HI All,

Wanted to let you in on some good things which God is doing here in our midst lately.

1.  Deep Waters Men's Leadership Training

We've been at it for two weeks now with 50 men from our church who are meeting in two groups of 25 each to learn and grow and get discipled. Pastor Max is teaching through the book of Nehemiah, pointing out leadership principles to apply in our life. The men are meeting in prayer triads for prayer & accountability. We are also having a different man each week share his testimony. The goal here is to raise up disciple making leaders who love God with all of their heart. We have been having a great time. 

Praise God that we have men who are serious about the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

Please pray that God will continue to bless the men and help Max and I to lead and disciple well.

2.  Membership Class

The Elders recently finished interviewing 10 new members (from last spring's membership class) whom we will be asking the congregation to approve into membership at our congregational meeting on Oct. 16th. Now Mark Pederson and I are teaching another "Discovering BCC" class, and we have about 17 people in that one. We have been having a good time teaching & talking theology and the church. The goal for our membership class is to increase commitment to Jesus Christ through participation as a contributing citizen of BCC. It is one step in our disciple making process.  (Seeker --> Believer --> New Christian --> Growing Christian --> Mature Christian). We want to catch people at the first three stages and use our membership class to keep moving them forward into maturity in Jesus Christ.  

Praise God for the many people who are joining us in the task of making disciples!

Please pray for God the Holy Spirit to use our class to build mature disciples of Jesus Christ who are so committed to His Kingdom that they are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work for Jesus in the local church.

3.  Young Marrieds Ministry

By God's grace we were able to get a Young Marrieds Small Group started this Spring, which Melodie and I taught along with Mick and Wendy Ling (who are awesome!). Now the group has taken a brief interlude as Melodie and I, along with Ben & Trish Rivers (who are also awesome!), teach the Growing Together Marriage Class for newlyweds and nearly-weds. As soon as that is over, it looks like three couples from that class will join up again with the already existing Young Marrieds Small Group, which is now being led by Mick & Wendy, along with Adam & Sondra Hinnenkamp, an awesome young couple who were with our small group all summer. So we have, through the dedication and commitment of a number of couples, the makings of a very nice young marrieds ministry here at the church. (And some more weddings coming our way as a church also!)

Praise God for the young couples He is sending our way!

Please pray that God will continue to develop spiritual growth and maturity in and through our young marrieds at BCC, so that we can keep calling more and more of them to zealous commitment to Jesus Christ. 

4.  Decisions for Christ

We have been doing what the Good Shepherd in the Gospels did: we are counting our sheep. And we are noting when God adds one to the flock through a salvation prayer. So far this year, we are aware of 18 decisions for Christ, as a result of our church people and programs. It breaks down this way: 13 children, 3 teenagers, and 2 adults. In a few cases, the teenagers who have been led to Christ, have been led to faith by a fellow teenager who was successfully discipled and trained by Val and her youth leadership team. And that is the true measure of a disciple: a disciple is not fully trained until s/he can lead someone else to faith. 

Praise God for His work in our midst, leading people to faith in Christ.

Please pray, that God would deem us worthy of leading many more people to faith in Christ.

Keep praying & serving in the name of Jesus!

Pastor Bill