In last year’s report to you I wrote of the fact that in looking back at our lives we so often see the hand of God at work. Again this year I am amazed at how far along the Lord has brought us and I am therefore eager to see what the future has in store!
Let me start this year’s report with a word of thanks. Just as in worship we begin with adoration and praise of God, so I think it is always appropriate and spiritually smart to begin any evaluation of the past with a positive note. So many people have given of themselves in so many ways to enhance and enrich and enable the life and ministry of this great congregation that it would be impossible to list them all or to list all the ways in which they have served. As you read this report, please keep in mind that this church exists for two reasons: because the Spirit of the Living God is at work among us and because we are willing to let him use us for his purposes and glory.
This past year has seen many changes in church life, especially marked by the departure of two senior staff members: Mark Swarner and Ray Martinez. Each are greatly missed, of course, but others have stepped in to carry on their work, and as I write we are actively engaged in finding their replacements. It is part of the natural ebb and flow of church life that staff members come and go, and we look forward to the gifts that new leaders will bring to us.
This past year has also been one of much behind-the-scenes preparation and planning for our campus development project that is now finally underway. Throughout the complex process of expanding our facility and making it a better tool of ministry, I have been reminded that God’s people have often had their patience and commitment tried to the limit as they have worked for the large purposes of his Kingdom. I am so grateful for those who have been diligent and tireless in pursuing this project and I am so excited that in 2009 we should be enjoying the fruit of all their past labor.
The “routine” life of our church goes on regardless of staff changes or building projects. This past year we experienced another gain in the overall number of members (from 1151 to 1175) and an increase in financial giving. Worship attendance, however, (another key indicator of church life), has declined somewhat over the past two years. Other churches in our area are seeing similar trends and we are watching the situation closely. Last year the Session studied our worship life and this year will see some significant enhancements in our worship that we believe the Lord is leading us to undertake so that we can do a better job of serving our current and future members.
All of the individual facts and figures about our church life are just part of the story of who and what we are at The Village Church. We are all disciples of Jesus Christ, and our life in him will always be the most important fact about us. I believe that we are growing in spiritual maturity and that we will continue to experience that growth, individually and corporately, in the future. Through our mission, our fellowship, our education, our worship, and all the other aspects of church life, we are learning more about the abundant life that God offers us. It is this vision and hope that inspires me every day. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord and to serve you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Jack W. Baca, Senior Pastor