It’s been one year since Marilee and I took over as lead pastors of New Day…WOW, what a year! We are also over halfway through 2023. It’s a great time to reflect on what the Lord has done in our church and look forward to a strong finish to 2023.

New Day is healthy, strong, and growing! We have valued Spirit & Word, reading our Bibles with intention and listening to the lead of the Holy Spirit. We have cultivated family in Community Groups, sharing meals, and welcoming new members. We have done outreach with the good news about Jesus to our individual circles of influence, to our neighbors through the New Day Nature Trails project, and to greater Kalamazoo, Detroit, Appalachia, Mexico, Peru, and Japan. We have sought the Lord in prayer & fasting for the first 21 days of the year, through weekly prayer times, in preparation for mission trips, and in day-to-day life.

We have grown in number, with average attendance increasing by 16% compared to 2022. You can feel it in the room when we worship. There’s energy, life, and momentum in our Sunday morning gatherings.

We have seen the Lord answer prayers with miraculous healing! Arterial blockages have disintegrated! Lungs have cleared up! Knees have been freed from pain! Celiac was defeated! God is so good!

We have been faithful to share the good news! People prayed to receive salvation in Jesus: at Jesus Loves Kalamazoo, in Mexico, and on our nature trail! We received training and a challenge to share the gospel—and as we have answered the call, the Lord has used it powerfully!

Giving toward missions doubled in the first half of 2023 compared to the last six months of 2022. At the same time, regular tithes and offerings declined by 12.5%. Giving a tithe (10% of your income) to your local church is one of the ways the Bible teaches us to worship God. God then designates that 10% toward the care of the house of worship and those who serve in it. If this is your home church, you’re invited to continue the New Day legacy of generosity as we worship the Lord together.

What’s the plan for the rest of 2023? STEADY ON! We will keep loving the Lord with all our heart and following His lead. Father in heaven, may your kingdom come and your will be done, at New Day as it is in heaven. Amen!