Pastor's Report for Charge Conference

As a requirement for our annual Charge Conference, which was held last night at Holy Ground, I as the pastor of Good News, submitted a "state of the church" report for our District Superintendent, Rev. Rankin Koch, to see how God is working in our congregation. Here is that report:


I believe that Good News United Methodist Church is unique among other churches. Not just because it has met in a school for the past six years and seven months. Not just because week in and week out its members convert a gym into a house of worship. Not just because of its great abundance of young families. And not just because it sits on some of the most valuable land in Cedar Park. It is because Good News is filled with people who have a real desire to serve God and their community, to grow in their relationship with God, and to be a church ahead of building a church. This means making the ministry of Jesus Christ (the various expressions of our mission) our only business.

With this renewed vision of our role in the bigger picture of the advancement of the kingdom of God, we have realized that God has blessed us with the land we call Holy Ground. God has opened the door for us to stay on this valuable property to build a mission station that will serve God for years to come. We are presently in the process of selling 6.09 acres of our 13.44 acres for the construction of a nursing home. This will not only provide the capital necessary to build our first phase, but will also provide us a new opportunity to offer Jesus Christ through ministry to our new neighbors. Additionally, the land sits within three tenths of a mile from the new hospital (where ministry is already happening through clergy visits, get well cards made by the children, and meals for family and staff) and half a mile from the newly started Cedar Park Event Center. The city will also begin widening and straightening East New Hope Road allowing Good News to be on the road to everywhere for those living on the east side of road 183A. This is only one example of what God can do if we concentrate on doing our job and allow God to do His.

However, this is only one way God has blessed Good News. It has also occurred in the various expressions of the ministry we offer. With the return to one service and to Block House Creek Elementary School, we have added both an adult Sunday school class (averaging over 15 each Sunday) and a youth Sunday school class (averaging over 10 each Sunday). We have also witnessed the growth of our music ministry both in the number of people who participate and in the variety of music styles offered. It has personified what it means to be a means of grace; to be an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ. We also celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion each week believing it to be one of the most important opportunities for this encounter to occur. In addition, our children’s ministry, our tween’s ministry, and our youth ministry continue to grow in numbers and in opportunities offered.

These opportunities to encounter the kingdom of God have expanded for adults, as well. In 2008, Good News United Methodist Church became the newest United Methodist Men’s charter. We have also expanded the opportunities for adults by offering a class in Methodist history and the newly formed Good News Book Club. We are currently studying and discussing Bishop Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations led by Kip Harmon.

My vision for Good News United Methodist Church is that we will continue to seek new expressions of our mission and remain faithful to the work to which we are called allowing God to provide what we need to get the job done.

2009 promises to be a very exciting year for Good News United Methodist Church. I am grateful that I will get to be your pastor as we experience it together.

Pastor Bob