Purpose Sunday 2017

What a year for our congregation here at Deerfoot. We started 12 months ago with a desire and a promise to make an IMPACT on our community, our neighbors, and each other, through Benevolence, Edification, and Evangelism... and as we briefly glance back over our shoulders this morning, we can see we've clearly done that.

• In the past 12 months, we have had a hand in more than 21 baptisms and restorations around the world, including baptisms at Maywood Christian Camp and in Belize.
• Just a few weeks ago we welcomed more than 500 neighbors to our Fall Festival... some of which asked us for prayers and Bible studies.
• Here in our own congregation, we've welcomed Richard Harp and his family as Richard leads our pulpit ministry, feeding us and our community with the word of God.
• We sent more than $13,958 to assist storm victims in Texas and Florida.
• We sent care boxes to dozens of our military around the world.
• We launched a new Christians Against Substance Abuse class on Thursday nights, encouraging and strengthening our neighbors in their fight against drug, alcohol, or pornography addiction.
• We contributed $13,958 to the victims of the storms this fall.
• From Wee Folks to the Youth Group, our children and their friends got weekly love and instruction. They also grew at special events such as Lads to Leaders, the AIM Conference, and Exposure Youth Camp.
• Our "Christians in Action" group showed love to others through cards, calls, and prayers, and edified each other through Bible study and fellowship.
• Our Deaf members encouraged and strengthened each other and their friends in ways those of us with hearing could not.
• Our Prison ministry shared God's unconditional love with men and women who want a new life of purpose.

The bottom line? It's been a good year for our congregation... and as we look ahead to 2018, we pray God will continue to help us impact our family, friends, and neighbors.  To do that, we need to strengthen each other... because the stronger we are, the more of an impact we can have on others.

Therefore, our theme for 2018 is Iron Sharpens Iron. As Solomon, the son of David, says in the book of Proverbs, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Just as used knives and swords need other iron to be sharpened again, weary Christians need other Christians to be recharged.

We need each other to repair and grow the "whole armor of God" in our lives... so that when the enemy of our soul comes, we are ready.

So join us in 2018 as we strengthen each other... as we sharpen each other's iron.