Doug Greenway, Pulpit Minister
God has richly blessed us individually and collectively as a church, beyond our wildest imagination. I am not a prophet, but the best forecast we have of this church’s future is the barometer of the past. Numbers are up. Personal involvement is obvious. Enthusiasm is high. Never has this church been where she is today. With great blessing comes great responsibility. Humbly we ask God’s blessing as we seek to follow His will.
When I was in the 4th grade in school, we had a teacher who changed my life. Without overly criticizing us, she challenged each bit of schoolwork we offered her. A major criterion for her evaluation was always, “Did you do your best?” And, of course we hadn’t done our best if we had rushed through the work, failed to ask for help, or didn’t learn from our mistakes. Mrs. Della Ozee had us memorize an anonymously-written bit of poetry entitled “Always Finish”.
If a task is once begun
Never leave it till it’s done.
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all!
Since January 1, 1960, in the first 45 years of this congregation, we’ve come a long way. But, while we’re waiting for our part of the Lord’s work on earth to be over, let’s be sure we haven’t rushed through the work, failed to ask for His help, or didn’t learn from our mistakes!
I commend us to “…Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)
Russell Smith, Youth Minister
2006 was a great year! We seemed so busy and the year flew by so fast! Thanks for all you do for the youth at West Main – they are an awesome group of young people! The youth ministry here continues to grow as we work together serving our young people for our Lord.
In Exodus chapter 20, we read of the awesome presentation of the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel . For so long, Moses had led the holy nation from Egypt on their journey to the Promised Land. This nation had been through so much and most all of their problems were because of their lack of a real faith in God. This was God’s chosen people, but all too often, they disappointed their leader, Moses, and their God. Following the awesome display in chapter 20 of thunder, lightning, and smoke, the people were once again scared to death. Here are verses 18 and 19 of that chapter: “Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die." This sad account shows that it was Moses, not God, the Israelites had their faith in. Because of the lack of a real relationship with God, the Israelites couldn’t bear personal instruction directly from God. It’s sad, but the Israelites never, spiritually, moved past this point
Our main goal at West Main , of course, is to help our young people get to heaven. We do this by helping them to develop a real faith in God [something only they can do themselves (Phil. 2:12)] – a real relationship with our Lord - by helping them to see past the youth minister, the parents, and eldership, and to look directly to God for a faith that can “move mountains”. As we look forward, let us look for ways to help our young people and to grow closer together in Christ as we serve Him in 2007.