At the stroke of midnight December 31, the year 2001 becomes the past; the year 2002 dawns. Nothing can be done to change last year; it can serve only as a teacher, if one is willing to learn from it. No one knows what the new year holds, but we do know Who holds the future. The present is God’s and ours together for the making, if only we are open to God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
 This is where we step off in faith and walk with the great and mighty God, Creator of heaven and earth and of things seen and unseen, Sustainer, and Redeemer; The Lord God who is above all gods. The Unity of the Brethren needs the presence and power of this God and this God alone in its life.
  In so many ways, the Unity of the Brethren needs renewal which can only come from God through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Too often we walk by sight, not by faith although Scripture teaches us otherwise. We tend to be clannish and hung up on tradition - seeking to do it the Brethren way (whatever that means) as opposed to God’s way  - in faith and trust in Him and not ourselves. We are self-centered, self-focused, self-sufficient, self-righteous and proud; we want to know what’s in it for us, even though we are called to be servants like Jesus who made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8)! Pastors are treated as overpaid employees and not respected as God’s divinely appointed leaders for the local congregation. The Board or the annual congregational meeting vote serves as the head of the church and not Christ Jesus. Outreach and missions are marginal and not very high among priorities - hey, it’s our church, it’s for us. Family ties and/or being Czech are the acid test for acceptance instead the blood of Jesus Christ shed for all at Calvary. Individuals and congregations do not reflect the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5.22-23). More often than not, congregations show little love toward each other let alone the stranger in our midst (someone is sitting in my pew/spot), have a funeral home atmosphere, plod through worship with lifeless singing instead of joyful noise and praise, are battlegrounds over who left the kitchen in a mess or started a ministry or mission without Board approval, and are insensitive to the feelings of others - especially newcomers. We write it off as that’s just the way we are - take it or leave it and many do leave and we wonder why new members come and go. We look more like museums of the past instead of spiritual hospitals where the broken and hurting can find healing, wholeness and peace and then go out and bring others who need the touch of the Great Physician as well. Congregations consider themselves successful if they have maintained the status quo - met the budget for the year, not lost any members - except through death, and not tried anything new or different.
    New life and vitality will not come by maintaining this status quo. Nor will it come by starting a new program, remodeling the building, nor relocating to a new neighborhood, nor calling a new pastor, nor hiring a youth director nor buying into the latest church growth fad nor copying what “worked” for the church down the street, nor by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty  (Zechariah. 4:6). New life and vitality will come only in faithful obedience to the outpouring and leading of the Holy Spirit just like at Pentecost and in the early New Testament Church as found in the Book of Acts.
    For the Unity of the Brethren to not just exist, but to thrive requires spiritual renewal, and spiritual renewal begins with individual hearts and lives being changed, transformed and renewed by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. All I can do and all you can do is pray and be open to the Holy Spirit in my life and your life and our congregations.
    I prayerfully invite each one of us to step into the new year doing the following:
    1. Seek forgiveness for my/your/our past
    Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
    1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
    Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
    2. Reaffirm my/your faith in Jesus Christ
    Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
    3. Seek God and the leading of the Holy Spirit for my/your life in prayer.
    Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
    James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
    4. Live in obedience to Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, so that the fruits of the spirit might be evident in my/your life as an individual, as congregations and as a denomination.
    Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

A NEW HISTORY BOOK
    Frank McKay Jr. of the Crosby congregation, as authorized by the Synodical Committee, is working on the latest history of the Unity from its last edition to the present (1981-2001). Synodical Committee members or their appointees are asked to submit in Microsoft Word form on a disk, your congregation’s history over the last twenty years. Information to include:

  • Pastors who have served your congregation and dates served
  • Membership of the congregation and Sunday School
  • Youth activities, Christian Sisters and Brotherhood events
  • Building projects including cost and square footage
  • Any other items you deem significant.

Frank McKay
PO Box 813
Highlands, TX  77562

 • Ocker has hired a part time youth director
 • Wall has moved from a part time to a full time youth director