What will the 1980's hold for Bethany? As we look about us at the political and economic and world situation we wonder what the 1980's will hold for everyone. I am not a prophet and I cannot say with any sense of complete accuracy but I do know that GOD IS AND WILL BE IN CONTROL! However, as I look at Bethany from the perspective of its present Pastor I do sense and feel some very important things about the Church. First of all I feel that we must all realize and accept the fact that the old Bethany of Roseland is gone. In the 1970's there was still the great transition and necessary adjustments which often brought reflections of what Bethany used to be "like and do" when it was in Roseland. Such a situation is only natural for even families, when they move into a new home, will talk about the "old house" and the experiences "back there" as they make their adjustment to the new home. But now the transition period is over and the adjustments for all intents and purposes have been made. Bethany, under the guidance, blessing and purpose of God, is now BETHANY OF LYNWOOD. A new facility, very much unlike the old facility, a new community in which to minister, a new day and age of society, a new portion of the Congregation with their needs and ideas for the Church, new programs and in many ways a new spirit. Thus our identity in 1980 must be found in WHO WE ARE TODAY!

We have entered the 1980's with many wonderful blessings of God. The community of Lynwood recognizes who we are and has accepted us. The children of the community attend many of our programs and the 1980 Daily Vacation Bible School was one of the fines we have ever had. The Church Library was opened up to the community and every day finds children walking to the Church to check out books from our library thus placing in their homes and lives good Christian literature. Bethany is recognized and warmly accepted by the officials of Lynwood. We have declared our interest in community things by allowing the auxiliary of the Lynwood fire department as well as both the Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups to use our facilities for meetings.

We used our Church bus to help transport part of the first marching band ever to play in a Lynwood 4th of July parade and following the parade I was given the privilege of giving the prayer at the ceremony wherein the Village of Lynwood received a new American Flag. All of this is certainly to our advantage as we seek to become part of the locality in which God has placed us. Doors are constantly being opened to us as parents and families of Lynwood visit our facilities and service and become part of our Congregation. Naturally we do not seek to limit our Congregation to the locality of Lynwood alone, but with transportation being what it is...we do have a marvelous opportunity to reach out to a specific community in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. "God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform" and believe me, his "multitude of ways" is being opened to us constantly. Frankly, I can see a tremendous future unfolding for Bethany in the 1980's with great potential.

Internally God is blessing us with a wonderful spirit of love and concern. Our prayer chain; our sharing of blessings such as birthday and anniversaries; and our wonderful coffee fellowship following the morning service...which is not a luxury but a definite ministry in itself as it reaches and touches many people.

How grateful we are that even now God is calling our young Bethany people in His service in this decade as even now Neal Ooms trains for the ministry. Under the guidance of the Holy spirit we began the lay Pastoral Visitors program with 9 Divinely appointed people. I thank God for this program and pray that this too will expand in the coming years. And the tremendously committed staff carrying on the various Christian Education programs in our Church. There are so many wonderful internal blessings that I could go on and on in this area.

Finally, I would place before you some needs as I see and feel them. We need to continue to remain true to the Gospel and the proclamation of it. We also need to remain flexible in our programs and organizations in order to reach "todays generation and needs". What worked in years past may not work today and what is needed today may have never been done before. We need to be willing to "put ourselves out" for other people and their needs as we serve our Lord Jesus Christ. I can see an eventual need for a full time assistant to the Pastor whose main function will be to work in the area of marriage and family counseling. There must be new and additional programs in our Church for nurturing and training new Christians in spiritual growth and deeper commitment to the Church.

More than anything else we need to realize that lay people can and should minister to each other and thus get away from the feeling and attitude that the Pastor must do or a least be involved in everything relating to spiritual growth in the Church.

Yes, I can see many opportunities and challenge in the 1980's for Bethany. I would only pray that each member will see and feel....and respond to them. We need to enter the new decade with a positive attitude and an open heart and mind to the Holy spirit for I believe with all my heart God is saying unto Bethany what He said to the Church in Philadelphia as recorded in the Book of Revelation, "I know thy work; behold I have set before you and open door, and no man can shut it; for thou has a little strength and hast kept my work, and has not denied my name". With Christ as our Savior, with God as our strength and with the Holy spirit as our guide...let us go forth into the 1980's expecting great and wonderful things with and four our Lord. Amen