Centerview Baptist Church

“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

When one is born again, God gives us a totally new nature. As a result, we are spiritually alive, we have a deeper capacity to love and sacrifice for others, we can relate with God and we no longer have to be bound by the sinful nature that fights selfishly within us.

With each new year that God gives us, we can be reminded of these things as well. We can live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature; we can love God with our whole being and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We can live our lives in such a way as to please God; and we do not have to be bound by our past, but look to the future with hope and anticipation.

No one knows what a new year may bring with it. Sometimes we face disappointment, surprises and even tragedy. Along with it, the New Year can bring new challenges and new opportunities. This is true both for individuals and churches.

In 2011 we celebrate the great things God accomplished in and thru us, i.e. expanding our REACH vision into the fabric of the church, the C3 training, the mission trips to WV and South Africa, the men and women’s retreats and ministries, the Live Abundantly health campaign, our children and youth ministry, the revival services with Dr. David Wheeler, the Easter and Christmas cantatas, VBS, Caswell and so much more.

On the sad side, we lost nine church members who went home to be with the Lord. Of course, that is sad for us, but for them, their passing is a fulfillment of a life given over to Christ. Please keep their families in your prayers.

As we look forward to 2012, God has placed before us even greater opportunities to serve Him. It is always exciting to join God in what He is doing, because He challenges us to walk by faith, trusting Him to accomplish great things in His Kingdom.

We will continue to follow the REACH vision God has placed before us, seeking to fulfill the five purposes of the church – evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, worship and ministry. The apartment church outreach will begin early this year; we will be finalizing our remodeling plans soon as well. February brings with it our annual Valentines’ banquet and our 15th Annual Crossover Kannapolis service, which is such a blessing every year as we seek to crossover barriers that sometimes divide God’s Church.

This spring and summer we will be celebrating Easter, going to Caswell and hosting our most comprehensive ministry each year, VBS. Regina Duncan is gathering a mission team to return to S. Africa this fall and a marriage conference is in the works as well. Of course, God is still at work thru our various ongoing ministries, i.e. WEW, WMU, OutDoorsMen, Sunday School, music, our Parish Nurse health ministry, CIA, Mission Friends, youth and various others.

May each of us see where God is working in 2012 and get plugged into Him. 2012 can be a year of life-change, if we will but seek the Lord will all our hearts. I love and appreciate you. Please keep one another in your prayers and be an encourager at every opportunity.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Willie

“Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together…, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25