2013

A New Year.

Happy New Year!

2012 is a year that we will look back on with gratitude. God has been with us, and has been seen at work among us.

Personally, I can look back and see the way that God has kept me safe. He has provided amazing opportunities in Nauru, South Africa and Uganda. He has helped us here, locally, to continue to shine God's light and we are seeing others join us as disciples regularly.

As Samuel did in 1 Sam 7:12 we can now place a marker (he called it an 'ebenezer') to remember God's help and guidance. But such a marker only serves to remind us that his help is for the future also.

So as we head into 2013, we also do so with gratitude.

Already we are grateful for the service providers that we have worked with, this week, to support a man into his first housing in 6 years. We are grateful for the people that are cleaning our centres and providing services to help us (you won't believe how good the carpets at Seacombe have come up). We are grateful for the team that are continuing behind the scenes to finish off Christmas programs (the last of the toys, the last of the decorations and so on).

And we are grateful for the way God will lead us on toward that dream of a multi-campus, multi-congregational, multi-cultural church that serves all generations in our area. That dream of a church that reaches at least 1% of the cities of Marion and Holdfast Bay. That dream of a church with a seamless discipleship program from initial contact with our people through to Knowing God, Showing God, Growing in God and Going to serve in God.

It's going to be a great 2013.