New Year Excitement (Part 2)

Historically, the New Year has been a tremendous time of numerical growth for us. We grow in members and new people during the Fall and moderately in attendance. However, attendance fluctuates among our regulars due to football games and hunting season.
January through May have been times when we really see our attendance jump for a couple of reasons:
1) It's a new year and people try new things (like church!)
2) We have at least 2 big days that bring new people: Vision Sunday & Easter

All this fuels my excitement even more for 2007. Here's a few more reasons to be excited:

#4--PRAYER
We challenged our church about 4 weeks ago to pray specifically for our church as we approach 2007. I know God is going to honor our prayers.
For me, I am actually taking my first ever Prayer Retreat this weekend. I am going to place where there are no cell phone signals and the closest Wal-Mart is 30 minutes away!! I am excited to get away to pray, plan, and prepare for the upcoming year.
Even more exciting, is that God promises to do more than we could ever 'ask or imagine' to bring Himself glory through the Church! (Eph. 3:20)

#5--GOD'S WORD
The Word of God is living and active. I am humbly reminded of that every time I preach. When I am stubbornly committed to preaching God's Word with conviction, clarity, and creativity ... supernatural power is unleashed. I want to deepen my knowledge of and committment to God's Word in '07.
Exciting verse: Ezra 7:10

#6--THE CHURCH
God wants to bless His church. God wants to see His church grow and bring Him glory as disciples are made. I must remember that it is all about Him (He is I AM and I am not)... but the local church is awesome & incredible!
I cannot wait to see what God is up to in '07 at Rock Bridge!