"The church inAmerica is 5 miles wide and 1 inch deep."  So proclaimed a keynote speaker at the 2008 INNOVATE Conference I recently attended at Granger Community Church near South Bend. Think about that statement. It's a sobering thought! Can it be true? Unfortunately there seems to be strong evidence that this assessment is correct. Church attendance across our nation remains high! When asked by pollsters many Americans identify themselves as "Christians". Mega-church attendance numbers continue to amaze us! The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) gives us our primary job description: MAKE DISCIPLES! But are we building disciples? Are we engaged in activity that is producing mature followers of Jesus Christ? Are the self-identified converted really living a life style that lines up with the teaching of the New Testament? Are we sinking down strong roots and living life differently because of our relationship with Jesus? Or, are America's churches producing believers who have a firm grip on their "Eternal Fire Insurance Policy" in one hand, while holding Jesus at arm's-length with the other? "Making fully developed followers of Jesus Christ" is the rallying cry of many (including our own) congregations!  But, how do we do that? What does that look like? How can we tell if we are effective? These are the questions I'll be addressing in our Sermon Series for January and February, too.

                   "SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION:  24/7"

I hope you'll dig in with me as we talk about the spiritual disciplines that help us grow closer to Jesus, that help us walk more closely and more consistently with Him. Would you begin to pray that God will open your heart to this concept? And that the Holy Spirit will apply truth to you personally? And that God will help me as I prepare the messages for this series. I just can't think of anything that is more important or more needed right now for us! I am excited about the possibilities and the potential for God to do a powerful thing in our midst and change us!

Join us each Sunday! Hop on board for a terrific journey!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dave Pierce

From The January, 2008 Newsletter