Reflections

Weekly Update – December 28th, 2023

The end of a year is always a good time to reflect.  You might personally consider what went well or perhaps even what didn’t go well in your own life. It is good for us to do this as a church as well.  Therefore, what I want to do here is consider with you what the Lord did among us in 2023 and then praise him for the year that has gone by.  With that said, there are five immediate areas, out of many, that I want to highlight for you as I reflect on the Lord’s blessings at First Baptist Church this last year.

First, increased membership.  I celebrate 9 years of being here at FBC on January 5^th.  This past year was easily our largest increase in membership.  Over the last two years we have begun holding membership classes every few months.  This year was no different.  We welcomed in a large group in March and another in October.  By God’s grace, we have another membership class coming up next month, in January.  I praise the Lord with you here, not because an increase in membership means more people, although it does, but even more so, an increase in membership means a further expanding of our mission as we seek to proclaim and display Jesus Christ to the world around us.

Second, the move to elders.  The changes that we have been through as a church the past several years has been nothing short of amazing.  In fact, our church is talked about among other churches in Missouri who are desiring to bring about similar changes that we have.  One significant change that occurred in the last year was our move to elders.  Through looking at the scriptures and seeing a clear prescription for church leadership, I’m thankful that not only were we able to bring on three men to serve alongside of myself as elders, but that we were able to bring on five other men who could serve as deacons as well. 

Third, our Biblical Counseling Course.  A dream of mine since coming to First Baptist Church was to have a counseling center that would not only come alongside church members and help guide them through difficulties in life, but that could also function as an outreach to our community.  There are many hurting people in our community who are looking for someone to help them through the problems of life.  We, as God’s people, hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ for our hope.  What better way to help others than to know how to apply this good news to the issues of life.  By God’s grace, we began pursuing this goal of a counseling center back in August. Lord willing, in the years to come, we will have many who are comfortable to counsel others, as well as some who are officially certified to counsel within this ministry.

Fourth, our statement on Biblical sexuality.  Many mainline churches have waffled on points of homosexuality and transgenderism.  Others have struggled to know how to approach and address this subject.  Our desire at FBC is to be clear on our identity as men and women and faithful to communicate what the Bible says about marriage and our roles as men and women.  At the same time, my hope is that by being clear on this subject we will then be able to lovingly communicate what we believe about it as well. Our adoption of this statement back in December of 2022 and our fleshing out of it throughout this last year is a great start. 

Fifth, new staff members.  This year, we brought on three new staff members.  We brought on Matthew Klika and Daniel Holsten over the summer.  Matthew has been working to connect us with college ministry in our area as well as organizing a better system for greeting and guest assimilation.  Daniel began working with our youth.  Then, we announced at our last members’ meeting that Betty Sharon would begin as our Director of Children’s Ministry in January.  My hope is that with these three positions, we will have greater direction and more attention given to very specific and important ministries. 

Among many things, these are only a few from 2023 that I am thankful for. The Lord has been extremely kind to us this past year.  May we never take for granted what he has done among us. At the same time, reflecting upon last year makes me excited to see what the Lord will continue to do among us.  May we prayerfully anticipate the year to come, while we continue to faithfully pursue the Lord, trusting in him to work among us in even greater ways than in the past.   

Serving Him with You,

Pastor Michael Nelson