Pastor's Annual Report Preview

[This is a draft preview of my report for the upcoming annual meeting of Boothbay Baptist Church. Comments are welcome! SN]

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31,32).

Pastor’s Annual Report – April 2018

       This week in preparing for the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, I spent some time reading and studying one of the most amazing chapters of the Bible, Romans 8. One well known preacher calls it the “greatest chapter in the Bible.” The breadth of the chapter is astounding as it begins by affirming our freedom from condemnation and our life in the Spirit. He then goes on to talk about our present “groaning” in this fallen world and also our sure hope… which is more and better than we can imagine! In all of it, God is good, He has shown us His love, He is in control, and we can trust Him. We can look ahead with a confident expectation as God works out His story in history!

      April 1, 2018 marks the completion of our eighth year as a part of the family here at Boothbay Baptist Church. Since coming from Brazil to serve with you we have faced some challenges together, and we have been blessed and encouraged by the perseverance and faithfulness of our current members. We’ve seen some new seasonal members become active in the church. We expect to vote on a new member at this meeting, and to soon have a baptism service this spring to welcome another new member. We want to guard against over-extending anyone, but we also need everyone to be involved. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!

       I continue to enjoy preaching through the Gospel of Mark. I have been learning a lot though my time in the word and prayer. My sermon preparation has benefited and I have been encouraged as a small group of men (usually only 2-3 of us!) meets at 6:30 on Tuesday morning to talk through the passage I’ll be preaching on the following week. The insights we gain, the mutual prayer and encouragement we share, is a blessing to me. Hopefully you have benefited as well from some insights of others that have informed my preaching.

       In our Wednesday night mid-week meeting we sing songs together, spend time discussing the sermon study questions from the bulletin, and then have a time of prayer together. We usually gather around the table for an informal time of fellowship afterward. These informal times of “table talk” are a setting where “iron sharpens iron” and we continue to learn and grow together, even as relationships are deepened. We anticipate shifting to a “Church on the Go” format in the summer, moving from house to house once again. Talk with me or one of the elders if you can host or lead a meeting. More to follow as our plans are firmed up!

       Thursday nights have been an enjoyable time of working together with our team of volunteers in our Olympian Word of Life ministry. The kids have been great and have been challenged to learn memory verses and to be in the Bible doing an age appropriate “quiet time” each day. Parents are the key in this as they take to time to encourage and help their children to stay faithful. God’s Word will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent!

       I continue to be available for counselling couples and individuals as needed. I appreciate the faithfulness of our elders, deacons, and deaconesses in watching for needs in the church family and we hope to reorganize our shepherding teams in the near term. Thank you for your faithfulness, let’s endeavor to faithfully carry out the mission He has entrusted to us.

Your co-workers in Christ,

Pastor Steve and Mary Ann