The new year brings new ideas, visions and goals. Churches look forward with excitement and anticipation to the challenges. Many pastors set new goals that they want to see accomplished during the new year and the years to come.
Aaron Cowart, senior pastor of Live Oak Church of God in Hinesville, is looking forward to new opportunities.
“I believe that 2013 brings with it a year unlike any other. It has the potential to be a year of uncommon success,” he said. “I say ‘potential’ because true success is reserved for those that operate according to kingdom principles in every area of their life.”
Cowart cited Ecclesiastes 10:10, which says, “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.” In 2013, his church plans to give opportunities to “empower and sharpen our lives for success,” he said.
Financial Peace University classes begin at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7, the One Flesh Marriage Enrichment seminar series starts Feb. 13, and international teacher and evangelist Dr. Nasir Siddiki will speak Feb. 10-12.
Cowart said Financial Peace University is a proven money-management class that teaches participants how to manage resources in a godly manner.
The marriage seminar, which will be held Wednesday nights, will be hosted by Cowart and his wife, Christi. He said that the seminar is for anyone who has a great or struggling marriage or even is single.
“Christians ought to have the best marriages; however, today it seems divorce rates among Christians is as high, if not higher than the divorce rates among unbelievers,” he said. “Satan has had many people deceived into thinking their marital problems are unique, that no one else is experiencing the problems they are, and that they will not find anything from the word of God to help their marriage.
“There are no new problems to God. It’s the same old devil who causes the same old problems, but we can thank God the answers were provided in the word of God long before the problems ever existed. It is our desire to see every marriage flourish.”
Siddiki, who hosts “Winning with Wisdom” with his wife, Anita, on TBN, will speak at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 10 and at 7 p.m. Feb. 11-12.
Dr. Eddie Campbell, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Temple in Allenhurst, said the temple’s theme this year is “Maintaining Salvation through Prayer, Faith and Kindness.”
“Salvation is the key, and we are focusing on salvation and getting people saved. We are training people to reach people,” he said. “People are out there, but we must evangelize. However, members have to be trained first. We must train them how to evangelize.”
For more information about the upcoming events at Live Oak, go to liveoakchurch.org. For more information about Shiloh Missionary Baptist Temple, call 877-3122.
Anderson is the author of “Dare to Soar” and “Lack of Knowledge.”