Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! Rather than write an article this month or go into some deep spiritual thought, I just wanted to share a few things from my heart.

It’s difficult to believe that we are coming up on the close of another year. As I reflect back on 2003, I have mixed emotions. Though many of you faced difficult times, I believe it has been a good year for us as a corporate body. When we have had opportunities to become discouraged and give up, we have not. When we have had opportunities to hold grudges and be offended, we have forgiven instead. When personal, financial hardships came, we continued to give. We did what families do, we stayed together and loved each other through it all. We stood on God s Word, dug our heels in a little deeper, and did not quit.

Do you know how remarkable that is? I am so proud of each and every one of you for finding your place on the wall and serving one another. I appreciate how you rally around the cause when the need arises.

We have had some wonderful dinners and fellowships together. You have supported fund raisers for youth group time and time again. Our building committee with the help of this congregation raised over $10,000 this year. When special guests came in to speak and minister, you supported them, loved them, and fed them. When visitors attended for the first time, you were loving, kind, and made them feel at home. You have fasted with us and for us and prayed faithfully every Sunday morning. Many of you have marched around our building and cried out for revival to come to our city. You helped to put together a wedding, numerous showers, and came to a young lady’s rescue when her husband went off to war and her home burned. You rejoiced when word came that a special family in our church would indeed get their new home. We were all saddened when good friends moved away. We celebrated together when babies were born. As pastors traveled out to minister, many of you supported us by attending meetings, volunteering time, and interceding for our efforts. When our children’s ministry needed extra workers in nursery and kiddy church, you stepped up to the plate. We picnicked together in the rain and prayerwalked out by the interstate. We cried and rejoiced on Easter Sunday when Robert joined our family. Throughout the year, many of you had prayers answered with new jobs, promotions, and healing in your bodies. Some of your marriages were restored and families put back together. The list is endless.

We are so blessed to have each other and to have you in our lives and in our church.

Thank you to Pastor Judy for all that you do when we are home and when we are away. Your preaching and prophetic words are anointed and astounding.

Thank you Pastor Clay for devotion and dedication to the youth group. No matter where they go, other people and pastors always comment on the fire they see in our young people.

Thank you to pastors Clint and Deidra. We have the best Kids church thing going. Just wait Marshall Clint until you have all the space, time, and funds you need!

Thank you to secretary Kim. You are the accountant, receptionist, decorator, coffee maker, and peacekeeper. We’d be in a real mess without you.

Many special thanks to Bob Perce and the Army crew. Thank you for keeping the church up and running.

Our ambassadors take care of pastors and special guests.

Our hospitality crew has been incredible in taking care of all our dinners and showers.

Thanks to our communion servers, you are faithful and consistent.

We appreciate our openers and closers for coming early and staying late.

The maintenance crew has been so helpful in keeping everyday tasks completed.

Thank you to the cleaning lady. Your efforts never go unnoticed.

We do not take you all for granted, but are grateful for all of the time and effort you put forth in serving this body.

Thank you so much to Chris Petersen and the Navy. You all are disciple makers, fulfilling the great commission.

Thanks to each of you who are faithful to teach classes, followup on new believers, send cards of encouragement to wayward souls, and coordinate activities for the church. Your faithfulness and diligence bring great rewards.

We also greatly appreciate Eddie Carpenter and our Marine base. Thank you for being willing to reach out and go ye therefore. You are our greeters, altar workers, ushers, and ministers for first time visitors. You make the first and best impression.

Wow! Words can never express our appreciation for Pastor Shari and the Air Force prayer team. You are the foundation of this church and a real connection between heaven and earth.

Thank you to all who faithfully pray, fast, and intercede for our pastors, our church, and our city.

Thank you so much to Debi Perce and Pastor Judy, the leaders of our Artillery division. Also, a special thanks you to all who have ministered under their leadership. Because of you, we minister to the Lord and to our body through special songs, praise and worship, drama, and choir. Your praise & worship and drama teams go to great lengths to minister and not perform. It takes a lot of effort to plan practices, update schedules, and keep motives pure. But you all seem to do it with great grace. You are a sweet fragrance to us and to Him!

A special thank you to Mark Day and all of our Tech team. Without all of our Techs we would have no sound, no video, no power point, and no one to call when the computers freeze up. You bring so much to our body through your faithful ministry!

We are so grateful for Cameron Reeder and our Media group. Thank you for faithfully serving us and serving Him through PR work, bulletins, newsletter production, website production, and mailouts. The work is tedious, but farther reaching than you know.

We also want to thank all of you who are faithful to minister to our children through nursery and kid’s church ministry. You are changing the lives of these little ones every week and bringing peace to their parents. You will never really know what a blessing you are to the body.

If you are not currently in one of our military forces, but just come faithfully, we say thanks to you as well. We believe that every member is a minister and every joint supplies. We need you and you need us. So thank you for your support of World Harvest Outreach.

Lastly, I want to say, what a privilege it is to be called your pastor. It is with all humility that I endeavor to shepherd this flock and watch over your souls. I believe that World Harvest Outreach and the body of Christ at large is crossing over into the promised land this year. We are overdue with vision and it is time to push forth the purpose God has for us individually and corporately. It’s time for Burning Bush Ministries. It’s time for the Prophetic School of Ministry and Healing School. It’s time for a great outpouring and revival in our city. It’s harvest time. Together we will see His purpose fulfilled for our generation.