Spring Update

          It's been a while since we've posted, and so much has happened in the past few months.  Two huge milestones in our life and ministry stand out.  We are excited to report that in March we closed on a house in Kewaunee, and have moved into the community!  God has provided us with a great location in town, and a house that perfectly meets our needs and exceeds our expectations.  The basement came partially finished, speeding up the work for Ray to build his office at home soon.  Our living areas and kitchen have an open layout, allowing us to accomodate many guests at one time for fellowship.  Church families from both Bay City and Lakeshore encouraged and blessed us by coming out to help us get settled.  We are already being well cared for by new friends we've come to care about. 

          On April 1st  Lakeshore Baptist Church celebrated it's charter service, and over the month, fifteen of our attenders were led of God to sign the charter.  Pastor Dave Bender from our sending church Bay City Baptist came out to participate in our charter service, as well as a few church families from Green Bay.  For the month prior to the Chartering Service, Ray taught membership Sunday School classes, detailing the doctrines of the faith to which the church will hold.  We were glad to see Sunday School attendance higher over that month, as people took serious interest in the committment they are making.   We held our first business meeting at the end of April, electing some church officers, and beginning to officially govern ourselves as a united church body.  

          The church has enjoyed various ministries and fellowship this spring in the form of Ladies' Crafters Nights, an Easter Breakfast, a viewing of the movie Courageous, and the renewing of vows for one of our member couples. Our congregation is a sneaky sort, we've discovered, as they turned what we thought was a church potluck into a suprise birthday party for Pastor.  Evidently, we were both kept in the dark for almost a month while they planned.  It was a sweet surprise.   We continue to see new faces, and enjoy getting to know our regulars better every week. 

          The near future sees us holding men's and women's Bible studies on alternating Sunday nights.  Please pray that God works in hearts to attend, share, and grow in this ministry.    The church will also work together to plan and provide a community children's carnival this summer, kicking off our first VBS program.  Pray for the workers and space needed for any expansion in our children's ministries.   We are excited about the place we are as a church, and are setting goals as we move forward.  Though we do not know exactly what the future holds, we know WHO holds our future, and that Lakeshore Baptist Church is HIS church.  He will be faithful.