Modesto Free Methodist Church Testimony
By Pastor Brock Hoyer
Pastor Brock and other leaders in the church finished the two year commitment of training with 3DM. This has been helpful in focusing our church more on making disciples, especially through relationships. We have come off of this as a congregation focusing on deepening relationships and leadership development. Our worship attendance was down in the summer and fall, but now is up higher than it was last year. We had a record attendance of 280 for Easter Sunday and baptized six people. What was surprising is that we did not focus as much on advertising and promotion, but the focus on relationships has resulted in increases in the number of people in small groups and in worship.
We developed a congregational care ministry and hired Pastor David Embree as a congregational care coordinator. He visits persons who can’t get out of their homes and also does hospital visitation. He tracks each person who attends worship and seeks to alert leaders in the church to follow-up on persons who are missing through a phone call or visit. He also works with the office and Pastor Brock and others to match up newcomers with a spiritual friend from the congregation who will help the newcomer get to know other people in the church. He is also involved in training others in congregational care.
Our Wednesday night supper, kid’s ministry, and small groups saw significant growth this past year. In addition to Stepping Stones, our 12 step ministry, and our regular Bible study, we also held a Marriage 911 class, a Financial Peace University class, and a men’s and women’s Bible study. This is in addition to our Children’s choir and Kid’s Connection classes for all ages of children.
We seem to be doing a better job in incorporating new people into the fellowship and service of the Lord and church. There is a positive atmosphere.
Six ladies who were active in the church for many years passed away this past year. We miss them, but God has sent others to take their place. The miracle that happened is that neighbors of Norma Severance, and Elizabeth Dunn have started coming to the church as a result of contact with the church through their funerals. Two neighbors of Norma’s have joined the church and are here almost every Sunday and Weds. I am sure they are smiling from heaven.
Last summer we sent a healing and evangelism team of people to help with the church plant in Guadalajara. We saw miracles of conversion and healing. We continue to support this church plant with prayer and finances.