Take a Vacation to Recharge

Vacations are great and, in fact, I think they are necessary. Jesus often broke away from the disciples and crowds to pray and refresh. I hope that everyone in the church has had or can have a vacation break this summer. It seems that breaking one's routine has an effect to then refocus one's current life. That usually allows us to make adjustments to accomplish previous goals that somehow became derailed in our daily grind.

There is always a bit of a slowdown in the church during normal summers. This year is an exception. We have had a busy summer; and, generally, the church attendances have been higher than normal. I think these facts are all pretty cool. Here are some things I have observed this summer.

1. Thursday night church. These services have averaged over 50 people per evening. We have had a variety of musicians leading these church services and a wide variety of men preaching. Actually over the summer we will have eight different speakers.
2. Junior Camp. Now every summer we have Junior Camp and other camping programs. The difference this summer is that we are conducting camp at our very own camping facilities at Mizpah Christian Retreat near White Sulphur Springs. What a great opportunity this facility brings to the ministry of Hannaford Street.
3. Worship Pastor Search. This is not a new occurrence. We have had to seek new staff people before. These are always exciting times and trying times. It is a very taxing process to locate people and do the searching necessary to find what you hope will be the right person. This weekend we have a man and his wife coming to look at us and we at them. Jonathan and Julia Wimp will be here Thursday; Jonathan will lead worship on Sunday morning. Don’t miss church this week. This may be the week that we add a new worship pastor.
4. Last Sunday 13 people were baptized in Hauser Lake.
   

There are other items that I could list, but you get the idea that the church has not really had a vacation this summer. I think it is a good thing. Enjoy your vacation, and then get back to your church to be a part of all that God is doing.

Dick Crosby, Senior Pastor