We Celebrate 18 years of “Continued Growth In The Vision”
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:6-7)
As I reflect on the past 18 years, I pause with great gratitude for the ministry of Fresh Visions Community Church. But what is ministry without people? I am truly grateful for the people the Lord has added to the ministry as well as those who were sent for a season and are now serving in other ministries or some who served with us and are now in eternity with the Lord.
In May 2005 Fresh Visions Community Church was birthed at 2400 N Grand Ave East (our former church location) in shared space with Wesley United Methodist Church that later became Northside United Methodist. It is hard to fathom this was 18 years ago that we started our worship services on Wednesdays in the fellowship hall and continued in that format through August 2015 when we hosted our first Sunday worship service in that sanctuary.
With this year’s theme, “Continued Growth In The Vision,” we celebrate God’s faithfulness and even more as our themed scripture notes, we are “overflowing with thankfulness.” Although everyone serving with us now was not with us in 2005, our ministry is stronger and better as the Lord has added according to His time and plan.
We were blessed to have a unified planning team that included Karen Pendergrass, KaSair Sutton, Rev. Corey Sutton and Rev. Robert Timms. We say BRAVO and thank you to this wonderful Team!
Also, A Big Thanks to the Young Adults & Youth of Fresh Visions for hosting an excellent evening in celebration of our 18th year church anniversary with the Open Mic & Talent Showcase!! Prayer continues to be a priority for our ministry and thanks to all who are in agreement with us in offering your persistent prayers to our heavenly Father. Thanks to all who are in agreement to cover our property with prayers as we pray for the many needs and concerns. We are certainly thankful for Pastor Bobby Hampton and the Pilgrim Rest Church Family for agreeing to celebrate with us on this historical marker in our ministry.
Certainly, my greatest cheerleader and encourager is my wife of 32 Wonderful Years, Jackie L. Newman! As we continue in ministry together, life seems to get sweeter knowing that she is right by my side throughout our church history while serving in various roles.
What should we expect in the next 18 years? We should expect the Lord to do wonderful and amazing things as we walk in obedience to His will. As a church family we should avail ourselves to be instruments in our all-knowing God’s hands. May we continue to be receptive to the Lord’s will and be receptive to how He wants to minister to and through us for His glory today and even into the great future before us!
A special thanks to each of you for allowing me to serve you and for sharing life together, for such a time as this!
For His Glory,
Roy Newman, Senior Pastor