December Happenings

Greetings and blessings for the new year.

What a year it has been. Although it seems as if the year has gone by quickly, it amazes me now much has taken place. It is especially amazing when I consider where we were a year ago. The two big events of course were the move to Conway and our son’s marriage last summer. What an emotional year.

The church here has grown in so many ways through the year. I was talking to them recently in one of our classes about how this year has been a year of healing, but we need to make moves to start working again for the Lord and no longer live in the past. I reminded them of the passage from Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” What a good attitude for any of us to take into the new year. Everyone here is praying for open doors to talk to their friends and neighbors about the church. We are beginning to see more and more visitors from the community come in for worship. Growth is slow, but I believe we are moving in the right direction.

Although the church still cannot support us fully, because of people like you, God has provided for our needs throughout the year. I appreciate so much your commitment to help us last year. I had hoped to secure more stable finances from various churches for this coming year, but not very much has developed. I have received a few one time contributions which I will divide among the months, and have a couple of other new monthly supporters which helps us another $350 a month. Perhaps the economic situation of the country is limiting churches from committing to the work here, I don’t know. I trust that God again will see us through this coming year. I will be sending you supporters a more detailed breakdown of last year and this year’s support through the mail very soon.

This month saw its usual amount of people being away for holidays, combined with visitors coming for the holidays and for skiing vacations. Linda and I organized a holiday supper with a Yankee Swap, which was very much enjoyed and appreciated by those who attended. I think we had about 25 who came. Linda continues to work with the Monday evening food pantry serving meals to needy folks in town. She also is now working part time with one of our members who recently opened up a convenience store. She hopes to use this once again to meet people in the town. I had my singing concert which went really well. Many people who we have met in town were in the crowd. If it accomplishes nothing else, this community exposure is putting a more positive image in the town of the church than existed a couple of years ago.

My activities were curtailed very briefly by a fall I took off of a ladder one Sunday afternoon as I was working on an addition to the church building for our oil tanks. The fall was small, but it gashed a 10 stitch rip in my leg. Great fun! It is healing up good. It has been nice to have Sarah with us for the Christmas break. It seems odd not to have Michael with us. Now we know what other families go through as we experience the feelings of not having the whole family with us for every holiday. It won’t be long before we put away the decorations and get Sarah back off to school. It will be good in some ways to get back to a routine. We will be beginning our Friday evening Bible Studies again now that the holidays are over. We are praying that some of our non-Christians who have been worshipping with us throughout this year will make that commitment to obedience. Please pray for God to turn hearts toward him.

Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for the positive comments about the blog page. I hope you enjoy the updates, and we’ll continue to send them your way even if you aren’t able to continue your support into next year. God bless…

Leland