This past weekend was All Saints’ weekend where I was privileged to share with my district superintendent what FaithPoint has been up to in this past year.
If I am being honest I will tell you that I don’t really remember picking when our annual charge conference would be considering it feels like we signed up for them 6 months ago. Charge Conference is a meeting where our District Superintendent, JW Park, comes to check in on how FaithPoint is doing. He has a little over 75 churches that he oversees as a kind of pastor of pastors.
As I reflect on this weekend I can’t think of a better time to have a worship celebration of this kind than on All Saint’s day. This is not only because we got an extra hour of sleep due to the time change, but also because it puts into perspective that we are not alone in this journey of faith. There are those who have faithfully gone before us to blaze trials and pave the way for us to be the church (universal) we are today. There is also a realization that at some point we too will be part of the great cloud of witnesses encouraging others to faith and good deeds.
We were able to share with JW and the FaithPoint congregation the ways that we are growing in our weekend worship, making disciples though youth ministry and raising up young leaders. We also were able to honestly talk about our growing edges as well. As a congregation called to reach out wide and invite the non-religious and nominally religious, financial stewardship is a critical part of our discipleship. It is critical that we don’t minimize this growing edge because our finances are what allows us to live into the mission. Financial stewardship is first and foremost a discipleship issue. It is also a way that we are able to partner with the Holy Spirit and the local church to transform hearts and lives. Your giving to the church will not return a dividend check each quarter, but goes a long way to make disciples and change the lives of those in our community and beyond.
We finished up the service with communion and a time of sharing about the impact that some of our local missions have had on our community and some of those servants who were willing to make food and be the hands and feet of Christ in Urbana. It was awesome.
After worship we were able to gather for some food and the business end of the Charge Conference. We ate, and between mouthfuls of delicious food, voted on leadership, approved compensation and set goals for the coming year. I have to say that it was by far the best annual meeting I have ever had.
Above all, this past weekend reminded me of how proud I am to be the pastor of FaithPoint.
We has a trunk-or-treat to start the weekend, then worship and charge conference, and the weekend came to a close with youth group. As I was a part of all of the ministry that happened I found myself pausing and thinking, “I can’t believe I get to do this for a living!” Yes we are not a perfect church, but we may be perfect for those we are called to reach. We have growing edges, but they are a result of us doing what we are here to do.
The fact that few other churches would have a sandal and superhero tee wearing, socially awkward goober like me is not lost on me either. 🙂
I can’t wait to see how God uses FaithPoint in the coming year. I know the course we have set and I am excited about the ride to come.
