Growth in 2013
2013 growth in numbers
2013 was quite an incredible year of growth for Harvest. We increased our auditorium capacity by 240%. We gave the outside of the building a much needed facelift and our curb appeal dramatically increased. Our average attendance grew by over 15%. The number of people serving in the church on a weekly basis expanded by over 75%. We saw the largest sustained growth in our youth programs. The nursery exploded by 250% on the average Sunday and our Truth Trackers program swelled 333% on some Wednesday nights at the end of the year. We have also seen more visitors come and stay this year.
Growth is more than numbers
The numbers of 2013 will stay in 2013. Impacting a community for Christ can’t be simply stated with numbers and percents. Impacting only one life for Christ literally changes eternity. This past year we saw families strengthened. We saw some begin to attend and get involved in church that had been absent in years past. We saw young families get involved. Our children learned more about Jesus and what He did for them. Due to the building project we grew closer together as a church family. People began to attend, serve, and get plugged in that hadn’t before. This was a very exciting year for Harvest.
Our people rallied together as many came out to build, paint, and clean. This work together brought us closer to each other. We became unified under the goal of finishing the building that God entrusted us with. Relationships with each other were strengthened and friendships were built. We grew together as we worshiped in our services. We laid the foundation in 2013 to becoming a church that can make a real impact for Christ in our community.
Where do we go from here?
This growth has truly been exciting. We saw things happen this past year that only God could do. However this growth should only make us hungry for God to do more. Paul said it this way, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)” I don’t use this verse to tell you that what we have accomplished in this past year should be forgotten. I truly believe that God is pleased with the growth that we saw in 2013. If we looked at 2013 and become satisfied and choose not to pursue growth in 2014, I believe that the growth that we have seen this past year would be a waste. God wants to do so much more with Harvest Baptist Church. We should press towards the goal with a desire to obtain the prize.
What should our goal for 2014 be?
Our goal ought to be to win and disciple followers of Jesus Christ and to teach them to impact the world through our community, Castle Rock. In 2014 we should strive together to follow Christ. As we follow Christ we will grow closer together to each other(Romans 12:5). From this growing relationship we will build each other up in Christ and become stronger (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is from this platform of mutual discipleship that we will begin to impact Castle Rock through winning souls to Christ and teaching them to follow Christ. But this goal shouldn’t stop here in Castle Rock. Our goal should be to impact the world to whom we are called to preach the Gospel with Christ’s power (Matthew 28:18-20).
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).”
Let’s promise each other that we will each do our part to achieve God’s goal for Harvest Baptist Church in 2014.
