Happy Easter and welcome to First Baptist Church!

In the past we have thought that Easter was a time when many unchurched people attended church. Recent surveys have shown that Easter is a day when primarily church people all attend church at the same time.

Since Easter is one of the few days when we are all together on the same day, I have chosen to write to you about the state of the church.

Where are we today at First Baptist church?

Last year at FBC and to this point in the new year we are having the best time in the life of the church – – at least dealing with concrete areas that can be measured.

First Baptist church now has almost 5000 members and 7000 or 8000 people who attend on a regular basis. We have 5100 people who are enrolled in our Saturday and Sunday Bible study classes. In addition to this we have hundreds of people who attend Bible study classes during the week.

Our worship attendance, Bible study classes, giving, and number of people baptized are at all-time records.

We have much for which to be thankful, but churches can never live only in the past. We must ask how God wants us to prepare for His future.

What is His vision for the church?

God wants all people to know Him and to experience eternal life. Our vision must be that our friends, family, and neighbors come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must have a vision of changing the culture and of touching hearts and lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For this reason, we have planned a grand vision of providing space for preschoolers and children and young people as well as adults to hear the gospel and know Christ.

Recently, we broke ground on a state of the art preschool and children’s area. We will have room for large crowds on Easter Sunday! We will have a commons area that will allow for a time of fellowship and community for the people of God.

In a sentence, the state of the church is good, but it can be better as we obey Christ, lift him up, and speak boldly about his death, resurrection, and coming again.