Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!  In 2021, God is calling us to focus on the theme:  Kingdom Living (Matthew 6:33). 

The start of the new year opens the door for every believer, both individually as Kingdom citizens and collectively as a church body, to reset our focus. Now, more than ever, it is important for every EBC disciple to focus on two things: 1) A proactive approach in seeking the Kingdom of God, and 2) The pursuit of God's Righteousness.  In 2021, we must walk and live as Kingdom citizens focused on seeking and pursuing God.

In doing so, we must practice spiritual disciplines, which are those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth.  Spiritual disciplines or spiritual practices are the habits of devotion, and experiential Christianity practiced by God's people since biblical times. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to focus on the spiritual disciplines of:

●      Worship -- Make time to attend or watch every EBC worship service, either online or in-person once regular onsite services resume.

●      Bible reading -- Read your Bible daily.

●      Prayer -- Schedule time to pray every day, including different times throughout the day.

●      Evangelism -- Create a plan that helps you regularly share your testimony with others, or allows you to share Scriptures for the purpose of leading souls to Christ.

●      Giving -- Develop a disciplined approach of giving your money, through tithes, offerings, and sacrificial offerings, for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.

●      Serving -- Be intentional in how you consistently serve in God's Kingdom to meet the needs of the church or His people.

●      Fasting -- Create a plan in 2021 of how you will incorporate weekly fasting into your life.  

As part of our focus on Kingdom Living in 2021, we will:

1. Fast every Wednesday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Each disciple will select their own type of weekly fast. We will observe weekly fasting for 52 weeks.
2. Pray every Saturday from 7 until 7:15 a.m. on the EBC Prayer Line.   Also, we will have prayer every Sunday from 8:30 until 9 a.m. on the Prayer Line. We're asking everyone to dial into the prayer line on both days. 
3. Regularly attend worship services -- either online or in-person.  We also ask that you regularly invite others to join our services online, or onsite when we return to our in-person worship services. 

God has rescued every believer from the kingdom of darkness (Col 1:13).  In doing so, God never intended His followers to be ruled by the kingdom of the world.  Instead, God wants every believer to pursue His Kingdom and righteousness for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).  This means seeking and pursuing God through spiritual discipline.  It means making God a priority in 2021, not a pastime. God doesn't want our leftovers after we satisfy our other commitments.  God wants us to delight ourselves in Him (Psalm 37:4). 

By strengthening our walk with God, I believe we can be more effective in leading others to Christ.  In 2021, my prayer is that our eyes will be opened to lost souls, empty stomachs, and anyone in need of God's love and grace.

If you're looking to live your best life in 2021, I encourage you to embrace Kingdom Living.  

Amazed by His Grace,

Dr. T. L. Carmichael, Sr.