2006 has been one of those years that has
just seemed to fly by. However I have now eventually put
fingers to keyboard to reflect on the past year.
Thank you Lord!
There are so many things to be thankful to
God for. As LNC we started the year with the theme of Purpose.
We looked as a congregation at God’s purposes for us from
‘The Purpose Driven Life’ book by Rick Warren. We
preached on each of the 5 purposes in the book:
* Planned for God’s Pleasure
* Formed for God’s Family
* Created to become like Christ
* Shaped for Service
* Made For Mission
Most people in the church committed
themselves to reading the book and we then discussed the questions at the end
of each chapter in order to apply them to our lives. Some also then met in
small accountability groups in order to make sure they were living these things
out.
I thank God that there was a real sense
that God was moving in us. Things that I noticed were that we became more
servant-hearted as a church. People gave time to practical tasks that needed to
be done in the church like cleaning up, caretaking and helping out generally. A
greater sense of unity and support developed and people were enthusiastic and
sacrificial in their service to God.
Other things have been encouraging too this
year. We have again ministered to Kenya in practical and spiritual ways. The
youth also made a great impact in Birmingham through the youth mission at the
end of July with youth being saved and the area of Aston impacted through
social action and drama and dance presentations and a BBQ. We have also seen
many mini outreaches taking place through cells from candle parties, to meals
for friends, family and work colleagues. We have invited people in for Scrap
Booking Days and had picnics and some of the guys have been away together with
friends to Wales on walks.
Difficulties
There have been a lot of pressures with our
finances this year as a church which has resulted in us cutting salaries down.
This has caused some of us to be greatly challenged in our faith. Peter was
told that his faith would be sifted but that Jesus had prayed for him that his
faith would not fail (Luke 22: 31 – 32). I have felt that I have had to keep my
focus strongly on Jesus through this pressured time. Should I look for other
work? Does God want me to just hang in there and look to Him and believe the
money will come? So I have tried to carefully look to God and listen and obey
Him. Thanks be to God, the money has been coming in for us personally and also
the church finances are coming into order. Through this time of sifting as a
church I believe we have had to hold our nerve, keep our focus on Jesus the
author and perfecter of our faith and pray that we don’t enter into temptation
in the middle of it. Other relational difficulties, and people not following
through with God, have also been tough and painful. However through all this we
have had to stay focused. So stay focused - God is good.
