Ministry Annual Report for 2007
ABWE
Name: BILL AND SUE SPOELHOF
Field:
Give a one or two sentence summary of your ministry assignment.
We are involved in a
church planting ministry in the city of
What special blessings and
highlights did you experience in ministry during the past year?
1. People we have seen
come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and
helping them with spiritual growth in their lives; receiving fourteen
new members into church during this year.
2. More college age young
people coming out for services.
3. Monthly themes and
events have been a used to encourage people to invite family and
friends especially for special activities at which the Gospel is
presented.
4. The Sunday bulletin and
weekly internet devotional thought with prayer requests and
announcements sent to members with internet access help us keep in
touch with our people during the week.
5. Gifts that has come in
for the church building program.
What difficulties did you encounter in the ministry during the past year?
1. Taking a giant step of
faith in fund raising to purchase a building for the church. We praise
God for funds that have come in from our people here and churches and
individuals in the states. Because of
devaluation of the dollar (half the value of a couple years ago) we
still have a long way to go.
2. Growth has been limited
because of space. After looking at several places to move which
provided more space, we decided to stay where we were and have removed
two walls to double the worship area space.
3. Though it seems to be a
universal problem, commitment of our people to be faithful and
motivation for them to invite others out to services
4. Development of our
small group program has been difficult, finding evenings that folks are
willing to come out.
List at least 5 key short range
ministry goals for the past year and rate your progress for each
(A=accomplished, S=some progress, N=no progress, D=dropped). Comment
about factors that contributed to progress for each goal, or identify
reasons why no progress was made or the goal was dropped.
1. Continue to raise funds for buying a
building. = S
Comments: There have been fund
raising campaigns in the church here as well as gifts given by
individuals and churches in the states. We have just over $40,000 of
our goal, but there are concerns because of the weak dollar. We
continue to be dependent on God to supply what we need in His time.
2. Continue to search for someone to lead
the teen program. = N
Comments: The kids in our youth
group continue to thrive under our leadership, but we will continue to
look for someone younger to handle the program.
3. Begin monthly Family Encounter groups
in different homes. = D
Comments: Because the initiator of
the program didn’t follow through, weak turnout for the encounters we
had, and lack of people willing to open their homes, this program ended
up discontinuing.
4. Try new ways of outreach for
evangelism and establishing presence in the community. = S
Comments: We have found the
location of the church to a much more visible avenue has been a help.
Without seeking, we have had several university students coming out for
services, as well as families with children treated in a nearby
hospital. Different types of outreach continue such as evangelistic
outreach in the park in August and Friends Day, but getting folks to
invite people to come to church with them continues to be weak.
List four or five short range
goals for the coming year:
1. Continue to raise funds
for buying a building.
2. Continue to search for
someone to lead the teen program.
3. Continue to give more
emphasis to evangelism and establishing presence in the community.
4. Initiate a new
visitation program.
Signature: Bill & Sue Spoelhof Date: December 10, 2007
Website: http://spoelhof.dutchgirl.net/