A new year is upon us, which always brings new opportunities to serve our Lord. It is a time to evaluate the past year, while looking forward to the new year.
Richard RayI always used the first three months of each year to re-engage my church family and emphasize the importance of worshipping, fellowshipping and serving together. We all know in the time between Thanksgiving and New Year, many of our church family are absent due to traveling to be with family and/or on vacation. As you are aware, in a small church, everyone is missed.
Therefore, from January through March, I would create opportunities for the church family to re-engage with one another by having a monthly joint Sunday school class with breakfast, taking the widows out to lunch, spending time with my leaders, attending school activities to encourage the youth and children, having a game night at the church and anything else I could think of.
As I pastor, I know the importance of church family in a small congregation, because everyone is important for the church to make an impact on the kingdom of God. When God’s family is together and are encouraged by one another, the whole community becomes encouraged and will find favor with the church. Acts 2:46-47 says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
This time of year, it is important for the church to create an atmosphere of togetherness to give its community a small taste of what heaven will be like. I encourage you to use these next couple of months to re-engage your church family, and you will be amazed at how the church will impact the community it serves all for the glory of our Lord.
We are here to serve you as you serve the Lord. Remember, the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our website (www.bivocational.com) for more information on how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can minister to and serve you. We continue to enroll those who desire unlimited healthcare coverage through Christian Healthcare Ministries. For more information on this healthcare coverage, contact me at [email protected].
Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. You can reach him at [email protected].
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