LIVING EMPOWERED

Each year it is our custom to take a focus for that year, to help us to build our teaching ministry around over those twelve months. For the last few years, we have seen the very reason why God has led us that way, and this past year our focus has been Living Empowered. God challenged us at the beginning of this year to encourage the church congregation to 'grow up' and become bigger and stronger men and women of God. We were also challenged that what we are doing today is preparing us for tomorrow. We saw how God was revealing to us that what we do and did we could do on our own, but without the Holy Spirit empowerment we were very little effective. It has meant a real boldness in some of the teaching. It has meant a real boldness in some of the way we have pastored and cared for people. Its pretty hard at times, when you know God is wanting to challenge us and shake us up, when God is wanting to do something amazing among us, but people are just so comfortable. God really wants us to be effective people. God really wants this world to be full of the signs and wonders of His presence among us - yet we all hold so much back - because we have what we want and taking it further might be asking far too much thank you very much. One of our leaders shared with us a sign that she saw on a van at the beginning of this year. It read: Progression through empowerment. That hit it right where it should be. In order to progress in our spiritual lives and in our relationship with Him, we have to allow God's Spirit in. He gives us daily bread - not stale bread!

It is our sincere prayer that for our members and friends this year, they have more of His Spirit in and working through their lives than ever before. We love them too much to see no progression!

Sue and Ian [Senior Leaders]