The Pastor's Perspective for February

  As we launch out into a new year, let me share with you what I would like to see us accomplish in 2012.

• Hire a part-time Youth Director.  The young people in our church
  have a problem - they're growing up!  Actually this isn't their 
  problem as much as it is our problem.  Many of those who were
  active in the youth group in past years are now away in college.
  We are looking for a person who could actively recruit a youth
  group from scrath.  That's a tall order, and that person will no
  doubt need our prayers, but "with God all things are possivle."
  (Matthew 19:26)
• Integrate contemporary worship into our regular services.  As we
  survey the church scene, we see that growing churches tend to
  use a contemporary style of worship that is appealing to young
  families.  If we want to add youn families to our church, we need
  to incorporate this approach into our worship on Sunday mornings.
• Conduct an organ fund drive.  As much as we need to start some
  contemporary worship, we also need to maintain the traditional
  worship we already have.  A lot of research has gone into how to
  address the needs of our organ. We will conduct a campaign this
  year to raise funds for the most important instrument used in
  traditional worship.

All of these steps will assist us to reach out to those outside the Christian community, but none of them is sufficient in it self to do the job.  The most powerful tools for approaching non-believers are still word of mouth and prayer.  Nothing can replace a personal invitation...and nobody can extend that invitation better than you.  Let's pray for God to show us how our church as a whole and how each of us as individuals can make an impression for Christ.

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