Saints,

As we begin the New Year together, I want to encourage you to consider your spiritual goals for this year. Our church slogan is "Growing Together in Christ" and it is my heartfelt desire that we continue to do so, both in our knowledge of God's Word and in our love and service to one another as the members of God's household. Please read on for tips on more focused growth this year.

LET'S READ THE BIBLE TOGETHER
The most common resolution I see from believers every year is to be able to read through the Bible. That is a wonderful goal, but too often, that goal fails to get reached. Some of the issue is discipline, but I would also recommend the "5-day" Bible Reading Plan (learn more about it here or download the plan here), which will better help you stay on track. The idea is that you have 5 scheduled days of reading each week. With the two extra days, you can use catch up if you missed a day or two earlier, or if you're on target, you can even read ahead.

Additionally, I know many of you find it difficult to read through the Bible due to troublesome passages, like the details surrounding sacrifices and festivals in Leviticus or the detailed instructions about building the Tabernacle and Temple of God. I would encourage you to push through it all, recognizing you won't comprehend everything you read (which is even true for me). However, by pushing yourself through, you increase your familiarity with the Bible's contents, which will pay spiritual dividends down the road.

LET'S GET MORE INVOLVED
I also strongly encourage you to get plugged into a Sunday school class, prior to main service. This will help you get even more immersed into learning and understanding God's Word with fellow saints. We also have our mid-week Bible Study with Terry Norris, Men's and Women's Bible Study Groups, and our weekly prayer meetings. These provide invaluable opportunities to grow in our love and support for one another. After all, how can we practice the "one-another's" if we don't take time to get to know one another, right?

LET’S GET EQUIPPED WITH BIBLICAL COUNSELING
In our Sunday evening service (starting later this month), I will also begin teaching Biblical Counseling. This is a vital capability that I believe all Christians should possess. Biblical counseling will not only prove useful in your own walk, but it will empower you to be able to counsel and encourage others in their walks as well.

LET’S STAY UPDATED
In order to assist with knowing the dates and times of these events, our website will now feature our activities for the week, right on our homepage. So, you no longer have to guess what may or may not be happening on our campus throughout the week. You can also hear previous sermons and messages here or listen to us via podcast (search for "WABC Sermons" either through Apple's podcast app or Google's music app).

LET’S CONSIDER NEW MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Finally, as we enter this new year, I will be considering various outreach opportunities, such as organized evangelism, visitation of shut-ins (those who cannot attend our service due to physical health reasons), and meal ministries to those in need. If you feel God placing a burden upon your heart for any of those ministries (or perhaps some not mentioned), please let me know.

May 2020 be the year that we renew our zeal for the Lord together!

Ekkie Tepsupornchai