Just wanted to let you know of the many things we are up to in Debert, NS. It has been and continues to be a very active and rewarding time.

Our small church is growing and reaching out in a very meaningful way:

• We just accepted five new members and now have another application before us.
• We started a youth group even though we had no youth in our church. Today we have a part-time youth pastor ministering to about 14 young people in and around our community.
• We now have three Junior Church leaders caring and guiding about a dozen children.
• We added a second worship service, offering a contemporary service on Sunday evenings. This meets the needs of younger families, people on shift work and many who simply want to sleep in on Sunday mornings.
• We opened our doors on Christmas Day to offer fellowship to those in our community who are less fortunate, alone or otherwise in need. There were games and music and conversation for about 25 people and we served a big Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings, for 15 who might have simply gone without.
• On January 3rd, we opened an after school program to provide a safe and welcoming place for elementary age children whose parent(s) work, leaving their children alone as latch-key kids. We provide a healthy snack and a number of Christian focused activities that keep the kids active from 2:30 to 5:30 each school day.

Combine that with worship and Bible study programs and the end result is an active church, now open seven days a week serving our community. Just three years ago we were more worried about conserving heat or power and some may have wondered how long the church might last.

It is all about stepping out in faith, letting God lead, keeping out of His way and using our gifts and resources to His glory.

Submitted by Pastor Bill Martin