NEW HOPE

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING

2009 ANNUAL REPORT

PASTOR

JANUARY 31, 2010

On this, my fourteenth (14) annual report to the congregation, I am encouraged and hopeful that we will continue making ever-increasing strides toward strengthening our Christian ministry together. Over the last year we have kept an active and busy ministry schedule. However, over the last thirty-six (36) months we have experienced many positive changes that have significantly broadened and strengthened the spiritual life of the congregation. Spiritual Growth and Development continues to be the emphasis to which we will strive toward greater personal understanding. Together through corporate worship we have established a community of oneness to God and each other. We have grown in our understanding that every worshiper brings to worship their own personal experience with God. The result is that tolerance and sharing has become a fundamental part in appreciating our worship and community life together. It is with a sense of pride that I can say we have made great strides in the area of personal worship expression.

My focus in the year 2010 will continue to be in the area of individual spiritual growth and development with a continued emphasis on evangelism. Our personal/corporate spiritual growth should help us to uncover new and unique ways to accomplish effective evangelism. As a people of God it is important that we are regularly nurtured in spiritual understanding. Our individual experience with God makes us stronger for the task before us as God’s church in the world and it also serves as a witness to the church as a whole. It is my hope that more of our members participate in the Christian Education opportunities of the church and share more of our Christian experience and journey with one another. Our church has more to offer our members beyond the Sunday worship experience. Sunday corporate worship is important to experience God’s presence in word, song, prayer and proclamation. Sunday worship is the crowning event of our time together that strengthens us for our contact with the world. It is important to understand that we also draw spiritual strength from the many other ministries that the church offers.

Since our inception, life’s experiences have brought many changes to our Christian fellowship. We are blessed with so many that have humbly and selflessly worked countless years in the church. I thank them for their service. If we are to continue in the traditions of the Christian community in which we claim membership, new visions and voices must emerge from within the membership. It is the vision and voices that understands and recognizes the importance of Christian ministry in a 21st century world.

As change continues to shape our ministry, I continue to envision a cross-section of members, young and old, interacting and involved in the life and fellowship of the church. In 2010 we will continue the evangelism emphasis of 2009. It is our responsibility as a people of faith to enlighten others to the freeing message of scripture. We hope to develop specific evangelism objectives in our effort to make Christ known here at New Hope. As we aim to advance the ministries of the church, it is important that we attract others through effective evangelism. I will again invoke my words of 2007 and 2008, now is the time for our young adults to stand up and show their faith as we seek to address the needs and issues that affect our church today. If not now than when? If we are to continue in the ways of a blessed church, our Christian ministry together must be infused with new and fresh spirit led ideas. The infusion of fresh ideas challenges our notion of change while offering direction in an ever-changing world. In a growing congregation our youth and young adults must be more involve in the activities of the fellowship that strengthen our ministry together.

As we look to further strengthen the inner fellowship of the congregation, may we also gain a deeper appreciation of our broader mission in the surrounding community and beyond. It is important for us to remember that how we define and live out our mission and purpose as a Christian congregation also defines the depth of our work to a wider community. As we grow spiritually and our commitment deepens, I am ever hopeful that we will be able to broaden our impact in the community beyond our present ministries.

We remain prayerfully hopeful in 2010 that the bountiful blessings of the Lord will continue to provide the church with fiscal strength to accomplish the mission before us. A spiritually strong church will cost every member in the time, talents and resources that we bring to Christian Ministry.

As the challenges of a changing world confront us, this is the time to be united in the single purpose of Christian Ministry that will strengthen our fellowship to address the needs of our church and the world. The church is strong when every member understands with clarity the purpose and mission for which we come together as a people of God. Overcoming the challenges of 2010 resides in our faith commitment to do the work that God has called his church to do knowing that God’s faithful promise to his church is limited only by the commitment of its faithful members to act.