Almost a year has gone by now since Engage21. I find myself looking back over this year and gauging both myself and my denomination.  Overall I am very encouraged.

• Encouraged by what I’ve learned through the networking over the net, as well as the direction our state offices have taken toward a more missional mindset of ministry.
• I’m encouraged by the new leadership that our denomination has received. 
• I’m encouraged by the refined vision that our local congregation is taking as we don’t settle for “good things” when we can have “God things”.  As I said, overall I am greatly encouraged.

However I still deal with frustrations.

• I’m frustrated with a denomination that promotes membership statistics to support pay scales, even though many of our members haven’t darkened the door of a CoG in ten years or more.
• I’m frustrated with the sharp decline in morality that has crept into many of our churches…not from sinners coming in, but from our members living in morally grey areas with no desire for a greater manifestation of grace.
• I’m frustrated that the CoG is not promoting internet communications as part of the listening tours for the sake of those of us who may not be able to attend, but have real questions we want to ask.
• I’m frustrated with a lack of communication regarding how the “re-alignment” of resources is really going to pan out.

But the best part of everything over the past year is the fact that I am expectant.

• I expect God to do great things in the CoG, especially at Tenth Avenue in Huntington, WV. It will continue to be hard work, but God is bringing us into a season of harvest. 
• I expect God to do great things in our state. Our prayer conference was great and portrayed a commitment to missional values without sacrificing our Pentecostal distinctives. Our Link conference was a plus…even though they’ve had to cancel the remaining conferences due to financial constraints…I’m glad I got to be a part of the one that took place.
• I expect God to open doors in our city to truly heal our land.
• Most of all I expect to win souls for Christ. Sometimes I get so busy with everything else on the pastor’s desk that I forget the real reason I am here…not to provide spiritual Hospice care, but to help build a Birthing Center.  I am looking forward to the drunk that I ministered to tonight to come to church sober and be an active part in our church’s future. I look forward to the addict down the street who sends her daughter to church to herself come to Christ.
• I expect all the seed that has been planted and the roots that have been growing, to begin to show new signs of life above the surface. New ministries, new wineskins, new wine…I expect that which is exceedingly abundantly beyond what I can ask or imagine.

I believe that on the two year anniversary of Engage21, I will look back with great thanksgiving for the relationships that continue to be built, the lessons that so many are sharing with me, and a level of marked victories that will have been attained in my own life, community, city, church and denomination.

Continuing to engage,

Darrell Buttram, Jr.