“What is one thing your church does really well?”
An easy question to answer, you would think. But I had to think about it for a while when I was asked it by a friend during a recent Salt Lake City huddle. I struggled with this question because too often it is not the good things that make it to my desk, but the problems, the complaints, the frustrations, the struggles.
I don’t know about you, but in the midst of what seems like never-ending problems and struggles (which is a lie), I find myself feeling frustrated and discouraged. Which brings me back to the question, asked slightly differently:
“What am I thankful for at Mountain Life Church?”
As we enter the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approaching (a little too fast, if you ask me), I need to, for the sake of my soul, cultivate gratitude. God is working in His people. God is working in and through the leaders I shepherd.
In an effort to remember and recall to mind what I am thankful for at Mountain Life Church here is the beginning of my list:
- I am thankful for a successful all-church campaign where people encountered Jesus.
- I am thankful for Life Group leaders who faithfully shepherd their group.
- I am thankful for leaders who take time to attend our Life Group Leader Huddle (you can read about it here).
- I am thankful for a church that welcomes people.
- I am thankful for a senior pastor who has rooted himself here for almost 25 years.
- I am thankful for a couple who is taking a newer couple under their wings as they seek Jesus.
- I am thankful for Life Group leaders who encourage me.
- I am thankful for the sacrificial giving of our people in order to expand our facility.
- I am thankful for a Life Group that rallied around a young family who had a preemie baby, helping to buy diapers and pay for a room to stay in.
- I am thankful for the 5 new groups we started this fall.
I ask you, small group point people, what are you thankful for at your church?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1, 28-29).