I wish… “the church was full like it used to be,”  “there weren’t sports on Sunday,” “church people actually loved like Jesus,”  “church could be more flexible,”  “church spent more time doing & helping in the community and less time in meetings.”  I wish… ___________.

We each have wishes.  Each wish may or may not be possible, reasonable or shared with others.  What our wishes have in common is Connect, Grow and Serve.

We connect to Jesus and one another so that lives are transformed.  When that happens people are helped… people get together… people are gracious and flexible.  Connecting is how God made us to be.

We grow more deeply in the knowledge and love of Christ so that our lives continue to be changed and show God’s love at work.  Followers of Jesus have been gathering together in small groups to help one another grow since Jesus gathered the disciples.  It’s still what vital churches are doing.

We serve responding to God’s great love for us.  Serving uses our gifts and puts us beyond the walls of the church building.  Jesus Christ came as a servant and invites us to follow his lead.  Further, when we serve, we connect with others.  Can you see the cycle?

Our leaders are working on these 3 areas as they consider our goals into 2016.  They are listening and bringing others together to help in the process.  If you and I want to achieve what we wish for, then we will need to connect people to God by telling the stories of God's transformation in our live;  then we can  invite others to “come and see.”  To grow more deeply and together as the body of Christ takes our commitment to participating in small groups.  Finally, we need to demonstrate our changed lives serving others.

It’s not easy, but it is simple.  Our mission is Leading People to the One Whose Touch Makes Us Whole, as we Connect, Grow & Serve.  If we don’t do those three things then all we’ll have is wishful thinking.

     10,000 Joys Following Jesus, Dave