A new year brings new opportunities, and, as any year, new challenges. As we prepare to enter 2025, I'd like for us to focus on three words. Those words are: Ask. Align. Advance. 

For several months I've been praying and seeking the Lord's direction regarding His plans and purposes for me, personally, in 2025, and for my family and for the church. The more I prayed and searched the Scriptrues, the more I saw these three words as important, not only for the church, but for me, personally.

I will be preaching a year end/start the new year message by preaching on these three words and what they mean, but I wanted to also write about these three words as I believe we are to keep them before us for the entirety of 2025:

Ask. Align. Advance.

'Ask,' refers to prayer. The Word of God is filled with admonitions and commands and encouragements to pray. I must stay in prayer, persevere in prayer, and so must you, so must we all as a church body. We can do nothing in our own strength. We need the Lord and His grace and His strength for everything. 

As we look at revamping and re-launching our Saturday service and adding a second Sunday service so we can best maximize our facility usage before we build, we must first be on our knees seeking the Father. 

As each of us personally prepares for the year ahead, we must be on our knees, seeking the Father.  Persevering prayer is central to the Christian life. Persevering prayer is central to a church that would be used by God for His glory.

'Align,' refers to aligning our lives to the Word of God. Obedience. Growing in Christ-likeness. If we are to walk with God and be used by Him for His glory we must continually be growing in conformity to His Word and will. 

'Advance,' refers to the mission the Lord has given us. Our mission is very clear. It is the Great Commission. We are to be about the business of making disciples as we go about our daily lives. We are to be about the business of the King and His Kingdom, both individually and as a church.

As we prepare for 2025, it is my prayer that we 'ask,' and 'align,' and 'advance!' 

I look forward to the journey!

Grace to You,

Pastor Kevin