Pastor Tim Mitchell

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior!

I’m excited to share a glimpse of the wall in my office, just opposite my desk. It’s filled with four years’ worth of sheets from our Leadership Summits—a daily reminder of the incredible work God has called us to do together. Every time I look up, I’m reminded that what we do as a church truly matters.

If you take a moment to read our Beyond the Horizon Vision (BTHV) on the cover, you’ll see that we’re pursuing a God-sized dream! This vision was the heart of our 2025 Leadership Summit held on Saturday, January 11th, where we came together to refocus, recharge, and reignite our commitment to what God has in store.

Our BTHV is so bold and so God-inspired that it can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. As Scripture reminds us: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6

We began our morning with a short but meaningful time of worship, centering our hearts on God’s glory and seeking the guidance of our Triune God. It was a beautiful reminder that everything we do is for God’s glory and through God’s power. Our focus verse for the day was 1 Samuel 3:10b: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” This set the tone for the day as we gathered to listen for God’s Word to guide us into 2025.

After worship, we celebrated the joys and acknowledged the challenges of 2024, reflecting on all that God has done through us and in us. Then, we turned our attention to the foundation of our mission: the four Big Rocks, which focus our work toward fulfilling our BTHV. These four Big Rocks—Community, Connection, Worship, and Discipleship—are prominently displayed at the front of the sanctuary as a constant reminder of our shared mission.

Since launching our BTHV, we’ve chosen one of these Rocks as the central focus for our Ministry Plan each year. In 2023, we leaned into Community. In 2024, we prioritized Connection. After thoughtful and prayerful discussion at this year’s summit, we determined that 2025 will be the year to focus on the Big Rock of Worship.

So, what is Worship? Worship is the act of glorifying God—it’s about what we give, not what we get. Many come to worship hoping for an “inspiring” service, asking, “Did I get something out of it? Was it meaningful to me?” But true worship moves beyond what we receive and focuses on how we respond.

To “inspire” means to be moved to action. When we talk about inspiring worship, we’re really asking: Did the worship experience move me to respond? Did it stir me to action in light of my encounter with God? Worship is about leaving transformed, ready to live out the experience of God we just felt.

Now, take a moment to go back to the front cover and pray the 202 Breakthrough Prayer for 2025. As we step into 2025 with a renewed focus on Worship, let’s do so with open hearts, ready to glorify God together and be moved to action for God’s kingdom!

Blessings Pastor Tim

 

           

Blessings