Growth in Church
I apologize to those who read this on my website or on social media. This report will be more people-focused, so I won’t be sharing many specifics on the internet. Most of the update (along with all the prayer requests) have been redacted so I can post this online, but as always I encourage you to sign up for emails if you pray for us and want to be more informed about the ministry. You can sign up for emails at https://bonikowsky.org/subscribe/.
This past year has been very exciting for our church. We are seeing a greatly increased number of visitors. Some of them just pass through but others have stayed. In this update I’ll mention a few of the newer people in church and share how you can join us in praying for them.
In the summer of 2021, a young couple came to church for the first time. They were very young (recently married in fact) and it turns out they were looking for a place to grow spiritually. They had both come to know the Lord the year before in a more charismatic church in the area, but they had left as they were looking for a church that was more serious about discipleship. This was the first time I’d ever heard that from visitors! They are now in church every week, wanting to participate in everything. It’s wonderful to see their genuine desire to grow.
In late 2021 a man and his wife came to church for the first time. They were also already believers. On the Sunday when they first visited, he told me that since Spanish was not their primary language, it was very helpful to find a pastor who spoke more slowly because they could much more easily understand me! I think in some of the churches they’d been in, enthusiasm was prioritized over nuance! Ever since they came they’ve been a huge blessing in our church.
This year, two other couples came to church for the first time. They come from a Christian background, but once again it seems it was a Christianity-lite sort of church history. They haven’t been with us for long, but they’ve impressed us with their optimistic attitude in challenging living situations and their motivation to work diligently. We’re happy for the chance to serve them.
Please keep praying with us for the growth of our church, both spiritually and numerically. It is of course exciting to see new people coming to a church that is still very small, but our goal is as always to make disciples and equip them to do the same.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:46-47
What an encouragement to have couples become dedicated members of the church.
Yes, praise the Lord!