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Dear Friends in Christ, I hope by now you've had a chance to locate or order the book Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster. We've been using this classic work as a resource in our sermon series called Discipline. Many of you have commented on how helpful this emphasis has already been as we have begun the new year. Over Christmas I received a number of books, all of which seemed to be focused on the same theme - Direction, Discipline and Discernment. I was reminded of Foster's words in his introductory chapter entitled Doorway to Liberation: "The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but deep people." God is calling us to go deeper in our faith that we might grow wider in our witness. The song many of us sang as children called "Deep & Wide" is a reminder of this calling. God is doing both of those things in us. I'm seeing it in numerous ways. Such as: 1. The launch of our new daughter-church last week, The Village. They had a full house and a wonderful spirit in their worship service last week. Please keep Travis & Amanda Garner and their core team in your prayers as they widen the witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Lenox Village area. 2. The kick-off of our 2016 Confirmation class. 102 sixth-graders and their parents gathered for a meal last Sunday evening in the Family Life Center, as they began their journey towards accepting the Christian faith for themselves. They will be on retreat this weekend. 3. Our 2nd annual men's retreat will be taking place this weekend at Beersheba Springs, our Methodist retreat center. We will be focusing on the importance of mentoring and discipling others. 4. Our South Africa mission team will be leaving on Sunday afternoon, January 31, 2016. Keep this group in your prayers.
5. Our Christmas Eve offering for Graceworks and the feeding program in South Africa was nearly double our asking. Thanks be to God! 6. Your spirit of generosity met and exceeded our ministry goals for 2015. A comprehensive report will be available by the end of January. 7. A very generous gift is to be bequeathed to the BUMC Foundation from the estate of John & O'Dell Holt, that includes half-interest in the sale of their property on Crockett Road. We are grateful to the Holts and Charles Witherspoon for their devotion to Christ and His church. Finally, it was good to welcome as new members Patrick, Laura, Knox and Baker Crider to our Brentwood campus. Welcome to our church community. As we seek to go deeper and wider in the year of 2016, may each of us realize and claim the unique role that God has for us to play in the joyful service of His kingdom. May the grace and peace of Christ be with you!
Davis