Utica baptist Church in Seneca celebrated one of the most memorable achievements in the church’s history this past December.
The church’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal was $65,000. Last year, the congregation gave $99,000 to Lottie Moon. This year, with budget contributions lagging, the goal seemed unreachable. Then, some incredible things happened.
The church rose to the challenge and gave $97,146 to Lottie Moon. But that was just the beginning of a memorable December.
Pastor Rudy Gray challenged the church in September to liquidate the remaining $142,366 debt on the family life center.
On the last Sunday in December, Gray announced to the congregation, “Have I told you lately that we serve a great God? We are now debt free.”
In addition, the church had purchased a new bus in 2005 and financed $23,611 – half the cost of the bus. By the first Sunday in January 2008, that debt was also erased.
“God is at work in our church, and we are anticipating a great year in 2008,” Gray noted.
Gray said, “For the past several years, we have set Lottie Moon goals that we couldn’t meet unless God did something. Every year he has. This past year, God moved our church to a deeper consciousness of prayer through a series of studies and a musical called ‘Somebody’s Praying Me Through.’
“We have several new ministries and opportunities this coming year,” Gray added. “In the end, what really matters is that God is glorified, and we want that to be our ministry goal at Utica. God has certainly blessed us, and we want to be faithful to him,” said Gray.