I just want to give God my thanks today for my church. I just love my church. I am so thankful the Lord led us to Grace Fellowship 3 years ago. It was exactly 3 years ago this week that we first visited the church. You have read my story here about waiting on the Lord to move us. But over these last 3 years of learning all about our new house of worship, I have come to really appreciate the people who are in leadership there. At first we didn't know many people at all, other than a couple of families whose children were in our own children's schools or whose children had attended the Christian preschool where both my girls had attended. We knew who the pastor was but didn't know much about him, other than that he used to be a part of the Billy Graham Association. We knew it was a large church but didn't know how it was structured, run, or what the various ministries within the church were. We know all of that now, thanks to the required membership courses and just the opportunities we have had to serve and be served.

Here are the specific things I am thankful for about my church today:

• the senior pastor: he is a humble man. He is a gifted preacher and is so knowledgable about the Word of God. He actually memorizes whole chapters of the Bible! He is loving, kind, has a great sense of humor. He has an evangelistic heart (is that a word?). I mean, he has a heart for the unsaved and almost always offers the plan of salvation in his messages. Evangelism and community is a big thing at our church.
  
• the board of elders: these are men who oversee our pastor/finances, etc.
  
• the staff: there are several people on staff at church. There needs to be as it is a large church with about 2100 people attending over the course of a normal weekend. We have an Executive Director, a Worship Leader, Small Group Ministries leader over the various small groups (there are many!), Kids Celebration staff (Sunday School coordinators), Youth Pastor, and Coordinator for the Youth Center. We now also have a 2nd pastor for our new satellite church that will be opening in the fall. I know there are other paid staff as well, such as our Associate pastor who does hospital visitations, etc., and secretaries to the various paid staff.
• the volunteers: there are way too many to list but according to the membership class we took in 2005, there are about 75 ministries at our church. Things like SundaySchool teachers, workers for our infant and toddler nurseries, the youth center, the cafe, missions (short and long term), women's weekly group, men's monthly group, leadership ministry, people who help teach the homeschooled kids (they have a co-op at church with various people in to teach the various classes for certain subjects), drama/dance ministry for adults, HizKidz Praise! mnistry for children (drama/dance), Awana, a ministry of prayer, ministry for helping needy families, support ministries for abused women, baptism ministry, groups for married couples, parents, singles, older singles, a college kids ministry, etc.
  
• leadership meetings: I have just started attending these as I have just started getting invited to them. My husband has been attending since last year. Our pastor leads these once a month. They are to help us grow spiritually as leaders in the church. My goal is to start up my own women's small group this summer for moms of preteens/teens. I took the course that is required to lead a small group and now I can start attending these monthly meetings with the pastor; I am in fellowship with the other core leaders. I love it! Everything is done with excellance from the table settings to the final prayer time. Everyone is so encouraging and real. The leaders are not afraid to go deep, to get intimate emotionally/spiritually. I am learning alot!
  
• the sermon notes: I really am thankful for the way our pastor preaches. He has his outline included in our bulletin and we can take notes on the outline. Then during the week we can answer the questions and get more in-depth either in our small groups or at home. I attend a small group that is studying a certain book rather than a Sunday Sermon small group so I tend to complete the sermon notes on my own. This takes a lot of preparation on our pastor's part, and I am so thankful to be sitting under his teaching!
• the Worship Leader: I am thankful that our church begins on time! I am thankful that we have a contemporary service with traditional songs/hymns included. I am a worshipper. I love to worship God in music. It is a blessing to sit in church where everyone is worshipping in many different ways (some by clapping, swaying to the music, kneeling, standing, sitting with head bowed). Children are not running around. They are either in their Sunday School class or worshipping next to their parent(s). I am very thankful for the respect that is shown in our sanctuary! I am thankful for the vibrant musicians that are using their talents for the Lord and helping to lead people in worshipping our Savior.
  
• the prayer team: need I say more? This team of people pray "behind the scenes" during our 3 services. We also have a corporate prayer team that meets during the week. Churches need prayer warriors. I am thankful for those people who are intercessors.
• the core members: we get many visitors and attenders (people who are not covenant members yet). The core members whom I have met are friendly, helpful, dedicated to the church and Christ, demonstrate through their words and actions the concept of grace, conviction areas and preference areas. Almost everyone I have met is respectful and encouraging others to use the giftings the Lord has given us. I feel a unity in my church that I have never experienced before as an adult.

There are so many other things I am thankful for regarding my church, but those things I have listed, are things I have specifically thanked God for during this week.

What things about your church are you thankful for? What kinds of things are your children thankful for in regards to your church?
(mine tell me it is seeing other kids at school who also attend church with them...this is a huge deal for my daughters....thank you Jesus!!)