Pastor Clay’s Blog #6
To the Saints in Christ Jesus at Central,
After the Lord rescued the Israelites from the Philistines by sending the enemy into confusion, Samuel took a stone and placed it in a prominent location, naming it “Ebenezer,” which means “stone of help.” The Ebenezer stone acknowledged that the Lord helped them to this day.
In June 2023, I wrote my first blog to our faith family stating God’s vision for our church and the goals He placed on my heart for the next three years leading to 2026. It’s hard to believe we’re six months away from 2026! Before revealing the goals, I wrote these words to you: “Keep in mind as you read that God can not only accomplish these goals, but He can do ‘far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us’ (Eph 3:20). I fully expect us to look back at this list in 2026 and see that He has fulfilled and exceeded our expectations!” Today, six months before 2026 officially begins, the previous statement remains true!
The remainder of this blog will summarize the goals from each ministry area from 2023 and highlight how God has been our Ebenezer stone over the past two years! As you read, rejoice in the Lord, Central Baptist! Offer our God the thanksgivings and praise He is due!
Preaching – We are scheduled to finish Genesis–Deuteronomy near the 2-year mark, approximately two years after beginning in September 2023. We will begin Mark’s gospel immediately following its completion. I love our church’s trust in the sufficiency of Scripture! You expect nothing more from me than to preach God’s magnificent Word. I am blessed to serve a people who trust that the Holy Spirit works through the proclamation of His Word (Acts 10:44)!
Prayer – An emphasis on prayer in our faith family took a big step in the right direction when we launched our Corporate Prayer Service during the former Sunday School hour. While this transition may prove foreign to our context, it is not disconnected from New Testament church. We are already seeing an abundance of fruit from our prayers, and I pray God responds with His power as He continues to see our dependence on Him grow!
Discipleship – Our Core Discipleship participants continue to increase as our people grow in the Lord! We are witnessing some read through God’s Word from cover to cover for the first time, our children and families going through summer Bible reading plans, youth and adults completing the F-260 plan, some delving into systematic theology, church history, and ecclesiology, others stepping into servant positions for the first time, new deacons being developed, preaching opportunities for the laity, and more! I love seeing our church remain discipleship-focused and pray the Lord continues to provide the increase!
Pastoral Discipleship – We completed our Engaging Exposition study with preachers and teachers, and “challenged” is the proper word to summarize our sessions together! I can see the Lord sanctifying our gifts each time we exercise them! Our young adults were granted multiple opportunities to preach on Sunday mornings and to youth on Wednesday evenings. We have multiple young leaders teaching during Upper Room (young adult) Bible study each week. We have even been able to send pastor Joel to churches throughout Cherokee and York County to preach. As we continue to make disciples and provide opportunities, God will continue to raise some to be pastors!
Fellowship – I will quote and add words from a previous blog in this area: “Fellowship continues to strengthen at Central Baptist Church! We are not perfect; however, I can honestly say that there is no significant conflict or disunity in our faith family! I see our people loving one another, carrying each other’s burdens, and having ‘all things in common’ (Acts 2:44). Pastor Joel administered a church survey for his seminary education, and those who participated from our church unanimously agreed that fellowship and unity is present in this body!” We have also added a “Care Basket/Meal Train system” to our outreach ministry for those visiting our church if needs are present to add to the love expressed at Central.
Evangelism –We recently began a new evangelistic strategy that holds us accountable to meeting and praying for lost people, inviting them to church, and sharing our faith with new people each week. We pray for the individuals mentioned during our Sunday morning service, Corporate Prayer Service, and staff meetings. We are also taking time during our Fellowship of Believers service to share some of our recent evangelistic encounters!
Local Missions – We have completed our partnership with Grace Chapel, as they now have a full-time pastor that the church can fully fund! We are seeking the Lord’s will in developing a new church revitalization partnership to see struggling churches become healthy again! We continue to financially support local mission branches in Cherokee County through our Great Commission Offering and participate in Jerusalem Project, VBS, and Pray-N-Go! Justin led a team to western North Carolina for relief efforts after Hurricane Helene this fall and is planning another trip soon!
Foreign Missions – Our goal was to establish two international partnerships by 2026 where we actively assist churches/missionaries through prayer, sending mission teams, and financial support. This goal is met! We are now partnering with IMB missionary Drew Hawthorne in Lima, Peru, and continuing our partnership with Bread of Life Ministries in Kenya! We sent two of our members to Kenya and seven to Peru last year! Our Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong Offerings continue to increase significantly each year that passes! Lastly, the percentage of giving towards missions (local and foreign) from our total giving increased from 11% in 2022 to 15.5% in 2024!
Children’s Minister – Our goal to hire a children’s minister by 2026 was fulfilled this past spring! We hired a faithful member, Megan Robertson, to lead our children’s ministry! She is already doing an excellent job by seeking the Lord’s vision for the ministry, leading a summer Bible reading plan for families, organizing various fellowship events, assisting with VBS, establishing a disciplinary structure for the ministry, and much more!
Buildings and Grounds – The Lord has blessed us tremendously financially to stay ahead of the updates and repairs as they arise in our facilities! Our giving is on pace for us to have our best year in five years (or possibly more, but I only have records for the last five years)! Since our building debt was paid off, we have completed a major roof and parking lot projects, installed new sanctuary lights, replaced/repaired A/C units, purchased and installed new projectors and screens for the sanctuary, stripped and waxed all tile, and other minor repairs! We have also made decorative improvements to our sanctuary and foyer areas, which are ongoing!
Please be in prayer for me as I spend the remainder of summer seeking the Lord’s will for the next five years. I will be developing goals for 2030 as I did for 2026, trusting He will once again accomplish “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Eph 3:20)!