As I've shown in my previous two blog posts, EBC and ECS have been SO blessed by the Lord to have a beautiful campus with all of the recent upgrades and improvements. EBC is also blessed to be at a point of financial excess. Many, if not most, churches have experienced contribution declines and there are very few facilities that compare to what God has blessed EBC with (260 acres, pond, gym, abundance of athletic fields, etc.) BUT, facilities and finances are NOT the reason the church exists! The Church exists to "Exalt the Lord, Encourage Believers, and Evangelize the World." So, if we're going to talk about buildings and budgets, we also have to talk about butts (you know... the people).
The Church is about the people. Jesus didn't die for the buildings, grounds, programs, potluck suppers, softball teams, of any of the other things we often bring up when we talk about the Church. "For God so loved the world (the people) that He gave His only begotten Son..." It seems to me that too many pastors and parishioners forget what the Church is all about. It is God's vehicle for impacting the world and making, training, and sending disciples!
In this final review post, I want to take time to talk about the spiritual blessings and community connections that God blessed EBC with over the past 14 years:
- Since November 2002, over 1,200+ people have been saved in the services and guest followup at EBC.
- In that same time, over 3,200+ people were saved through Judgement House and various community events/outreach efforts. These decisions may not have all impacted EBC directly, although some did join our church family; but there were many, many stories of other churches being blessed and revivals starting as a result of our efforts. We all recognize that as Kingdom work!
- During the past 14 years, over 500+ people were baptized at EBC. That's amazing in such a small town!
- We were blessed with approx. 1,000 new members added to our church family in 14 years. That's an average of over 1+ per week (every week) for 14 years. I wish we could have kept them all, but Hartsville is so transient. I remember a 12 month period in which we had 184 members either die or move away. Of those that moved, only 3 of those families stayed in the state of South Carolina. In addition, Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, Coker College, Duke-Progress, Sonoco, and other primary employers seem to train people in Hartsville and then send them off to other larger facilities; and of course some who remain end up transfering to other churches.
- Our high average attendance at EBC was 630 up from 305, and our high enrollment at ECS was 459 up from 215.
- Missions has always been important to EBC. With some extra emphasis on missions, God blessed through increased missions giving. In addition, we shifted some focus from state-side missions to foreign missions,we placed an emphasis on training national pastors, took several short-term trips, sent our 3 missionary families from EBC in the past 2 years, and created an internal emphasis to raise missions awareness.
- Through our cooperative efforts, EBC helped to plant churches in Clover, SC; Gilbert, SC; Greensboro, NC; Summerville, SC; two in Wilmington, NC; and others.)
- EBC got reconnected with the local Welsh Neck Baptist Association, began supporting them financially, and participated in the various community efforts.
- Bridges were built across a racially divided community through efforts such as the annual "Home for Christmas" service.
- Relationships were built through community events such as Judgement House, Trunk-or-Treat, Extravaganza, Concerts, First-Responder events, and MANY, MANY more!
- Partnerships with other churches led to coordinated UPWARD efforts in our community: Lakeview hosted Basketball, Kelleytown hosted soccer, and EBC hosted flag football. Churches working together has to bless the heart of God.
- EBC networked with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to host the "July 4 Family Fireworks Festival" for 10 years!
- EBC was the catalyst for starting 3 crisis pregnancy centers (Hartsville, Darlington & Dillon).
With each of the items mentioned above, faces and names come to my mind. I remember the home and hospital visits where people came to know Christ; the counseling room at Judgement House where people came to know Christ; the EGGtravaganza's where people came to know Christ; the Extreme Sports outreaches where people came to know Christ; the parks and events where people came to know Christ; the School chapels where students came to know Christ; the community revivals where people came to know Christ; and the list goes on! That's what the Church is about and why it exists! Jesus Christ died for the souls of men; not for the buildings, grounds, budgets, or programs.
Thank you, God, for using our EBC family to accomplish YOUR work in Hartsville, SC.
No comments:
Post a Comment