Pastor's Thoughts: March

Spring is an exciting time of year because everything starts coming back to life after the long winter. We get to see all the trees and grass turn green again. The sun starts to stay out longer. For all you Astros fans out there, it is baseball time again too. I love the spring season.

This is also an exciting time for the church as well. We have some very important events that are happening during March.

• The 2nd Saturday Ministries at Lighthouse Christian Ministries (LCM). New Hope will sponsor this event at LCM on March 9th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• On Saturday, March 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., we will be hosting our second annual Community Easter Egg Hunt. The purpose of this event is to reach out to the community around us. We want to show the community the love of Jesus Christ and share the gospel with them. Be sure and invite your neighbors to join us for a great time and pray for those who will come and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We will also have our second Good Friday Worship Service on March 29th. We will gather to have a special time of remembrance of the price that our Lord paid for our salvation. 

As many of you know, New Hope is in the process of our Vision Campaign. The Vision Campaign is the process of seeking the Lord through His Word, prayer, and fasting and allowing Him to lead each member of the church to support the building project that the church voted to engage in. The Campaign Leadership Team (CLT) is leading us through this process right now. As we walk through the Vision Campaign together, there are a few things I would like everyone to know.

First, we need your support. The congregation voted to approve the recommendation for the building project and the Vision Campaign is the process in which we will support the financial needs for the project. The CLT cannot do this without the support of the congregation. Every one of us needs to be involved in making this project happen.

Second, we need your encouragement. The CLT has committed to lead the church through this process. They are working hard to ensure that do everything that we are following the process that the congregation voted for us to do. This can be a difficult task and at times, it can even be discouraging. Please take the opportunity to encourage the CLT when you can.
Jennifer Barker (Campaign Director)
Ed & Terry Parker (Prayer Team Leaders)
Marlin & Angela Sparks (Celebration Event Leaders)
Steve Barker (Stewardship Teaching Leader)
Kim Hollan (Media/Admin Leader)

Third, we need to be unified. The reality is that the congregation voted for the church to move in this direction. Every individual member is entitled to their own vote and they must vote according to their conscience. However, if the congregation votes to move in a different way than you voted, it is your responsibility to come under the authority of the congregation. As a member of the church, all of us must be unified and support the direction that the congregation has voted for the church to move forward. Above all, I would ask that you would pray for the unity of New Hope during this time.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You as your servant seeking You and  You alone. I pray for New Hope Baptist Church God. I ask that you would pour out your blessings on our church. I pray that we would be a church that used by You to fulfill Your mission for Your glory. I entreat You, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, to unite our church to be one as You are One with the Son and the Spirit. Father, please let the world around us see Your character when they look at New Hope. May You receive all the glory and honor. Amen.