Highlights of 2009

I'm sure I'm gonna forget about 1,000+ memories worth writing down but here are a few highlights from 2009 that stand out to me. If you remember something worth while please leave a comment!

• We moved to Sunday mornings (from Friday nights) and we moved to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Enfield, CT from the Longmeadow Community House in Longmeadow, MA.
• My longtime friend Scott Steglinski came to New Day for the first time on Easter Sunday and got saved and then later water baptized.
• New Day had our first water baptism (Neil Butler) on January 4th (we went on to baptize 17 others throughout the year).
• We broke 100 (total attendance) for 1st time Aug 16th and broke 100 (adults only) on Oct 4th.
• We baptized 6 people at once on Dec 13th.
• My old buddy from high school James Stephenson came to New Day for the first time, got saved and got water baptized shortly after.
• My brother Tony started coming to New Day cosistently and joined a growth group too.
• New Day started growth groups in Oct and had 69 of 75 sign up (our average adult attendance at the time was 75).
• I hired Rachel Axtmann as kid's director, Peter as financial organizer, Bethany Souza as growth group director, then Danielle Ramirez as administrative assistant.

Declaration of Faith

The Bible gives several examples of people's "declarations of faith." Luke 23:39 records the declaration of faith of one of the criminals that hung next to Jesus when he was crucified.

³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" ⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." ⁴³Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Daniel 3:28-29 records Nebuchadnezzar's declaration of faith once Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego were rescued from the fiery furnace.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."

John 20:26-28 records Doubting Thomas' declaration of faith.

²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ²⁸Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Well yesterday I had the privilege of hearing my daughter's first declaration of faith. Here's what happened. Ally got Disney's Snow White DVD for Christmas and yesterday Kristin was looking for it so they could watch it together. Well after looking around for quite some time (and after Kristin got very frustrated) we still could not find this DVD. I joined the search and we turned over every item in our house. We looked upstairs, downstairs, we lifted the couches, turned over the cushions, etc. etc. Finally, in frustration we all sat down and Kristin suggested we pray and ask Jesus to help us find the DVD. Allyson prayed something like this: "Dear Jesus, please help us to find the movie. Amen." No joke - immediately after we prayed we got back up to keep looking for the DVD trusting by faith that God would help us find it when Kristin saw it hanging inbetween the tree branches of our Christmas tree (one of the kids had shoved it in the tree). Allyson in near disbelief shouted "Jesus IS real!!!" She was beside herself with excitement. It was such a special moment. And THAT was Ally's declaration of faith.

All of us at some point in our spiritual journey need to make our own "declaration of faith." There's no right or wrong way to do it. I love that the criminal on the cross next to Jesus simply said "Remember me" and Jesus responded "Today you'll be with me in paradise." It's not in the words we say but the sincerity of our hearts. When was YOUR declaration of faith? If you haven't made one, I'd encourage you to do so right now!