Long Hollow Baptist Church

A Word From Our Pastor

Thoughts on what lies ahead.

Dear Church Family:

At Long Hollow we are about igniting a passion in the hearts of people to follow Jesus. We are called to live with reckless abandon in light of Jesus' call to follow him. Following Jesus is not always safe or comfortable. It always cost us something. Jesus said it this way, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) It may not be safe or comfortable – but there is no better place for a believer to be than where God wants them to be! Jesus' challenge to follow Him provides an opportunity to walk away or fully engage.

At Long Hollow we are consumed with the Gospel.

Jesus gave us our marching orders in Matthew 28:19, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… One of our core values at Long Hollow is that we will do whatever it takes to reach lost people with the Gospel. That means how we use what we have been given is critically important to accomplishing the task that God has given to us. Our time, talent, and treasure are divine gifts intended to be invested in expanding the Kingdom until Jesus comes back. In many ways, we will be measured by our willingness to give away those things that were never really ours to begin with.

At Long Hollow we are committed to action. The Crazy Love Campaign changed everything. It was a pivotal moment in the life of our church when we responded to God's call to do church differently. Crazy Love became the new normal for Long Hollow and our approach to ministry. We haven't been the same since.

Building on the Crazy Love Campaign, we took the next step by introducing a completely new concept for us - the Compelled Ministry Plan. This new way of looking at the budgeting process became the blueprint for how we directed people and resources to reach the world, beginning with our neighbors in Middle Tennessee. God has blessed our faithfulness to follow Him, even when it didn't seem possible.

This year we continue to build on this new normal of ministry as we launch the Ignite Ministry Plan, our 2012 strategy to put our faith into action. It's as simple as that. We are not going to play it safe in the midst of God's blessing. As a church, I want us to continue to:

• Go to those who have not heard.
• Serve those who are hurting.
• Equip those who will be our legacy.
• Gather those who share a common faith.
• Engage those who want to build community.
• Empower those who are restless to do more ministry.

At Long Hollow, we are positioned for even greater opportunities in 2012. Our responsibility to impact the community, the state, the nation, even the entire world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is clear. Through Crazy Love and the Compelled Ministry Plan, the foundation was laid for future ministry that is beyond our wildest imagination. The activity of God has been so evident in the dollars given, the ministry accomplished, and the life changing decisions that have been made. These last two years have been amazing as God has moved mightily among us.

At Long Hollow, we are all in this together. The 2012 Ignite Ministry Plan is our guide as a church to ensure we are faithful with what we have been given. Even greater opportunities are ahead of us. This is the time to reach the next generation! This is the time make a difference in the lives of the hopeless and helpless! This is the time to push back the darkness! This is the time to spread the Good News around the world!

If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us, who? So, I'm asking you to prayerfully consider approving this budget and partnering together as a church family to ignite the world with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I love you folks!

In Christ,