Last year marked our first FULL year here at The Well Community Church. Over the course of that year, I am encouraged by how I see God working in the lives of so many.
We were able to help a lot of people this year. We tend not to broadcast every time we help an individual or family in need, but in 2022 our church assisted with individuals in need of financial support (education AND assistance), families in need for the holidays, individuals suffering the loss of a loved one, individuals facing unemployment and career changes, and much, much more. I have been absolutely blown away by Pat Shields, Ryan Gray, and John Markham on our Stewardship team. Any time it comes to a decision on how to support an individual in need, the group always responds with an attitude of "how can we help more?" As Ryan has put it repeatedly, it is refreshing to be a part of a church who addresses opportunities to help others by saying "let's do more" rather than "is this within our strategic interests".
Of course, it wasn't always financial. We also surrounded many inside and outside of our church family with loving arms as they navigated rocky marriages, personal crises, individual loss, health trials, and so much more. When the family comes together to meet the needs of all those who are hurting, we are doing our best to live lives the way Christ taught us. Yes, we can always do more but at the very least we eagerly support those who come to us in need. And we aren't just there for the sad stuff; we also celebrated with Hadyn and Judi Harris-Bull with the birth of their baby boy! Regardless of the circumstances, it's awesome to reflect on how tight we have all become. Who knows... maybe there's more babies coming soon?
We also tried and began a few "extra-curricular activities" this year including some Bible studies, discussion events, holiday meals, missions fundraisers, and kid's church. Some things went great and some things... not so much. Regardless, we have been faithful to the phrase "say yes, and give ourselves permission to fail". In our successes, we've seen God reach out to individuals who might otherwise have been missed through more traditional events. In our failures (fortunately, none all that big), we were able to learn and grow in our faith, understanding that God has a plan bigger than ourselves and that when we aren't working for ourselves, there is no regret or shame in whether something "met our standard for success". God was served and that's all that mattered.
Finally, I have to talk about the highlight of our year (at least for me): the personal decisions made to commit and act on faith. This summer we joined Mattie Spence as she demonstrated her commitment to her faith through the act of Baptism. We couldn't be more proud of Mattie for coming forward to make this decision but we also celebrate Jenn Spence who has truly lived out a Biblical model by teaching and raising her children to love the Lord.
Finally, I have to acknowledge the blessing of service we have seen from so many in our family. Paul Ehlrich's tireless work at our new facility, the Grays and Brooks host home church, Lisa Shields and Charlene Gray working with their Bible study groups... each of these is encouraging and shows a level of dedication that should move us all to be better Christians. Mind you, it's not dedication to a job or to an institution, but to their conviction that all should have the opportunity to grow closer to God.
Thank you all for an amazing year and I look forward to how God continues to use us in 2023!
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