Monday, January 4, 2010, Nashville, TN.~
Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee!
This is Pastor Daniel C. Geddes from Christ Community Assembly of God Church writing! Hope you had a good year; now we start a brand new one. Hope 2010 will be your year for miracles, health, blessings, and dreams coming true !
The year 2009 was a very good one for our church. Record attendances during our special revivals or concerts. Record attendances for our recent children's and adult Christmas programs and "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames". New members coming into the kingdom of God, joining our burgeoning church family. A record turnout for our Harvest Festival this past fall. Getting to know new family members or dedicating babies to God. A record number of water baptisms. Untold miracles or answered prayers among our church body.
A new gym for our children and teens. New staff coming in to make a pastor's workings that much easier. Being able to keep our budget in check and being able to pay the staggering costs of bills (electric, maintance, etc.), not to mention, the staff.
Two thousand and ten promises even more blessings for Christ Community Assembly of God, so we'd best hold on, grab our hats, and enjoy the ride while we can! I pray God continues to use us for His kingdom, and I pray we reach out to even more people in our community who need to hear the Message of Hope and Truth!
While we had many successes, we also had some sadness. Saints of all ages going to Heaven to be with the Lord. People moving away or people feeling discontented about "how we do things 'round here". People losing homes, jobs, etc. to our shaky economy. Botched adoptions or people facing personal problems (drugs, abortions, sicknesses, relationship problems, etc.). Our prayer board has been exceptionally busy fielding all of these needs, making them known to us.
We know that people will face problems or heartaches in their journey with Christ; even Christians aren't immune to strife; however, to quote Matthew 19:26: "...But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them: 'With man this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible.'" With God's help, we are able to face life's battles, if we do several things: 1.) pray about your situation or need, 2.) put your trust completely and fully in the Lord God, 3.) and know that God will bring you through; nothing is too hard for God to take care of!
Unlike the rest of the world, we have what most people don't: the hope and satisfaction of knowing our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and having a personal relationship with Him. We can rest our hopes in Him, give our burdens to Him, and know that we are now heirs of the Kingdom because we made the decision to follow Him.
We will not go to hell: we will end up in Heaven, to be with Christ forever.
It doesn't take much to ask Christ to come into your life: you have to have a humble heart, become like a child in your faith, and repent of your sins. If you ask, God will come, and your ilfe will never be the same. Trust me. I know; I accepted Christ when I was a boy of 11. This was how I got into the ministry because God wanted me to be a pastor. So here I am, fulfilling His promise to others, serving His children, the best way I can.
When I was 11, I had no idea that I was to become a pastor; yet God gave me a vision, and I acted on it. Now I am (co) pastoring a church, and who knoews what God has in store? It is exciting to think about, especially since I've seen/experienced so many miracles in my own life and seeing God transform the lives of others!
Our Christmas Cantata (as well as the children's Christmas program) went without a hitch. Record numbers of people showed up; the sanctuary was full to the point of people standing because there were not any seats left. People even spilled into the lobby because they couldn't get in. It was amazing! The choirs and actors did a marvelous job, as did our soloists, and our signers, who signed for the deaf members of our congregation. I think the message was received: over fifty people gave themselves to the Lord as a result of the programs; they are now new members of God's kingdom.
They probably had the best Christmas of their lives!
Yesterday we had our monthly "baby dedication", where we dedicate recently born babies to God, and pray over them and their families. We had three boys to pray over: Josiah Matthew Paul Etheridge, Quo Xang Chung, and Tanner Blaze Dykstra. All were born in November, so they are teeny tiny: brand spankin' new. We also had the church pray for the happy family members who stood by their little ones' side and gave the parents a new children's Bible and a special gift to mark this important moment in their children's lives.
Well, it looks like my work is going to start early: not even six o'clock in the morning, and already my pager's going off. *sigh* I will write in here again soon; if I don't, any other staff member will. That way, you will be informed of all that is going on in our lives, as well as in the lives of others, not to mention, our church functions. Until then, take care, and may God bless you mightily; may this be YOUR year for miracles and blessings from above! God is able, and He is still in the miracle-making business, even today!
~In His Service,
Associate Pastor Daniel Canaan Geddes, Christ Community Assembly of God Church, Nashville, TN.
