West Ridge Church Highlights

Brian included a number of stats in this morning’s message. He shared the summary from our 2009 ministry year at West Ridge Church. For those of you who weren’t here, I thought you might be interested in seeing some of these highlights.

2009 at West Ridge Church

• 540 people (who we know of) accepted Christ on our campus.
• 425 people were baptized.
• Attendance at our Christmas Eve services increased 70% from last Christmas…and 70 people accepted Christ.
• We finished the year with 55% of our students and adults involved in a small group.
• Sunday attendance is up 10.5% since the end of summer.
• Student ministry has increased 35% in that same period.
• Since 1997, West Ridge has helped start 42 churches with 4 more launching in January 2010. We also commissioned 5 more church planters today. The churches we helped plant in the United States are reaching over 10,000 people each weekend.
• 4,000 volunteers from 36 churches participated in the “Community Makeover” weekend this past summer completing more then 400 projects.
• We’ve helped to provide the funds to have 26 wells dug in Burkina Faso, Africa.
• This fall, we partnered with Samaritan’s Purse and several other agencies to provide flood relief to 425 homes. 1,100 volunteers gave over 20,000 hours in that effort.
• At Thanksgiving, we partnered with CAYA Ministries to provide turkeys and food boxes to 700 families.
• At Christmas, we provided toys and food boxes to 1,400 families including 3,400 kids.

Brian concluded the message by talking about what’s coming in 2010. Here are some of the specific goals he mentioned for the coming 12 months:

• Launch our second West Ridge campus in the West Paulding area this fall
• Grow our commitment to launching strong, reproducing churches in the United States (more details coming soon!)
• Increase small group involvement to 75% of students and adults
• Engage 50% of students and adults in a volunteer role serving others
• Take 600 students to summer camp at Myrtle Beach
• Partner with 75 churches in this year’s “Community Makeover” (Your church can join us.)
• Work with Samaritan’s Purse to rebuild homes in our region that were impacted by the 2009 flood
• Focus on an initiative to encourage healthy families beginning with “The Naked Truth” series starting next week
• Increase our engagement in prayer across the ministry

We have a great deal to be thankful for, and I’m really excited about what’s coming next. This is a God-sized plan! I’m praying we’ll be faithful and obedient to his call on our lives to see the full impact of the life change that results.

I can’t wait to dive in!