Dear Friends in Faith,

It is wonderful to be in our second year of ministry with Lakeview. We have recently created a powerful new vision statement: Christ’s Community in Action with Love for All. God inspired us with these words as we look to our future. We are a community of faithful people belonging to Jesus Christ, a community that is committed to being God’s active love for all people, with no exceptions.

This past year has been an important time for Kim and myself to get to know the church. We are grateful for all who hosted get acquainted meetings and all who came to meet us and share about their lives and love for Lakeview. We are constantly impressed by the spirit and love here at Lakeview. For those we have not had a chance to get to know yet, I look forward to meeting with you in the year ahead.

We have been growing as a church! I’m excited for the year ahead as we continue to develop our welcoming and connection ministry. Our monthly Lakeview Preview has 3-8 new people each month. We are recruiting “Faith Friends” to work with new members at the church and help them to know the warmth of Lakeview and encourage their involvement and engagement with our ministries and their growth in faith. We have hired Ernie Gutierrez as our Online Minister and he is working in creative ways to reach and engage our online congregation and newcomers.

We have such a heart for caring at our church. I see that in the many forms of our Care Ministries, our IHELP homeless ministry and the ways we support our homebound members. I am grateful to be part of a church where people care deeply for one another.

I have hopes this year for our spiritual formation ministry. I look forward to having our Hi Neighbor groups offer small group ministry and experience where people can make friends, find loving support and prayer and grow in their love of God. We are changing lives here at Lakeview. We are caring faithfully for people’s mind, body and souls through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am excited for the year ahead and what God will be doing in our midst.

In faith,

Pastor Dave