Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

132 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEat least the seventh straight year. For this, we rejoice and givethe Lord of the Harvest for sustained growth. Half of this growth comesfrom an increase in baptized members and half from an increase incommunicant members. Several congregations are pursuing or havemoved to larger facilities due to this growth. One congregation is planningon having two moming worship services. We rejoice as we see that certainpresbyteries show a constant growth from year to year, but note that severalpresbyteries are showing declines instead of growth. Within a particularpresbytery, some congregations show steady or rapid growth, while othersstmggle to maintain their current situation, and too many suffer fromactual decline. We do note that this past year there was a drop in S.S.attendance and a considerable drop in baptized children making a professionof faith. WE WONDER: Are we becoming more indifferent? Arewe keeping our baptized children? We also note with sadness that severalcongregations have ceased to exist. We tmst that God is pmning in orderto bring about even greater fmit. PRAY FOR THE STRUGGLINGCONGREGATIONS THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE NEW LIFEFROM GOD AND BE LIKE THE GRASS THAT GROWS ANDEXTENDS.We can also note from the presbytery reports that God has givengenerously to His people. The financialreceipts show an increase greaterthan the rate of inflation. Despite the overall good financialpicture, somecongregations (and pastors) stmggle greatly over finances. We do notethat, while the total congregational receipts increased by $288,418.00,giving to RPM&M increased by a mere $213.00 and giving to other RPworks actually decreased by $1,018.00. We wonder why giving todenominational efforts remains constant despite increasing contributionsto local congregations. PRAY FOR A GENEROUS SPIRIT BY MEM­BERS AND CONGREGATIONS SO THAT GOD'S WORK WOULDNOT BE HINDERED BY A LACK OF FUNDING. PRAY FORCONGREGATIONS IN FINANCIAL NEED.Thus, also we can look at the MULTIPLICATION of congregations.Since establishing the goal of "Seven More by '94", we rejoice that fivenew congregations/mission churches (Stillwater, Multiracial, Anchor,Sycamore, and Evansville) have formed. We rejoice to see such widespreadinterest and activity in new works. New works are being exploredin Montreal, Middletown, N.Y., Lancaster, Pa., Midland, Tex., Wichita,Kan., Orange, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Lansing, Mich., and Bedford, Ind.Each presbytery is actively involved in seeking to plant new congregations.PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WOULD ESTABLISH STRONG,MINISTERING CONGREGATIONS IN EACH OF THE OPPORTUNI­TIES HE HAS GIVEN AND THAT GOD WOULD RAISE UP MEN