Farmers in southern Alabama were accustomed to planting one crop every year – cotton. They would plow as much ground as they could and plant their crop. Year after year they lived by cotton.

The few who survived those two years of the boll weevil decided to experiment the third year, so they planted something they’d never planted before – peanuts. And peanuts proved so hardy and the market proved so ravenous for that product that the farmers who survived the first two years reaped profits that third year that enabled them to pay off all their debts. They planted peanuts from then on and prospered greatly.

Then you know what those farmers did? They spent some of their new wealth to erect in the town square a monument – to the boll weevil. If it hadn’t been for the boll weevil, they never would have discovered peanuts. They learned that even out of disaster there can be great delight.

We have now stepped out of the pandemic but everything looks so different, we look so different. What is ministry going to look like? What do we need to do to see people come to faith and live their lives for Jesus?

That is what we are going to look at in 2023. What do we need to do? How can we be faithful? How do we ignite excitement and joy about Jesus? Come join us in this new year as we take a good look at discipleship, evangelism, and church growth. And if you have been looking for an opportunity to come back and join us, why not join us in 2023. It is going to be a GREAT year.