“We do get another chance! The Season of Advent gives the church the opportunity to begin again. Once more the full story of God’s grace is awaiting our discovery. Once more we shake off the failures and victories of the past, and we get a clean page on which to write the story of our companionship with God in Christ. Once more we get to listen and respond in faithfulness to the God who comes to us so humbly, intimately, and personally in the birth of Jesus. Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before us the pathway of faith for the year ahead. Advent initiates once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole drama of God’s revelation.”
From Rueben Job, Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God, p. 20.
2009: Reflections on our 6th Year of Ministry
From the desk of Steve Macchia
A Blessed Advent and Joyous Christmas, my friends! As I look back on another great year of ministry at Leadership Transformations, my heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude. I’m counting the blessings of another fabulous year of service to the body of Christ:
- Soul Care Retreats and Soul Sabbaths for hundreds of leaders
- Spiritual Leadership Communities entering year three in September
- Selah Spiritual Direction training–“graduating” our first cohort and starting a new one this fall
- Partnering with 15 denominations and networks promoting our CHAT (Church Health Assessment Tool)
- Releasing the all-new Family Health Assessment in partnership with Focus on the Family
- Ministering to Christian leaders in Moldova on short term mission
- Selected by George Fox University for participation in a nationwide spiritual discernment initiative
- Speaking at multiple conferences and meeting with dozens of leaders one on one
- Investing in Gordon-Conwell Seminary’s student body on a weekly basis
- Leading a spiritual pilgrimage to Orvieto, Italy to reflect on the priority of a Sabbath lifestyle
- Offering soul care and soul care training to the Evangelical Christian Credit Union team
- Seeing our gifted ministry team in action and expanding our board of directors
- Celebrating our 6 year anniversary with donors, partners and friends
- And the list goes on and on…
As we embrace the season of Advent, may you pause to reflect on all the ways you’ve received gifts from God in 2009 and prepare your heart to celebrate the greatest of them all–the birth of his son, Jesus. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” Isaiah 9:6.
