Beth Paz

I have just completed a year of ministry here at FPC and it has been a wonderful experience! One word to describe the activities of the year would be foundational. As FPC seeks to rebuild its outreach and discipleship to high school students, I have pressed into developing a foundation that will allow us to grow deep and wide. Our vision foundation strengthened as we prayed for a theme that we could build this ministry on – God confirmed Colossians 2:6-7: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."  We then adopted the name Rooted with great excitement!

All that God has done this year sets us in anticipation for next! Our current projects include a new logo and a new room renovation! Children’s ministry generously allowed us to renovate the old “Kids Alive” room and turn its primary use into a high school space! In November, we started demolition of old cabinets and sinks. We give credit to the wonderful Joanie Martin for blessing us to release her nature and sheep mural into a new era. The new room has plans to host games including a ping pong and foosball tables, couches for lounging, and a kitchen nook for food! Updated technology and lighting will enhance our learning environment together. We are grateful for Ronnie Samuelian, David Swaim, Allan Knepper and Dave Parker and others donating their time and skills to transform the room.

A new room is more than just a project, or an asset on the church campus. Most importantly, we look forward to meeting Jesus in this space and growing in community. A new room is a new opportunity. We sense God is preparing us for new things in 2018; just recently the youth leaders decided together with the leadership of Teen Night (the Lowell neighborhood-based youth group sponsored by Bethany Inner-City Church) that the ministry of Teen Night is joining Wednesday night youth group in 2018! We sense God is bringing new people to our new space to do a new thing in and through our youth ministry! Pray with us for God’s blessing on this space and ministry in 2018!