God has been so good to our church family this year!

The result of all God has done has produced a harmony of sprit and anticipation of blessings that permeates every area of our ministry. With every part of this ministry growing, the enthusiasm and the needs are great. It's truly a wonderful season at Kingwood First Baptist Church.

Last year, like a family of Abraham's people headed across the land following God, we encountered bad terrain.  As we kept our eyes upon our Lord, we unloaded the wagon of everything we could in order to stay on course.  He provided our guidance and all we needed.

We all have now known the joy of giving what only the Lord deserves credit for providing.  It's been wonderful and we believe will also be true this year.  (Look over the "i Mission" Faith Response report for last year, available where you found this proposed budget and praise the Lord with us for the abundance of blessings we shared with others during a recession year.)
 
 As we load the wagon back for the good road before us this year however, we cannot ignore that we have more than we can carry just yet.  So, some of our wants will be met this year and some will be met next year.  Our hope is that by year's end we will see more of God's provision than we could have ever expected.  It will indeed be wonderful to see, just as it was this year.

You see, part of doing a budget together is learning to live by faith and giving God glory in the results.  It's a great way to keep money as a tool for God's use in our lives.

 So, while we anticipate good days, we remain realistic in our planning, "counting the cost" before building the tower as Jesus counseled.  We have added the expenses over which we have no control (medical insurance cost increases, increases in utility costs, etc) personnel increases in compensation we had deferred in past years, and as many ministry efforts as possible.  We have deferred again some mission and some ministry plans in the hope we will be able to add them completely as we did last year in good seasons.  We'll also look forward to a little more "room in the wagon" next year as we work together for his glory.

Until that time, let's keep our eyes upon Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1-2) etc.  We met many of our Faith Response efforts last year, let's do it again!

Then give the glory to God!

Dr. Kevin McCallon
Senior Pastor