Remembering 2024 and Looking Forward to 2025

January 4th, 2025

By God’s grace, we have begun a new year! Finishing a calendar year always has me reflecting on the year we finished and highlighting where I saw the Lord at work as a church as well as other tidbits. Here are a few of the highlights for 2024:

· Pastor Marc began with his cancer numbers climbing... but finished the year cancer free!

We began a new location work (with a move in around May ‘25)
Danica Henry began as our new Children's Ministry Director
Grew in dependence and prayer in our ministries and as a church
We helped plant Summit Henderson
Began updating our doctrinal statement
We had a few elder transitions (that was sad and hard!)
International work: The O’s are back on field – now in Macedonia!!!
Ministry throughout the year: Small groups, Youth, baptisms, meals delivered, Retreats (Women's, elders/pastors), Straight Ahead, Olive Crest
We listened to the Bible a lot! Dwell Bible App: 196,805 overall minutes, 7,825 minutes last month
We experienced loss: Sandy Sample, and Robert Villaverde passed away
By the Numbers:
- Our general Sunday attendance – 296
- New members (currently 173) 28 new members in the last year
- Overall volunteers count – 128 serving on Sunday mornings in any area, includes youth helpers (111 members serving)
- Small groups – 136 people attended small groups this last semester

As I reflect on this list I want to respond with, “Thank you!!!” “Thank you,” first and foremost to the Lord for His mercy and continual care over us throughout the year! At times in ministry and times in our personal life, the year was hard, times when He brought us through various trials and challenges. But through it all, He was faithful and cared for us! I am incredibly grateful!
I also thank each of you for your prayers, your giving, and serving in the various ministries throughout the year. Church, thank you! We have continued to lean into Him and grow in dependence!
Here is an encouraging fact going into this year: We are heading into our 25th year as a church! That is significant! We will (God willing) be in our new building as we celebrate our 25th year. We will celebrate and give thanks to Him for the work of His Spirit in and through us over the years!
Finally, I am really looking forward to our new teaching series through the books of Ezra, Esther and Nehemiah. We begin tomorrow on this journey together. I am personally seeing how this is already refreshing my soul as I am currently soaking in the book of Ezra. The reminder that God is at work, that He says what He does and does what He says. The reminder that He is faithful and at work – even when I don’t always see His hand at work or know how, I know He is! I am reminded from my study that He is at work in us – refining us. I am eager for Him to reform us as draw us all the more to Jesus through our study together. [If you would like to see an outline of Ezra you can click on this link: Outline of Ezra.]

I pray you will join with me in worship tomorrow as we enjoy seeing each other and encouraging one another as we gather around His Word and in singing, inviting Him to work in and through us!
I love you church and am eager to worship with you!

Held By His Abundant Grace,