Hopes for the Next Six Months (Part Two Mid Year Report)

We are now at the beginning of the second half of 2021. Last week, I reflected on the first six months of the year. This week, I will shift toward hopes for the second half of the year.

Before Labor Day, I hope to sit down and visit with every Sunday School leader, teacher, Emmaus reunion group leader, study leader, mission leader, and ministry team leader to chart a coordinated course for 2022 disciple-making here at Shalimar United Methodist Church. If you read this and have an interest, I would also like to visit with you. I wish to reach out to all existing groups and coordinate our efforts for a common church synergy. A phrase I will use beginning this Sunday is "putting all our oars in the water together." I hope we will have all our oars in the water rowing in the same direction in a few months! Synergy! Better yet, empowered by the Holy Spirit! That is my hope!

Also, in August, I will begin rolling out layers of the plan "1,000 growing in their discipleship each week" through Shalimar United Methodist Church. Anyone interested can attend a free dinner on August 23rd at 6pm. In addition to a free dinner, the event will include inspiration, witness, and rolling out plans for 2022 for disciple multiplication. I am writing this plan and organizing it with consultation from another coach and passionate persons about discipleship in our congregation. It will be a specific plan that will be original with Shalimar. I ask for your prayers as these plans begin to be rolled out. We truly need everyone's participation in accomplishing the church's mission of "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." We will seek to rachet up our reaching, teaching, and sending for a great Kingdom impact! Most of all, we need to submit to God and seek the power of His Holy Spirit for this plan to be truly exponential!  

In the next six months, we will increase opportunities for baptisms, reaffirmations of baptisms, professions of faith, and receiving new members. Our beach baptisms will resume in August with two dates. We will gather at Garniers Beach Park (new location) on Saturday, August 7th at 10am and Sunday, August 22nd at 4pm. There is nothing more important in church life than professions of faith, baptisms, and reaffirmations of faith. If you desire baptism, please let us know so that we can make plans for your baptism. Also, if you want to join Shalimar UMC, we welcome the opportunity to plan to receive you into membership for an upcoming Sunday.

You may not know, but there are hopes that a new respite ministry will be birthed soon! This respite ministry follows the same model of the successful ministry founded at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Led by Don Litke, our team is actively planning and hoping this vision will become a reality. Plans for this ministry will take place in Cross Corner. Would you please keep the team and respite plans in your prayers?

Speaking of Cross Corner, we anticipate continued renovation and expanded use of Cross Corner in the second half of the year.  The facilities are receiving a make-over, and it is exciting to see the transformation of old rooms becoming new. Again, we appreciate all who have donated gifts and volunteered their time to make this facility a wonderful addition to our campus. The Cross Corner facility will be such an addition to Shalimar UMC as progress continues of renovation in the coming years.

These are some of my thoughts regarding "hopes for the next six months." But, of course, we know God always brings surprising blessings along the way! So, again, I think of the words of wisdom from the book of Proverbs, "In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps"  (Proverbs 16:9). So, let us put our oars in the water and seek together all the opportunities God will bring in the next six months!

Shalom,
Philip  

  If you missed part one from last week, click here to read it.