01.02.25
It’s a New Year! While that may be hard to believe, it is worth accepting and making the most of. To turn the page on another year is both an opportunity for reflection and a chance to start fresh and renew. Everyone is given the chance of a fresh start and the opportunity to start something new. I pray that 2025 will be that for Parkview Baptist Church. I would like to encourage you with a reflection on 2024, and a look ahead to 2025.
When I look back on 2024, I will view it as a challenging year but one in which we began moving the ministry forward. We got to see God move in many ways throughout the year. I will look back on our week of Spiritual Renewal as a pivotal moment in the life of our church. The push toward prayer and the kindness of the Lord to remind us of it will be a foundational moment. A foundation that will carry us toward faithfulness in the years to come. There were many other exciting things to point to that shows the progress we are making in our Parkview 100 emphasis. (Reminder: Parkview 100 is an initiative we started a few years ago on our 75th anniversary to ensure the faithfulness of this church 25 years into the future at 100 years old.) This year our Family ministry took a big leap forward. We saw our numbers increase for practically all our ministries and the opportunities they provide. Those include our attendance for Kids camp and Youth camp. We have an incredible family ministry team that I am graciously thankful for. We also began making progress toward our SERVE team ministry getting up and running. We ordained three new deacons this year, and saw several new ministries begin to hit their stride. The Caring and Sharing initiative (feminine product ministry) and our Kindred Group (a ministry to our ladies that have been widowed) both demonstrated what our members can do as they take the initiative to provide ministry to those in need. In addition to that our choir, grief share, financial peace, and parent bible study all demonstrate the ways we are seeking to help believers live out their faith in everyday contexts and through the challenges and opportunities that this life brings. Our 55+ ministry continued to encourage our legacy adults and provide fellowship and community for them. Our Ladies ministry continued to provide meaningful fellowship and Bible Study this year and our men’s ministry started increasing the opportunities available for our men. And all of that is certainly not everything. There is far too much to put down on paper. I certainly know that the Lord has been working in people’s hearts through the Ministry of the Word in every context that we provide it. We are blessed in so many ways with the leaders and servants that we have. You make ministry here happen and that’s the Biblical picture for how it should be. Our Pastors here are aiming to equip you for ministry and many of you are answering the call.
The most beautiful part of ministry here at Parkview is that we are firmly Christ-centered in all that we do. That is more than just words on a page or a catchy phrase. We genuinely want to glorify Jesus in what we do and the best way to do that is to make him the center of it all. From our worship all the way to our ministries we want him to guide the ministry and be the cornerstone that it is built upon.
As we look forward to 2025, I am really excited about the opportunities that exist to build on what has already happened in 2024. This year we have such great potential. One of the things that we want you to know is that we are committed to building our ministry ON the foundation of God’s word and AROUND community. Acts 2:42-47 presents an incredible picture of what the Church looked like in its beginning. It also gives us a window into what was the result of their commitments. It shouldn’t surprise us to see that they were devoting themselves to the apostle’s teachings and making a practice of prayer. What we may not always remember is the integral part that their community and fellowship played in that. They were a group of people centered around a mission and were doing it together. They broke bread in their homes and were ministering to the people around them creating a favor with the people that was an evidence of their genuine love for one another. The result is astonishing. They added to their number daily those who were being saved. Wouldn’t it be an incredible thing to see that happen in our midst? That is certainly what we want to see happen. Through our Groups ministry we have a firm start on that. Our Sunday School classes and Life Groups are a way of participating in life together. Our worship every week is another way for the body to be together and to enjoy this kind of fellowship. We are also looking to bring another aspect of discipleship to the forefront in 2025. I look forward to expanding on this in the coming weeks with a picture of how you can participate in making that a reality.
Some of the other things we are looking forward to in 2025 are continuing to intensify our commitment to prayer and expanding our missions partnerships. Be on the lookout for some specially scheduled times of prayer where we can come together for that purpose. Prayer should be as essential to us as breath. So, we are committed to helping you learn about and see its importance more and more. Our 40 days of prayer emphasis will be starting soon and is a great place to begin devoting yourself to daily prayer. Much more to come on that in the days ahead. We also are continuing our mission partnerships with Ron Sutton, Ron Tyndal, and Collin Wimberley. In addition, we are looking to expand on those partnerships with some others. We partner through our prayers and ministry to these partners and their networks and churches. We support some financially and our aim is to be able to physically go to every one of these partners to help with their work. We will send our third group to Ecuador this year and are looking to provide some opportunities in the United States for mission trips with our stateside partners. That’s just a little, and of course there will be much more.
I just want you to know that I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be your Lead Pastor. Five years ago, when I came to preach in view of a call there was much uncertainty. If you need evidence just remember we did drive through voting for many! The uncertainty was mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and none of us really knew what ministry was going to look like. There were some challenging days for sure and for many reasons. But Parkview is no stranger to challenges. We have many that we have weathered throughout this church’s 77 years. We are still here by the grace of our Lord, and not just here but striving for faithfulness. Striving to do God’s work God’s way. I am reminded of Hudson Taylor’s incredible quote about ministry. He said, “God’s work done God's way will never lack God’s supply.” That is what I pray we will be firmly convicted of and have etched onto our hearts. It is hard to be committed to doing things the way God has commanded. We will often face temptations to compromise, but we must resist. Because there is tremendous blessing in doing God’s work God’s way. May it be so to his glory! The biggest question that all of this leads to is how will you be involved in that?
Praying for a 2025 filled with many drawing near to God!
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Chris
It’s a New Year! While that may be hard to believe, it is worth accepting and making the most of. To turn the page on another year is both an opportunity for reflection and a chance to start fresh and renew. Everyone is given the chance of a fresh start and the opportunity to start something new. I pray that 2025 will be that for Parkview Baptist Church. I would like to encourage you with a reflection on 2024, and a look ahead to 2025.
When I look back on 2024, I will view it as a challenging year but one in which we began moving the ministry forward. We got to see God move in many ways throughout the year. I will look back on our week of Spiritual Renewal as a pivotal moment in the life of our church. The push toward prayer and the kindness of the Lord to remind us of it will be a foundational moment. A foundation that will carry us toward faithfulness in the years to come. There were many other exciting things to point to that shows the progress we are making in our Parkview 100 emphasis. (Reminder: Parkview 100 is an initiative we started a few years ago on our 75th anniversary to ensure the faithfulness of this church 25 years into the future at 100 years old.) This year our Family ministry took a big leap forward. We saw our numbers increase for practically all our ministries and the opportunities they provide. Those include our attendance for Kids camp and Youth camp. We have an incredible family ministry team that I am graciously thankful for. We also began making progress toward our SERVE team ministry getting up and running. We ordained three new deacons this year, and saw several new ministries begin to hit their stride. The Caring and Sharing initiative (feminine product ministry) and our Kindred Group (a ministry to our ladies that have been widowed) both demonstrated what our members can do as they take the initiative to provide ministry to those in need. In addition to that our choir, grief share, financial peace, and parent bible study all demonstrate the ways we are seeking to help believers live out their faith in everyday contexts and through the challenges and opportunities that this life brings. Our 55+ ministry continued to encourage our legacy adults and provide fellowship and community for them. Our Ladies ministry continued to provide meaningful fellowship and Bible Study this year and our men’s ministry started increasing the opportunities available for our men. And all of that is certainly not everything. There is far too much to put down on paper. I certainly know that the Lord has been working in people’s hearts through the Ministry of the Word in every context that we provide it. We are blessed in so many ways with the leaders and servants that we have. You make ministry here happen and that’s the Biblical picture for how it should be. Our Pastors here are aiming to equip you for ministry and many of you are answering the call.
The most beautiful part of ministry here at Parkview is that we are firmly Christ-centered in all that we do. That is more than just words on a page or a catchy phrase. We genuinely want to glorify Jesus in what we do and the best way to do that is to make him the center of it all. From our worship all the way to our ministries we want him to guide the ministry and be the cornerstone that it is built upon.
As we look forward to 2025, I am really excited about the opportunities that exist to build on what has already happened in 2024. This year we have such great potential. One of the things that we want you to know is that we are committed to building our ministry ON the foundation of God’s word and AROUND community. Acts 2:42-47 presents an incredible picture of what the Church looked like in its beginning. It also gives us a window into what was the result of their commitments. It shouldn’t surprise us to see that they were devoting themselves to the apostle’s teachings and making a practice of prayer. What we may not always remember is the integral part that their community and fellowship played in that. They were a group of people centered around a mission and were doing it together. They broke bread in their homes and were ministering to the people around them creating a favor with the people that was an evidence of their genuine love for one another. The result is astonishing. They added to their number daily those who were being saved. Wouldn’t it be an incredible thing to see that happen in our midst? That is certainly what we want to see happen. Through our Groups ministry we have a firm start on that. Our Sunday School classes and Life Groups are a way of participating in life together. Our worship every week is another way for the body to be together and to enjoy this kind of fellowship. We are also looking to bring another aspect of discipleship to the forefront in 2025. I look forward to expanding on this in the coming weeks with a picture of how you can participate in making that a reality.
Some of the other things we are looking forward to in 2025 are continuing to intensify our commitment to prayer and expanding our missions partnerships. Be on the lookout for some specially scheduled times of prayer where we can come together for that purpose. Prayer should be as essential to us as breath. So, we are committed to helping you learn about and see its importance more and more. Our 40 days of prayer emphasis will be starting soon and is a great place to begin devoting yourself to daily prayer. Much more to come on that in the days ahead. We also are continuing our mission partnerships with Ron Sutton, Ron Tyndal, and Collin Wimberley. In addition, we are looking to expand on those partnerships with some others. We partner through our prayers and ministry to these partners and their networks and churches. We support some financially and our aim is to be able to physically go to every one of these partners to help with their work. We will send our third group to Ecuador this year and are looking to provide some opportunities in the United States for mission trips with our stateside partners. That’s just a little, and of course there will be much more.
I just want you to know that I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be your Lead Pastor. Five years ago, when I came to preach in view of a call there was much uncertainty. If you need evidence just remember we did drive through voting for many! The uncertainty was mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and none of us really knew what ministry was going to look like. There were some challenging days for sure and for many reasons. But Parkview is no stranger to challenges. We have many that we have weathered throughout this church’s 77 years. We are still here by the grace of our Lord, and not just here but striving for faithfulness. Striving to do God’s work God’s way. I am reminded of Hudson Taylor’s incredible quote about ministry. He said, “God’s work done God's way will never lack God’s supply.” That is what I pray we will be firmly convicted of and have etched onto our hearts. It is hard to be committed to doing things the way God has commanded. We will often face temptations to compromise, but we must resist. Because there is tremendous blessing in doing God’s work God’s way. May it be so to his glory! The biggest question that all of this leads to is how will you be involved in that?
Praying for a 2025 filled with many drawing near to God!
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Chris