2024 has been a record setting year for me in multiple ways, including publishing ministry materials and growing ministry results.
Faith
I remember starting the year by selecting (or perhaps by having the word select me) “faith” as my star word to guide me throughout the year (see Faith: My Star Word for 2024).
In 2024, faith
- guided me vocationally as I serve as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope (since June 2021) and as part-time Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (since June 2024)
- inspired me to volunteer to support causes I care about including as a Life Group leader for Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ (since 2022) and on the Board of Directors of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ (since 2024), Texas Association of Charitable Clinics (since 2020), and Forest Hills Homeowners Association (since 2024).
- nudged me to explore growth opportunities, including becoming a a Preaching Justice Fellow (2024-2025 academic year) and completing interim ministry training through Interim Ministry Network (completed in early 2024).
Faith also led me to continue the ministries of blogging, preaching and feeding.
Blogging
I blogged every day for 1,000 consecutive days here at SoWhatFaith.com from 2011-2013 (established 2009). In recent years I have been blogging about once a week. This year, however, I published more posts (87 posts or about 1.7 posts a week) than any year since 2015.
Preaching
I preached 50 or more times a year in multiple roles in the 2000s and in the first half of the 2010s. Then, I preached less than ten times a year each year from 2016 through 2023. This year, however, I preached more sermons (36, including 28 at Advent Lutheran Church) than any year since 2015. (Most of those messages can be viewed on the Sermons page.)
Feeding
Over the years I’ve been affiliated with multiple ministries that address food insecurity. Since 2017, I have been more directly involved in leading such efforts by serving faith-based non-profits that seek to provide holistic approaches to ensuring folks have access to basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter) and to longer term opportunities. This year, White Rock Center of Hope provided ~750,000 pounds of food to food insecure neighbors in East Dallas. This record setting number shattered the prior record set one year earlier by 69%.
So What?
I’m thankful for the many ministry opportunities mentioned in this post and for countless others that are not easily categorized. I’m grateful to be surrounded by incredible ministry supporters that come in many forms, including volunteers, staff, donors, and those who uphold the work in prayer.
I’m excited about 2025!
And, I’m looking forward to receiving a star word for 2025 this Sunday as part of Advent Lutheran Church’s celebration of Epiphany.