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Bro. Greg's Page
January 2012
Happy New Year! In many ways 2011 was a tough year. So many people went through so much financially and spiritually that I found myself limping to the finish line of 2011, wondering when this year will end. As we approach the beginning of a new year, I am hoping and praying for a better year. I’m praying that those who have struggled financially will receive multiplied blessings in this coming year. I’m praying that those who lost loved ones will have the strength to move forward with a positive outlook on life. I’m praying that those who have struggled spiritually will find new strength to walk with God in daily discipleship.
Our church paralleled our lives as individuals. Though we saw many great things happen in 2012, such as 9 mission trips to 9 different places and a church budget that exceeded our projections for the year, I have been concerned by a few trends. First, we fell 30 people short of our 2010 totals for baptisms. Though salvation is a work of God that we cannot control, I wonder if we did all we could to reach our friends, families, and neighbors in Mobile. Second, I detect a lull in our services that I have not known in my five years at FBTC. People are not inviting others to come at the same pace as they have before. The expectation level seems lower than ever. Wes and I took a hard look at this last week, and we are trying to make sure all of our services are fresh and led by the Spirit. We are definitely excited about what 2012 holds in our worship services. Third, some of our leaders are burning out. When a person gives more than they take in over a consistent period, they will burn out. We are rekindling our emphasis on daily time with God in 2012 so the Lord will continue to build up our leaders spiritually.
To combat some of these trends, we are going to:
1. Have a renewed emphasis on the Word of God in our private lives.
2. Have a renewed emphasis on prayer in public and in private.
3. Have a Crossover emphasis in April, encouraging our church to reach out to
those who do not know Christ.
In spite of the challenges of 2011, I am thankful for a chance to start a new year. It allows time for reflection, prayer, and focus. Our staff is committed to this church and to seeing God reach the lost and build up the saved. We are praying that our church will follow and that 2012 will be a resurgence year at FBTC.
Praying for a great year,
Bro. Greg
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Book of the Month
The Radical Disciple by John Stott
John Stott is a world-class scholar with a practical viewpoint. What would be the last thing you would say to the church if you were writing your last book? Stott focused on the need for discipleship in the church. He looked at eight serious, yet neglected aspects of Christian discipleship. Viewing subjects as non-conformity to the world, Christlikeness, maturity, and balance, Stott challenged Christians to take seriously their call to discipleship. This book helped shaped my emphasis for 2012 as I studied John 4 and developed our 2012 Theme: Living Well!
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CD of the Month
God's Not Dead by Newsboys
Since the days of DC Talk, Michael Tait has always been one of my favorite singers. He has certainly come alive again through his time with the Newsboys. This CD is a compilation of praise and worship songs with an upbeat flair. The Newsboys took some familiar songs like Forever Reign and Mighty to Save, but they also chose some lesser known songs like Savior of the World and Pouring It out for You. I love listening to this music when I’m driving down the road toward a visit or an appointment. It keeps my heart and mind where it should be. Two of the songs include Kevin Max, another of the former DC Talk members, and those songs make you wonder what they would be like if they had stayed together as a group. Great CD with a great message! In my opinion it was the best of 2011.
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