72 Ambrose Street, Rochester, NY 14608
WHO WE ARE
Claimed by Christ,
Committed to Community,
Compelled to Serve!
A Word from our Church Moderator, Michael Warfield
Praise the Lord! It's a new year and that means new opportunities, new blessings
and even new challenges, but that's alright because our God is with us every step
of the way. We mark ends and we make beginnings and in all, we praise God for the
grace and mercy that fills our days. I believe with each New Year we should all be
looking forward to deeper fellowship with God and life-
Isaiah 43:19 states, “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you
not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way
in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” II Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.” The theme word in these two passages of Scripture is
“new.” Our God is about to do some new things in our lives and our church. Are you
ready? Is your heart and mind open and prepared?
As you probably know by now, the Search committee has found a pastor candidate. I
am excited about the future for Lake Avenue Baptist Church and hope you are too.
I also wanted to share with you a something that the candidate wrote that really
spoke to me. “I feel a profound calling upon my life to serve in a church where God
brings together a diverse group of people to form important and impacting communities.
I believe in meeting people where they are developing a strong sense of collective
vision, and then moving together to see that God-
We are in a great place at Lake Avenue Baptist Church. Our journey and the destination
of Christian faith is the praise and worship of God, a table where everyone is welcome.
Psalm 117 says, “Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For
great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise
the LORD.” God has been so good to us and I know this new pastor will be a blessing
to us. I encourage you to make plans to meet this candidate during the “meet & greet”
events on the weekend of Jan 28th, and Sunday Jan 29th.
2012 has the wonderful promise of joys we have not yet experienced. But we must open
our hearts and be willing to see all that God has in store for us. I challenge you
to do that in 2012.
Finally, I want to thank you for being there for Lake Avenue Baptist Church in 2011, with your prayers, love, patience, encouragement and support. Let us also praise and thank God for the year that has past, and praise God for a new pastor. Praise God for the new opportunities, new blessings, and even new challenges in this New Year.
Be Blessed,
Michael Warfield 