Why Christ Was Born

Recently Bishop Robert Schnase posted a blog by the title The Progress Bar. Take time to read it. Not only does it have relevance to what follows, but Bishop Schnase's blog is worth your read with each new post.

Some people find it difficult to consider the idea of numbers in church but I think the Bishop makes a good point when he says that numbers don't measure everything, but they do measure somethings (my severely abridged interpretation of what he wrote.) So with that caveat, let me share a couple of very important measurements that we an celebrate at Good Shepherd; but first some definitions.

Baptism = Adults, youth and children with whom we celebrate the sacrament of Baptism.

Professions of Faith = Those people who come before the congregation for the first time, ever, and profess their faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior. This includes all adults who are baptized, all adults who were baptized as a child/infant and never professed the faith for themselves, and all confirmation class members.

Reaffirmation of Faith = These are adults who were at one time practicing their faith. Whether as a youth or in their adult life they professed their faith before a congregation somewhere. Then, for whatever reason, they fell away from their faith and have come before the congregation to reaffirm that they are followers of Jesus Christ. Generally this takes place as a a new member class joins the church.

2009 has been a year worthy of reporting and celebrating, but let me post the results by way of a comparison

Baptisms in 2008 = 16
Baptisms in 2009 = 43

Professions/Reaffirmations in 2008 = 33
Professions/Reaffirmations in 2009 = 46

Those numbers represent people that we can name. They are people whose lives are being transformed by your efforts at Good Shepherd. They are people for whom God took that extraordinary measure to send His Son, so that they could be united with Christ in His mission in the world.

It really does matter that there is a church at the corner of 96th and North Oak. Thanks for all you've done to invite, show hospitality, form in the faith, volunteer, etc, such that these people can move farther along in their journey of faith:

Sam, Ainsley, Jack, David, Hailey, Hannah, Mason, Alexis, Abigail, Daniel, Max, Megan, Canon, Rylie, Zachery, Sherry, Erin, Carly, Angela, Darby, Jacob, Michelle, Eric, Parker, Eli, Kalli Jo, Ethan, Mary, Levi, Caleb, Jennifer, Lucas, Caleb, Alyssa, Avery, Cole, Austin, Megan, Hilary, Maryn, Halle, Lake, Michael, Karen, Makyla, J Lynn, Terry, Dalton, Peter, Jacob, Matt, Philip, Jordan, Mariah, Rachel, Jade, Ryan, Bret, Nathaniel, Jacob, Bary, Paula, Brian, Angela, Justin, Kristin, Dennis, Kathleen, Steve, Jennifer, Kay, Janet, Michael, Hilary, Melissa, and Heidi.

May Christ be re-born in your life this year.
Pastor Dave