Who joins the church on a Tuesday? Who will be next?

  God is moving in new and fresh waves in the life of our church.  Chestnut Grove UMC is a little over 150 years old.  We are a pretty traditional church in a rural community in Stokes County NC, Yadkin Valley District.  Our church is growing! The great news we have to share is that God is working on a daily basis in the life of our church and we want to be quick to give the Lord the praise.  On October 22, 2017 we had 11 young people make professions of faith, on that same day, also three parents.  On a later day three more youth joined.  A few days later on a Tuesday, a couple, one a patient at Baptist, joined the church from their hospital room.  One young couple who witnessed the professions of faith on October 22 on a visit to our church kept coming back.  Soon they indicated to me by email that they were ready to join and will be joining the church on Christmas Eve.  A very close friend, and long time supporter of our church will be joining on Christmas Eve as well.  This week, on a Tuesday, a member called and told me that a dear friend who is very ill called him and asked if he knew anyone that could baptize him.  My member called me, we worked out the time the next day and went to the man's home and did the baptism.  At the same time, on behalf of our church we offered membership into our church based on their profession of faith in Christ and on their baptism.  Both of them wanted to join and we received them into the full membership of the church.
     Our youth just ran a mission project to help a family with 4 children in our community who suffered the loss of their home recently.  We delivered the gifts to this family this week.  They were moved deeply to see that people cared so much for their family. Generosity is flowing.
     On a weekly basis, our church gets a good volume of brand new prayer requests from friends, family and the community.  The church prays, the prayer team meets and we distribute prayer shawls on a weekly basis when there is a request. Generosity flows in our prayer life.
    The common theme running through the heart beat of our church is that God is at work here.  One person cannot take the credit for this huge pouring out of God's Spirit on our church.  We watch in astounding ways in anticipation to see how God is going to move next.  This is an exciting time for our church and we are so glad this Christmas to be able to share some good news with you.  So yes you can join the church on a Tuesday, or any day.  Every day is God's day and the church is open for God's business.  Saving souls for Jesus Christ.  God is with us.  God is for his church. God is for you.  Merry Christmas from our heart to yours. God's most generous gift, his baby boy.
Rev. Dr. Evelyn Lemons, Pastor