New horizons, new excitement.

Nine years ago when my wife and I took that first step to follow Jesus and plant a church, I could not have imagined the excitement it would bring in our lives. There was plenty of “fear of the unknown,” but I only vaguely remember it. I can, however, vividly recall the excitement God put into our hearts together in this endeavor. I can also remember the excitement he put in the hearts of those who were gathering around us to plant.

One of our greatest blessings has been the shared excitement in life together with our church family through this journey. Moments of greatest excitement always arise from times of highest challenge. When we concluded 2012, we were confronted by a significant challenge, a financial shortfall. There were a couple of very positive factors we identified in our evaluation that led to this challenge, like planting a new church. We didn’t regret our work. We just needed to be wise with our next steps. We decided to hold budget for a time to pray, watch, and wait on God to lead.

God led, and in a big way. The first five months of 2013 have been very blessed for LifePoint. We have experienced God move in some great and mighty ways. In response to what we have seen God do, we are making some mid-year adjustments to act in faith and move forward in mission. We are beginning with an adjusted budget to resource the steps we believe God is leading us to take. This is an important first step for a number of reasons:

1. Finances were our primary challenge at the end of 2012. LifePoint prayed. God answered. It is time for LifePoint to respond in faith.
2. The LifePoint Elders and Stewardship Team are passionate about faithful stewardship. Our desire and focus is to use the resources God brings to steward the mission God has given. (I know, novel idea, huh?)
3. Our next step is clear, even though it will challenge us and require faith. We are calling the church to follow.

Last week, we presented a 2013 mid-year adjusted budget to the church for dialogue. LifePoint uses every major decision of the church, including our annual budget affirmation process, to intentionally build unity for mission. This process is no different. We are currently in a season of dialogue to build unity through communication. We will ask the church to affirm this budget on June 2 by a vote to grow our unity through missional advancement.

Now let me tell you about one other new horizon with new excitement for LifePoint. This adjusted budget will enable LifePoint to build its pastoral staff by hiring a fourth full-time staff member. This staff position will work directly under the Lead Pastor and be charged with the primary responsibility to implement and lead a strategy of cultivating LifePoint’s disciple-making culture among students. This investment will strengthen our pastoral staff to equip people to serve and invest in students and families to strengthen our multi-generational vision for making disciples.

This new horizon brings new excitement to LifePoint. I ask you to pray for us and with us, affirm the adjusted budget, and deepen your commitment to serve and strengthen the mission of disciple-making God has given us to at LifePoint.