“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24, NIV)

   This coming year, I intend to continue to ask our membership and Azle community members a series of questions. I ask everyone the same open-ended questions and allow them to answer as they see fit. A few have already gone through this process with me – although they may not have known it at the time. I will share one question with you now. “Where do you see this church in 5 to 10 years?”

   It seems quite simple, but the more you think about it the deeper and more complex it becomes. Where do we want to be? How does that differ from where we have been? What do we need the building to become? What services & teams are necessary? How do we increase our influence with the younger generation? How do we reach our goals? Do we agree on what our goals are? 

   One thing is noticeably clear. No matter what we decide to do, need to keep working on building and growing. It you have a garden, a home, or kids you know that without proper care everything falls to pieces. The weeds take over, the roof shingles crumble and leak, and the kids … well, they go wild when not managed.

   We need to continue to do the Lord’s work. We need to provide help for the needy. We need to instruct our children and adults. We need to maintain the local mission presence we have in the church building. Yet, we want to do so much more. 

   My dreams are that we would have all the resources we need to be miraculous blessings to others. Let us dream of not just fixing the roof but blowing the walls out. Let us dream of youth trips and college scholarships we provide. Let us dream of providing food and basic medical care for many. Let us dream of fixing marriages, freeing addicts, visiting prisoners, providing for orphans, visiting the sick and the lonely. Let us dream … and find Jesus in the vision leading our way.

   Am I an optimist? I think the Lord commands that I should be. The Lord also requires that I do my part and give freely of my time, my prayer, and my substance. He commands this of you as well. I ask that you commit yourself to not just maintaining the Kingdom but building it. Consider how you can answer this biblical call for the renewal of all Creation. Put it into prayer and ask the Lord to lead you to commit to his service.

   You can be a part of making wonderful things happen by joining with me and daily praying for the church. Pray for the leaders and the staff. Pray for the people, generally and specifically. Pray for the community – that eyes would open and more would seek Christ. Pray, pray, pray.

Together we can dispel doubt and realize remarkable things in Christ’s holy name.

May God grant you a living faith by the power of his grace,

Pastor Ray