Looking Back on 2011, Looking Ahead to 2012

Looking Back on 2011, Looking Ahead to 2012

Dear New Covenant Family,

As we approach the end of our second calendar year together, I rejoice that I can wholeheartedly agree with this commendation from the Apostle Paul:

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.                   1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Your Work of Faith

New Covenant is a hard-working church. I rejoice at the amount of activity that takes place, both within our church walls and outside our facility—truly this work reaches out across the globe.

So many times Kate & I have commented on the number of things that are “just taken care of” by members of our church. No matter what you are doing, you always work so conscientiously, with a humble desire for excellence, unto the glory of God. Your works of faith make my work as a pastor & preacher so much more joyful and enable me to devote myself to the shepherding of the flock. Thank you for always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

I am thankful for the hard work of our ministry staff—for Bob’s constant attention to the tidiness of our facilities, Donna’s faithful financial administration and tireless labor, Ginny’s elegant touch on all that goes forth from our office, and Reba’s workmanlike efficiency and caring attentiveness to the pastors’ needs.

I am thankful that we have a deacon team that consists of “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3).  These men have taken diaconal work to levels I have rarely seen. I am confident that as they “serve well as deacons” they will “gain a good standing for themselves [i.e., appreciation and honor in the church] and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13).

And I rejoice to serve in partnership with elders & pastors who are “beloved brother(s) and faithful minister(s) and fellow servant(s) in the Lord” (Col. 4:7). Not only do these men work hard for you (Col. 4:13)—they also faithfully minister to my needs (Phil. 2:25). My heart trusts in them, and I am so encouraged as I watch them continue to grow as eager shepherds of the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2).

Your Labor of Love

Churches can fall into the trap of keeping busy while losing their first love (Rev. 2:4). I am so glad this is not where New Covenant is at in 2011. Back in February, as we worshiped our way through 1 Corinthians 13, we saw that “Everything—Love=Nothing.” Our church resonated with that message. In many quiet ways, I see the people of New Covenant setting their own interests aside (Phil. 2:4) in order to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).

Thank you for being a people who above all “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:15). Thank you for bathing your ministries in love—here at church, in the community, in the jails, and in your homes. “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11).

Your Steadfastness of Hope in Our Lord Jesus Christ

What a joy it’s been for me to preach the Word in our church. I don’t feel that the gospel is falling on deaf ears here. It seems that the more Christ is lifted up, the more eagerly you desire to live for his glory. When I said this past Sunday, “Wouldn’t it be great if instead of celebrating Christmas this week, we were celebrating the Return of Christ,” there was a heartfelt response from the congregation. When the choir sang “Hope of the World,” I could feel the congregation’s resonance as that song so movingly extolled our hope in Christ.

As we look ahead toward 2012, let me name five areas in particular where I’d like to see our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ manifest itself:

1. A Growing Commitment to Corporate Prayer. It’s been a joy this past year to devote one Wednesday evening each month to an extended time of prayer & praise. I’d like to see our attendance double (at least!) in 2012. Please join us in expressing our utter dependence on the Holy Spirit as we pray together on the first Wednesday evening of each month.

2. A Greater Investment in the Discipleship of Our Youth. Early in January you will receive a letter from the church explaining our desire to increase Dan Leeper’s role here at New Covenant to a full-time pastoral position. We are proposing this step of faith because we want to invest more of our energy and resources in the discipleship of students who will bring glory to God through Spirit-transformed lives by the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. A Broader Reach in the Ministry of Gospel-Driven Counseling. As David Sommer continues to pursue his studies with the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF), God is shaping his vision and honing his skills so that he can equip others to serve our church and community with grace-oriented, gospel-driven counsel. I am looking forward to seeing how God expands our church’s ministry in this community as our vision for counseling grows.

4. A Deeper Penetration into the Urban Neighborhoods of the Fox Valley. One of the most exciting areas of growth this Fall has been in Luke Preussler’s ministry in the Poplar Creek neighborhood in Elgin. Now we’re seeing a good number of children & youth from the community getting involved in the AWANA ministry. I pray that this will be the first-fruits of a greater harvest. I’m also excited about the initial vision that is developing for a foster care & adoption ministry at New Covenant and look forward to seeing that grow in 2012 and beyond.

5. A Fresh Vision for the Maximum Use of Our Facilities. At our Membership Meeting on January 22, we will report on the response to the Heart for the Harvest fund from the former Fox Valley Bible Church. Now we will turn our attention forward to look at the facilities God has richly provided us in this strategic and beautiful location, and consider how we may steward the remaining assets at New Covenant in the years to come. I envision 2012 being a year of creative thinking and planning along these lines.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Joyfully serving you,

David Sunday