30 Years… Starting The Next Chapter!
The Story Continues…
In 1982 Floyd M. Baker Sr. took on the task of pastoring a fledgling church plant of which I was already an existing member of the leadership team. He quickly took Terrie and I under his wing and within a year we were ordained and on staff full-time as assistant pastors. In June of 1986 through his and our church network’s leader, John Kelly, we assumed the role of Lead Pastors of what at that time, was a small work with great vision!
Since those days thirty years ago our church has remained a stalwart example of what it means to “stay the course!” The last thirty years have seen its share of ministry exploits as our church members have traveled to over twenty nations to do short-term and long-term missions. Missionary ventures and support has well exceeded the $1,000,000.00 mark we first established in our infant stage. In fact, it can said with complete confidence that Solera (Covenant Life as we were known for so long) has always limited her own establishment of a permanent home so that we could sow, send, and equip to fulfill Kingdom vision! As a result, Terrie and I with the church have enjoyed a worldwide respect and favor, for our diligence to build and shape this ministry with the end in mind! Only by God’s grace could this have been done for He has taken our “little” and translated it into much.
On the home front our church has always retained its stability in the midst of storms – both physical (Andrew, Katrina, and WILMA!) and spiritual due to a strong base of well-equipped men and women who have served this church with unparalleled sacrifice. All who have crossed our doors and those whose thresholds we have crossed to bring relief has enjoyed our genuine care and warmth. I am proud of our diligence to provide spiritual nourishment and equipping for all who desire to grow in both His Word and in devotion to Christ. Our multi-cultural commitment has not gone unnoticed by those who realize that God’s expression of church life should resemble the picture of the heavens found in Revelation where there is representation from every clan and tribe! And because our multi-generational commitment has been firm over the years—we have striven to make ourselves adapt to use new models in order to communicate an unchanging message to our children and young people in its present culture.
I could go on but what about our next thirty? A new chapter is being written though the script is established. A new chapter that begins with YOU in mind! In fact, this chapter cannot exist without you! Throughout 2012 – we will celebrate our vision and promise for the future generations who should come to Christ through our efforts. Our ministry team is dedicated to amp it up on a high level this year to exemplify giving of ourselves more, sowing our resources and time more, and sharing the love of Christ more! Our hope is that when we celebrate our 30-Year Anniversary later in the year, you will see the accomplishments we have all contributed to—together throughout this year. It’s going to be some party! Will you join us? Will you allow God to use you more this year? Will you stand with us to see what God can do with a willing people who love Him, His Church, and the community we have been blessed to reside in? Terrie and I pray that our efforts will aid the next generation to experience a “new 30” of ministry-exploding growth!
