|
Pastor's
Annual Report - 2007
‘Building
God's Vision - Phase 1 Done!'
This time
last year we were in the midst of construction on Phase 1
of ‘Building God's Vision'. B&B Construction finished
the construction during the summer and then our big dedication/celebration
was held on Sunday August 19th - Praising God for the many
blessings; handing over the keys to the new additions; and
our first major sit-down meal in the new parlor with over
150 people. We could never do that before! A complete review
of this historical milestone can be found in the September
newsletter. Again special thanks to the Steering Committee
- Lee Parker, Phil MacLeod, Walt Fales, John Jensen, Al Gould,
Jerry Wergedal, and Tony Khalil. It was an honor to serve
with these men and all the others on various sub-committees
who were involved in this major building project that will
enhance the ministry and mission of this church for years
to come. I am truly proud to be a part of this congregation
- for its' unwavering faith in the future by helping to build
‘God's Vision' in a time of economic depression for this
region of Michigan.
We also
recognized Jan Chambers, in July, for her many years of leadership,
love and support as the organizing pastor, by making her Pastor
Emerita of T.A.P.C. - an honor she absolutely deserves. A
significant staffing change also took place this year with
the replacement of our former secretary, Carolyn Hartwig,
with new secretary/member Kaye Wergedal. The church office
has since undergone a major reorganization and revamping which
has made all office procedures much more efficient and user
friendly.
As we
are enjoying our new ‘digs' I'm reminded of a story,
told to our clergy group, by a young man who dives for exotic
fish for aquariums. He said that the most popular fish is
the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and
confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium.
Sharks can be 6 inches long yet fully matured. But if you
turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length
of 8 feet. That also happens to some Christians. I've seen
some of the cutest little 6 inch Christians who swim around
in a little puddle. But if you put them into a larger arena,
into the whole of creation, only then can they become great.
I think we at TAPC have the opportunity to become ‘greater
Christians', with the help of our expanded ‘aquarium'.
However the challenge we face isto become ‘fishers of
men' as Jesus commanded, and not just keepers of an attractive
aquarium. Let's grow our ministry to fit the mission which
the Lord has provided.
And so
it came to pass, through the faith of some Christians, that
an old drive-in- movie theater, along the shores of Lake Huron,
became a church, continuing to significantly expand and grow
during the year of our Lord A.D. 2007 - witnessing to ‘God's
Vision' in the villages and countryside on the sunrise side
of Michigan. "Yes, the boundary lines have fallen for
us in pleasant places; we have a goodly heritage". Psalm
16:6
|
