One year ago this week the Mission Creek church and the Westside church embarked on a partnership that today pushes us to the question as to how closely we want to work together for the long term. As we come nearer to the congregational votes (October 14 for Westside and November 11 for Mission Creek) I want to remind you of some of the highlights from the last year.
We have been able to have a full staff complement at both locations this last year, which has on one hand stretched us, but on the other hand given many more opportunities for ministry. This has extended beyond staff to where there have been many instances of sharing workers and leaders between sites. The cooperation has been a good thing and has benefited both campuses. Notably, we saw 41 children make decisions for Christ at the Mission Creek day camp and 9 at the Westside. Praise God! We have also been able to field a full board for the Westside. Both elders’ boards have met together for this last year in looking after the big picture on both sides of the lake.
We have been able to address many needed facility upgrades at the Westside location, including relighting the cross and exterior lighting, covering sanctuary windows, interior painting, tiling on foyer floors, cultivating the creek bed and cleaning up the exterior, redoing the front doors, new sanctuary computer, air conditioning, fixing the leaky roof and hooking up to regional water. Thank God also for the anonymous gift that erased the longstanding mortgage!
We have had a few combined events and services, most recently the great Roundup for fall! It’s been a great year, for which we thank the Lord.
Pastor Throness