Having January as our Missions emphasis is a great way to begin the New Year. It causes us to focus on things that are immensely important. For one, it reminds us of our main purpose to exist as a church. You know, we are not really here to provide a social hub for Christians, although that is one thing that happens each week, and it is a good thing. Nor are we here primarily to improve our lot in life, although that too occurs, as we learn and apply Biblical principles to living. Our main purpose here is also what the heartbeat of missions work is; getting out the gospel to people who need to be saved. Though our overall attendance grew somewhat in 2012, we saw some decline in the number of people who were saved. We had fewer baptized as well. Our Missions emphasis should have the effect of increasing our desire to send missionaries and church planters out into the field of the world, but it should also increase our desire to give more attention to our own mission field right here in this valley. Pray not only that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into the harvest, but let us be harvesters ourselves! Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
-from January 6, 2013 bulletin