August 2015 has been a record month for attendance in both worship and Bible Study at First Baptist Church.
This is good news, and we are grateful to see many people interested in the things of God.
Why is this good news? Because “We exist to help people know and accept Jesus Christ and through Him experience life-changing relationships.” Our purpose statement demands that we seek to take the message of Christ to our community.
So does Jesus’ Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
So, an increased number of people seeking the things of God is good news.
In the month of August we have averaged 1540 in our weekend Bible Studies and almost 2250 in total attendance for our worship services. The last two weeks we have had over 1600 people in Bible Study classes with one-half in our preschool, children, and youth classes!
We want to reach this youngest generation for Christ. We give thanks we are having the opportunity to do so.
This is the good news. What about the challenges?
These are the challenges we face when we move to a new level.
First, we need leaders. We need people to teach the youngest generation (Generation Z). We have this one, brief opportunity to share Christ with young, eager minds. Let us take on the challenge.
We need leaders who are servants–people who recognize they have the privilege to lead the next generation and to make a difference in their lives.
Second, we need examples. We all learn better when we see and experience what is being taught. As we see what a life in Christ is like, we are equipped to live our own life in Christ.
As God has blessed us with opportunity as a church, let us give our best for Christ. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).
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