Community News – 10/30/2024
Community –
For six weeks now, James has been inviting us into a compelling – but challenging – vision of living as resilient disciples of Jesus (those who live and love like Jesus even when life is hard, temptation is real, and the world doesn’t cooperate)!
Resilient disciples aren’t born; we’re made, James argues, through the crucible of actively pursuing Jesus, faithfully enduring through trials and temptations, and humbly choosing to live into God’s vision for our lives.
While we’re still very much in process towards the vision of resilient disciples, I see God at work around Community. We’re taking important next steps. God is stirring and empower folks to live and love like Jesus. People are actively pursuing Him and engaging in prayer, worship, and mission. I believe that God’s Spirit is stirring up something special. Here are just a few stories that I’m celebrating:
*Year-over-year, we’ve seen attendance increases over the past three months (Aug, Sept, Oct)! That’s the first year-over-year growth in all of 2024. We’re not about chasing numbers, but that does mean that more folks are engaging in worship – coming expectant and ready to see what God wants to do in and through our church!
*People are seeking God in intentional ways! We have six prayer huddles meeting on a regular basis to pray over Community. Around 100 people have pledged to pray for Community during our “Renewed” prayer initiative! We have two new discipleship huddles that just started, where folks are learning the essential rhythms of following Jesus and becoming disciple-makers. We’ve had encouraging feedback about how people are using the James Series Guides to engage more deeply with the weekend teaching!
*New volunteers are finding new ways to engage needs in our church and around our city! You’ll notice some new faces helping during services (playing in the band, sharing announcements, working with the students). We had several individuals and families step into serving (some for the very first time) by helping at the Fall Charity Festival. We’ve seen some new life in our food pantry, as a first-time volunteer is helping us get organized and ready for the Thanksgiving season!
*Oh, and we already have two baptisms scheduled for November! (Interested in joining them? Reply to this email – brettsanner@findcommunity.com – and let me know.)
We’re not there yet. We’ll still face some challenges and obstacles, I know that. But here’s my point: God is very much at work here! God has been faithful. He has seen us through a challenging transition season – and He isn’t done working in and through this church!
The temptation to settle for an easier path is real. This season of transition can be hard. But there is a resilience to this church that honors God. Keep it up! When life is hard, temptation is real, and the world doesn’t cooperate, keep pressing in towards Jesus! Don’t settle for settling. Don’t ease into the path of least resistance. James is calling us to a higher vision: resilient disciples, living and loving like Jesus.
Community, keep pressing in! Keep engaging in extraordinary ways. Keep taking that next step in the direction of Jesus… and as we do, I know that we’ll see God doing some amazing thing!
With Joy –
Pastor Brett
A reminder of November happenings:
- Nov 1-15 – Dinner Groups (our own sort of friends-giving)
- Nov 6 – Night of Worship (whatever happens on election day, Jesus is still King)
- Nov 10 – Start Party (a great place to hear about next steps here at Community)
- Nov 17 – Town Hall (updates from our Transitional Team and Pastoral Search Team)
- Nov 20 – Partner Night (a night of worship and vision for our partners/members – and anyone interested in exploring partnership)
- Plus our ongoing Renewed Prayer Initiative (keep on praying!)
