Thoughts on heading into the new year...

December has been a whirlwind for me...perhaps for you, too. It's usually not until this week - the week after Christmas - that I get any real chance to reflect and process. Here are a few random thoughts...

REACH The Reach Campaign was both exciting and challenging. It's also not over. We'll be in it for 3 years. What I mean by that is this: REACH was a 3 year campaign where people made financial commitments over that 3 year period. We continue to get commitments in - just this week we've received well over $100,000 in commitments, and our total now exceeds $850,000. We're well on our way to our goal of raising $1.5 million over the next 36 months. Please, please consider making a commitment. Every commitment matters and helps us toward our goal.

Our Mission In case you don't know: The Mission of Powhatan Community Church is to reach those who've been untouched or unaffected by traditional churches and guide them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. This mission guides everything we do. When people email or call or talk to me face to face and say, "I don't like this" or "I prefer that", I usually help get us to a productive conversation about why we exist. I don't do church the way I like it. I don't do it the way you like it. What I'm interested in is this: what is effective at reaching people who are far from God and outside of other churches? How can we effectively help them understand that God loves them and wants a relationship with them? How can we prepare a fertile ground where they are most likely to encounter God's purpose for their lives, which will ultimately lead them to be full of joy and peace? Sometimes this requries us to do things that are unorthodox. Sometimes it may not seem comfortable or even worshipful. But what we do works. Members of PCC have signed up for this mission and are commited to it...and we couldn't accomplish it without every one of them. This past year, we baptized over 40 people and many more are finding their way into church when they had previously given up on church. This is what we're about.

2008. Next year will be a challenging year for us...but an exciting one. A year from now, we'll be nearing completion on our first building and planning to move in. We have a lot of work to do if we are to be prepared for the growth that this move will bring. We have to carefully balance and manage our time, our energy, and our finances. This is a great time to get involved at PCC! Our first series of the year is called Under Pressure and is a great time for you to invite your unchurched friends and neighbors!

PCC has had our share of challenges, but all in all it's been a great journey. If you are not a part of our church, not in a small group, not serving in an area that you really enjoy and about which you are passionate, we would love to help you! Give our office a call or email me and we'll get moving in the right direction!

See you Sunday - Brian