Hi Church!

Last week we started a new series called From Dead to Alive to Unified.  We talked about the grace that God provides - that it is not deserved but because of His great love for us, we are offered grace.  And then through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we receive that grace.

This coming Sunday we will talk about our self-worth - and how God uniquely created each one of us!

Thank you to those who were able to make it to the Charge Conference Sunday evening.  For those that were not able to attend, here is a recap of the vision I have for Christ Church in the coming year:

CONNECT - GROW - SERVE

Connect people to the saving love of Jesus.  Help them to grow in their faith.  And then demonstrate our love and faith by how we serve those in need. 

These are three simple words - but they will be our focus in 2026.  For everything we do, we will ask, how does it fit into these categories?  That way, we will grow with intentionality and be able to sustain that growth! As such, here were a few things that I am suggesting we consider doing:

CONNECT

People struggle to have meaningful connections in the world of online only engagement.  They desire and need real relationships.

• 
  Adopt a grandparent night 
• Games, food, fun
• Stronger partnership with Covenant Community Preschool
• Handing out snacks & invites to parent (in progress)
• Include them in “family services” - have the kids sing 
• Reinvision Family Life Center
• Community involvement
• Have family dinner nights 
• Meet & Greets
• Story time for kids
• Have a “healing” service - invite those who are grieving, divorced, or suffering an illness.  It would be a time of prayer and worship. 

GROW

Growth starts with spiritual growth.  Then we will see numeric growth.  Inviting to church is not the first step.  The first step is building a relationship.

• 
  Offer a Basics of the Faith study - people are not growing up knowing the Bible
• Mentoring program - geared towards men
• Women’s Event - Many churches do this so what would set us apart and attract someone that isn’t already connected to a church?
• Have a Singles Group - for widows, divorced, unmarried.  Typically these groups attract only women - how do we get men here?

SERVE

Gaston County has a poverty rate of 14%.  Focus on our own community, then the world. 

• 
  Increase missional impact - both financial as well as physical (volunteering)
• Review missions we are supporting 
• Connect with other local organizations
• Change/fix/update food pantry box at our entrance - it should never be empty
• Short term mission trips 

Each of these things are suggestions, and I welcome any and all engagement and feedback!  I have already found Christ Church Gastonia to be a loving and welcoming church, and would love to see more people experience that as well! 

Blessings,
Pastor Marcy