One Word For 2023
Hey City Church,
The holidays are officially behind us and a new year is now upon us. With that comes a built-in expectation for new/different things in all of our lives. I’m a bit of a contradiction when it comes to resolutions because I am pretty much a creature of habit. I enjoy keeping my daily routines more or less the same. On the other hand, I also enjoy finding ways to rethink life and try new routines. Like you, I have a couple things I’m trying to weave into my 2023.
I am especially looking forward to a few new things coming down the pipeline at City Church. Though I’m not ready to make any formal announcements right now, I promise you’ll be hearing more about them in the next month or so. So stay tuned! What I can say is that I am absolutely praying this will be a banner year for our congregation. I recognize only God’s Holy Spirit can make that happen but I’m praying for it. With His partnership, I believe it is not only possible but that it is entirely God’s heart and desire for us. The vision on my heart to make it such a year boils down to a single word.
ENGAGEMENT.
If I had to pin down my vision for 2023 to one word, it is unquestionably engagement. Some of you in dating relationships might be hoping I just prophesied your future wedded status. Though I do pray for good things like that to come as well, that’s not exactly the type of engagement I have in mind. Would you join me in praying that 2023 would be your most engaged year at City Church thus far? Here are three specific action prayers for everyone who calls City Church “home.”
- Pray for deeper relational engagement within the church. If all you do is attend/watch on Sundays, I guarantee you that is not enough for your faith to grow as God has designed it. Community is one of the key growth binding agents of the Holy Spirit. What you need to grow in 2023 is more engagement all week long with your church community. I pray that this is the year where every sideline sitter decides to get in the game. I pray this is the year that those already in the game become leaders with a heart to serve.
- Pray for continued positive engagement with unchurched family and friends. Long gone are the days when churches could put together a compelling worship service and expect unchurched folks to flock to it because it’s “cool” or “out-of-the-box.” Rock band services in compelling environments aren’t cutting edge anymore – they’re commonplace. And we are all finding unconventional things on our phones all day long. It’s going to take something entirely different to reach the lost. I can’t point to one thing and say “this will be the how/what/why” an individual comes back to church or turns to Christ. That being said, I know consistent, positive engagement unquestionably keeps the door open. What if all of us made a list of 23 unchurched people we’d like to see come in the next year? Okay… maybe that’s too many but start with at least 2-3 (see what I did there…? No… okay nevermind). Regardless of the number, the result will be powerful!
- Pray for opportunities to stay engaged with community partners all year long. City Church has always sought to be engaged with our surrounding community through a few key community partners and outreach events. We absolutely plan to continue those in the year ahead. The thing I am praying we can build upon in 2023 is to stay engaged with those folks throughout the year. Rather than just serve at an event and move on, I am praying each of us can commit to stay engaged with the people we meet at those things. That might look like praying for them and following up. That could even look like grabbing a meal with them or having them at your home. The more we stay engaged with the people in our community, the greater City Church’s Kingdom impact will be.
So sum it up. I am praying 2023 is all about ENGAGEMENT. I am praying each of us ups our engagement with the things of God, the people of God, and the community that needs God.
Will you join me?
In Christ,
Pastor Kyle