Finally for 2012

And Finally in 2012

So we come to another year end. There was no predicted world’s end and there was no rapture. So what was there is 2012?

Well here in the UK we had a splendid year from the medias’ point of view. “We” won the Tour de France cycle race. “We” won lots in the Olympic Games. Talking of the Olympics, they were very successfully held in London, where millions of tourists came to visit our little island and stayed to look elsewhere as well. “We” won lots at cricket – a weird and wonderful game, usually closely related to the rain dance here in the UK because of the fact that rain stops it dead in its tracks – and we have lots of rain here.

Yes “we”, the Brits, won lots in a wonderful year of sport. In politics there was a lot too. Mostly hot air and back stabbing – but hey, that’s worldly politics for you. The church selected a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Head of the world-wide Anglican Communion. A good man, we are told, so we shall see soon enough. Official counts say that church attendance is declining in many places but here is an interesting fact of political manipulation for you. Here in the UK, church attendance is based on figures given only by the old established churches – those in existence before the rebirth of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements around the early 1900’s. Isn’t that amazing. Here we have a huge Pentecostal movement in the UK but, as far as government statistics go, it doesn’t even exist because it isn’t counted in their statistics. In fact, church attendance is growing exponentially over here.

So, I can really only comment upon the growth we see here in Sleaford, in the middle of Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands region of England, in the UK. We are a ‘small’ church of around 200 or so happy and committed souls. We started the year with an average weekly attendance of some 180 and ended somewhere over 210. Praise God \o/. We raised over £23,000 through our charity shop arm, Second Chance, and we selected a new manager for that arm – me! (What have you started Lord? J) As a church, we also raised a further £20,000 for our Missions work – thats a cool £43,000 in total! Again, Glory to God \o/. We operate one of the country’s best Community Larder Scheme’s and we have a weekly meal outreach to the vulnerable and less fortunate. We have some dozen or more House Groups where upwards of 120 folk can come for fellowship, teaching, prayer and a good chat. We do all sorts of other things in the community especially among the elderly. We are a Kingdom focussed church and we look out rather than looking in. We also run a great teaching series for the whole church, three times a year.

I say all of this not to boast but rather to bring Glory to our God and King, Jesus Christ – without whom we would be nowhere at all. Without Jesus, our church would be whistling in the wind. Without Holy Spirit, all our efforts would be in vain and our missions would be for nought. Without God we are nothing. As Paul said, “ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:19-20 Our faith, our church, our work for God’s Kingdom has not all been in vain but to His great glory.

Hallelujah \o/ That’s 2012 – now for 2013 !! Hold on to your hat, it’s gonna be a great ride !!!