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  We are doing good ministry together. Our recent GriefShare and DivorceCare ministries are expanding and getting ready to launch new sessions in September. KidReach is growing and bringing new people into our church. The ministry of Food on the First is a continuous lifeline to our community’s hungry.

I have found myself telling others that The Methodist Church is a healthy church that is in a season of peace. What a fantastic place to be!! We are looking at a future in which we will have the emotional and spiritual resources to disciple new Christians and to engage those who have already given their lives to Christ.

It is easy to get caught up in a pure numbers type of thinking. I have been guilty of that at times also. But the experience of watching this church get healthy and begin to focus beyond its own walls has taught me that health, integrity, vision and a sincere desire to serve Christ are much more important than ever larger numbers. Lives are being radically changed in our midst. These changes come about because of the power of God manifest in communities of support, accountability and prayer.

All of these ideas are what have become the building blocks for our future. We will continue to look for needs in the families of Visalia and then ways to meet those needs. We will continue to emphasize integrity in our relationships and in the way we handle success and problems. We will continually insist that Christ expects passion and service as well as grace and forgiveness from us.

In the month of September we will embark on a 10 week series on the book of Acts. I have chosen to preach through this book because it is a book about the formation of the church. I believe that at this time in our congregation we will be able to see God’s template for us as well as find challenges about things that we still need to do.

Studying what it means to be the church and looking backwards as well as forward as a church will help us to clarify and organize ourselves to continue in this season of health and peace. I would love it if everyone who can would make a vow to attend all of the series on Acts and to be diligent in studying the passages and discussing them as we go through this study.

You will find more information on small groups being set up to meet during the week to discuss the sermons and to form community with new people. Please read and consider this information prayerfully and make the decision to participate. Your decision to be a part of this ministry may be the ingredient that changes another life.