As we begin another appointive year together today, I want us to focus on growing our church. One thing is sure; our church cannot grow by accident or chance; we will need to harness all that God has given us and channel them towards pursuing our vision and fulfilling our mission. As a reminder, the mission of the United Methodist Church is making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. And as a congregation, we have discerned that the vision with which we can fulfill this mission is: growing together through faith and fellowship. So, this morning I am introducing a sermon series, Sharing Our Faith in Simple Terms. I pray that through preaching His word, the Lord will equip us to take our place in the task of growing our church.