we helped to provide. (Newsflash! This AM I received an email from Ken praising God that “the first church has now been formed in our primary ministry area” – a group of ten believers among this local nomadic desert Afar clan.) And that’s an answer to years and years of visionary praying and courageous front line ministry. What a clear testimony to God’s goodness and power!

And around here at Sanctuary we are just coming off of a Christmas season of focusing our attention on God’s heart for orphans in Ukraine and in Malawi. Again, what a cause for thanksgiving! Across the month of December SBCCV families and individuals were prompted by God to “adopt” 13 Ukrainian orphans and to provide a “second (daily) meal” for at least 29 orphans in Malawi. That adds up to an annual commitment of over $12,000. I know we have a generous church family who are already involved in many ministry commitments, but to see this additional outpouring of love is testimony to tender hearts responding in faith to a need that God has set before us.

And all of this has come on the heels of 93 Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes being sent out to bless kids and to open doors for the gospel. That, in addition to 45 angel tree gifts of warm clothes being provided for families in our neighborhood community of Cachagua. What remarkable compassion prompting generous involvement! Again, how exciting, where many individuals have joined together to meet real needs in the name of Jesus.

I hope you sense as I do what a privilege it is to be a part of this outwardly focused church family In these compassionate and creative ways this body has said “Yes” to God’s heart for serving others. And that’s refreshing. For a day in which so much public attention is directed toward the woes of our slumping economy, many in our church family are saying, “I’ve truly been blessed, Lord, and in obedience to You I want to be a blessing. May the fullness of God’s good news gospel ring out through us across our world again.”
Just one more thing, and that’s looking to the future. Last year our leadership proposed a short term missions outreach with e3 Ministries to Paraguay, but it didn’t happen. We just didn’t have the 8-10 available individuals necessary to put together an effective team. But this spring, March 8-17, we once again are inviting you to prayerfully consider participating in a short term outreach, this time in the area of Amman, Jordan. While we will be going out to do evangelism with e3 Ministries, we’ll also have opportunity to encourage our missionaries, the Harts and the Robertsons, who serve in that area. There’s talk, too, about a four day extension trip to investigate the biblical sites that are so abundant in the land of modern Jordan. Come and join us Wednesday evening for an information meeting on January 18th.

Looking back and looking ahead, I am grateful for the blessing of serving alongside you as a part of this church family. Your joy in serving others prods me on and challenges me to give my best. With you I am excited to see what God will do as we say “Yes” to Him as 2012 unfolds. Let’s keep working together, responding to His heart and His Word, and I’m confident that we’ll have new remarkable stories of His grace to share when this new year finally draws to a close.

Blessed with you to be a blessing,
~Dave
Pastor Dave