Annual Report of the Senior Pastor Pastor Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Greetings in the name of our loving and liberating Lord Jesus Christ. God be praised for His faithfulness throughout 2021 for us as a pastor and people. From January 1-December 31, 2021, we endeavored to focus on our 2021 Church Theme: LET’S DO THE LORD’S WORK STRATEGICALLY AMIDST OUR NEW NOW! The Scriptural Foundation was Matthew 16:15-19; Mark 1:14-15; Ephesians 5:15-18, 20; I Chronicles 12:32 (NRSV). If ever we had a relevant theme that addressed the opportunities and challenges we faced last year, our 2021 Church Theme “hit the nail on the head” over and over again. SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021 As God would have it, we were forced to engage in the Lord’s work amidst the continuing COVID19 pandemic during all of 2021. Nobody but the Lord sustained us faced with a myriad of challenges that the pandemic presented to us. How providential it was for the Holy Spirit to lead us strategically no matter what confronted us as a pastor and people. Therefore, I begin by thanking God for His faithfulness. In addition to the Lord, allow me to offer some more words of appreciation. • You, members of FIBC, continue to be faithful to the Lord’s work through FIBC, whether you are present in mind, body, soul and/or spirit. Much obliged. • Our FIBC Staff, which includes members of our Pastoral Leadership Team, Pastoral Staff, Music Ministry Staff and the FIBCO Family Services, Inc. Staff, “worked their behinds off”. With several vacancies at different times in 2021, many of our staff members had to acquire the responsibilities of those vacant staff positions, in reality doing the work of two or more staff persons. Words are inadequate to express my personal, pastoral gratitude to you, FIBC Staff. • High praise goes to our Re-Gathering Task Force that oversees how we persevere in doing holistic Christian mission and ministry amidst the pandemic in a sanitary-sensitive, holy and healthy environment on our FIBC Campus. The RGTF established FIBC COVID-19 Protocols and monitored them regularly. In addition, we have a faithful team of volunteers who serve on Sunday mornings to keep all of our worshipers and worship service participants as safe as humanly possible. • I certainly must give a “High-5” to our multimedia team of mostly volunteers who show up every Sunday morning early and leave after six hours-plus making sure our hybrid worship services function at their optimum for those worshiping in the Sanctuary and virtually. • There are the Sunday and weekday Bible Studies with a committed team of Biblical scholars who teach the Word “in season and out of season” who deserve a hand of applause. • Our Deacons Ministry and Governance Council fulfilled their servant leadership roles overseeing various aspects of FIBC’s work with dedication and determination, with monthly meetings conducted virtually and other responsibilities done in person.
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