RELIANT ON THE SPIRIT. ROOTED IN LOVE. RESILIENT IN FAITH.

As we pray, think about, and consider the state of Story Church the overwhelming thought that comes to mind is, “God has done great things in and among us.” Praise be to God for His kindness to us!
As we Embarked on a new season of ministry in 2023-2024, we prayed that God would make us healthier in our generosity and spirituality. He answered those prayers. We witnessed God save. We participated in baptisms. We watched marriages be reconciled. We saw everyday disciples equipped for everyday ministry. We experienced student camps, weekly Story Kids ministry, books of the Bible preached, Forge and Flourish gatherings, prayer nights, and so much more. As we all grew in our generosity, God continued to honor that and grew ministry among us.
As we step into 2024-2025, we are asking God that we would advance upon everything God has begun in us. This year God is leading us to focus together on the disciples we are becoming and the disciples we are making.
In Ephesians 3:14-21, the Apostle Paul prays this for the church at Ephesus and this is our prayer for us at Story Church in this season of Advance.
We’re praying God would make us into disciples who are:

Reliant on the Spirit. We want to advance in our desperation and dependence upon God for His power and presence. We will do this through practicing prayer.

Rooted in Love. We want to advance in being rooted in God’s love and God’s Word so we can experience the fullness of life Jesus promises us. We will do this through growing in one-on-one discipleship.

Resilient in Faith. We want to advance in our belief that the ‘good old days’ are ahead of us. God is not done with Story’s story and we want to prepare for what He has in store for us. We will do this by developing and deploying ministry leaders.

As Advance kicks off, will you prayerfully consider where God is asking you to advance in your pursuit of Him? Is He inviting you to advance in your prayer life? Is He asking you to advance in your generosity? Is He calling you to advance in your service, discipleship, and leadership at Story Church?

We cannot wait to advance alongside you and see what God has for us as a church. This time next year, we will be able to look back and again say, “God has done great things in and among us!”

For His Name’s Sake,

Your Pastors

WHERE WE ARE

God was on the move in 2024! By his grace, we are no longer in a season of stretching to survive. We exceeded not only our 2024 budget but also our stretch goal, which made up for 18 months of deficit! We sent our students to their first camps, trained new leaders, and grew by 40%!

SO WHAT NOW?

Last year we had to cut the budget, yet we still grew by over 40%. Projections show we’ll grow between 25-30% next year. We need more discipleship pathways. Youth ministry has doubled in size. Story Kids is at capacity. The sanctuary is nearly maxed out. Adult ministries are growing faster than we can resource them. Volunteer leaders are wearing too many hats.
We prayerfully intend to meet these needs through our 2024-2025 Giving Plan. A giving plan is a God-centered, faith-filled vision for maintaining ministry and funds to invest in discipleship and improve our space.

This covers everything we are doing as a church today: Sunday gatherings, adult and family ministries, missions partnerships, staffing, and essential operational costs to keep our church running smoothly.
We want to invest more in all our volunteers and leaders to make disciples and care for another as we grow. This could include formal discipleship pathways, volunteer training, leadership development, or additional staffing.
We want to become more welcoming on Sundays, enhance kids and students spaces, and be better equipped to make disciples throughout the week.This could include kids building renovations, improved indoor seating, updated bathrooms, and acousticand volume solutions.

GIVING PLAN | $900,000

GIVE

NEXT STEPS

RELIANT ON THE SPIRIT.

ROOTED IN LOVE.

RESILIENT IN FAITH.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

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RESOURCES

Check out the resources below on how to be Reliant in the Spirit, Rooted in Love, and Resilient in Faith. Did you miss the Advance sermons or podcasts? Click below to catch up!

Sermons + Podcasts

Tyler Staton

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer

BUY ON AMAZON
Paul E. Miller

A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World

BUY ON AMAZON
John Mark Comer

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

BUY ON AMAZON
RC Sproul

Essential Truths of the Christian Faith

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Glenna Marshall

Everyday Faithfulness: The Beauty of Ordinary Perseverance in a Demanding World

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Justin Whitmel Earley

The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction

BUY ON AMAZON
Jeremy Linneman

Article: Skip Resolutions - Make a Rule of Life

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Word & Prayer Guide

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