Pastor's Report for 2008 Annual General Meeting

Another year as gone by and what a year 2007 was! We started off with the Purpose Driven Community campaign that made us examine our role within church life and within the community. I was encouraged to see so many getting actively involved in fellowship groups for the 40 days of the campaign, and even more so when the increased attendance continued after the campaign. New ministries were started as a result and most people felt that the campaign deepened their fellowship with one another as well as with God.

We had a number of new folk join with us over the year and it has been great to see them get involved in all aspects of the fellowship and continue to grow in the Lord. Janice Taylor came into membership as well as Chris Lee who joined us from the AOG in Redditch , Barry and Ann Goldsby and Jacqui Deveraux! We saw four baptisms Jacqui Deveraux, Carol Cridge, Shaun Lewis and Nikki Chiu. We thank and praise the Lord for blessing us with this growth. We continue to pray that this year’s programme will provide further opportunities to reach out into a community that is desperate for the answers we have in Jesus!

And if that wasn’t enough excitement, the appointment of our new Regional Minister, Keith Judson, brought new opportunities of appointing a minister-in-training to work alongside me. Unfortunately, it was too late for a 2007 appointment, but we are in good shape to have someone join us by September this year. We pray that the Lord will guide us to the right person and that they will soon feel at home with us.

During the second half of the year, the diaconate co-opted Tom Harris, Vanice Robinson and Barry Goldsby to provide further prayer support in the leadership as we sought the Lord for future direction. I wish to thank each one of them for stepping up to this, and giving up their valuable time to help us seek the Lord’s will for SBC.

And finally, I would like to thank each one of you that have supported me through this past year. I know for a number of you, you have stepped out of your ‘comfort zone’ to do new things with the Lord, and I am sure you have been surprised by the blessings you have received by being obedient to Him. 2008 promises to be just as challenging, just as exciting for those who would dare to be disciples and follow His call.

Grace and peace to you all.

Peter Brookes

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Last modified: 15 March, 2008