Looking back on 2006

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.