Several years ago, sitting in a doctoral seminar on Christian Leadership, the speaker gave a definition of “spiritual leadership” which captured my attention. He said, “spiritual leadership is defined as moving people on to God’s agenda.” This quote from Henry Blackaby was a profound statement. We went on in the seminar to present four requirements to accomplishing such a task. As I think about First Baptist Church Charlotte, I am so grateful for the spiritual leadership that God has so richly provided. Our church is mightily blessed with folks who are willing and able, through God’s grace, to continually move this body of believers on to God’s agenda.

This coming Sunday, at 5:30 pm, our Leadership Orientation will be taking place. Men and women who faithfully serve on our committees throughout our church, will gather to begin their work for 2012. You may wonder how many folks are working on various committees in our church. Well, some 115 different men and women make up all of our committee organizations. And add to that some 200 people who participate on service teams, meeting the needs of our church family. This is a tremendous blessing when it comes to seeing the ministry of First Baptist Church Charlotte impacting our city for Christ. While each committee has its role, and carries out its responsibilities, ultimately all of our committees are working together to provide spiritual leadership. I am so grateful that they are helping to move people on to God’s agenda. I am excited to be addressing all of our committees in the sanctuary at 5:30 pm this Sunday, and then to send them off to various meeting locations throughout the building, where they will organize and plan for the new year before them.

I am very excited about this weekend at First Baptist, as we come together to worship and study God’s Word. It is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, and throughout our Bible Fellowship Ministry classes, most will be studying again a critical message that must ever remain before us. The message: God Himself is the giver of life, and we must understand the value of each and every individual. We continue in 2012, for some 40 years now, of failing to protect the life of the unborn child. The crosses, which you will see on Sunday, are reminders of the lives lost to the tragedy of abortion. While studies are being made to bring greater awareness to the value of each life, we still have much to pray for, and much to do in witnessing our nation turning back to the true value of life once again.

I thank God for your continual faithfulness week after week. Continue to pray for one another. Continue to let God’s Word speak to you daily. Continue to be a vessel, witnessing of His goodness and His love. Continue to give faithfully and obediently as you tithe. Continue to honor Him in your lifestyle decisions. I look so forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

In His love,
Pastor Mark