Rosalie Teitloff, Everleigh Waelde, Margot Brown, Ford Shepherd, Barrett Crouch, and Millie Rabbitt were born by the will of man.
Jonas Price, Chey Davidson, Hadley Griffy, Jazmine Babb, Kevin Peirce, and Casey Barrett were born of God!
“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”-Psalm 105:1-2
We are humbled my God before your blessings. Glory to Jehovah!
Sunday Morning Attendance Contribution (Budget)
2019 55.4 $2478 (2268)
2020 40.6 $2444 (2450)
2021 50.3 $2842 (2450)
2022 65.0 $2906 (2625)
2023 78.4 $3209 (2625)
One of the unique things about the Lord’s body in Clarksville is how much it is constantly in flux. We added the opening list of 12 to our number. Plus, the Teitloffs (Jason & Maggie), Bennetts (Greg & Casey), Williams (Scott & Kayla), Turnages (Bill & Debbie), Trevor Melvin, Colton Miller, and Chris Connelly joined the Lord’s work at North Second Street by placing membership with us. To top off our list of positives, Truman and Autumn Brown were married in June.
Yes, there have been a few who moved away. The Price and Stipsits families, and Trevor Melvin no longer call Clarksville their home. If you are counting, that is 21-additions, nine-subtractions, and an annual increase of 13 on Sunday mornings. Welcome to the church in Clarksville; where 37-percent of the congregation can change in one calendar year and the Lord gives 20-percent growth! Our annual average of 78.4 is the highest in 15-years. Our contribution average is a mind-boggling 22-percent above budget. It is an honor to serve, worship, and teach with Christians who sow and reap so bountifully.
Allow me to season these numbers with a little salt. The first half of the year average of 80 was brought down to 77 over the last six months. Let us pray the November-December average of 72 turns out to be a blip, not a trend.
There is no doubt, we are blessed because we submitted to the will of God in ordaining elders and selecting deacons at North Second Street. Their leadership and vision will be uniquely tested in the coming months and years. As the seating in our auditorium becomes more sparse; newcomers and weaker members may find easier accommodations appealing. How our shepherds handle plans to expand capacity for the flock will be instrumental to the continued expansion of our Lord’s kingdom. Hands-on shepherding from our overseers and enthusiastic service from those who are willingly led, must be the mark of our Lord’s body.
Satan will attack this church as we grow. It is not a matter of if, but how and when. We must see peace, grace, and unity as goals we are determined to maintain (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:3). May we wash feet when others reach for the best seats. May we serve when others wish to rule. May we pray when the temptation to slander, backbite, and complain rears its divisive head. May we forgive when we are tempted to oppress.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”-Ephesians 4:15-16
My 2024 prayer for the Church of Christ meeting at North Second Street is this; “Grant that we may shine the light of Jesus while being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Amen.
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