Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we continue our journey of faith together, I am grateful to all members who have been supportive of my ministry in the English Cong’. The year has passed quickly and it has been most pleasing to see committed Christians supporting their local church, in spite of all that conspires to take us elsewhere on a Sunday morning. Without you, the member, my ministry would be quite empty, so once again thank you.

2010 is a year in which we should be preparing for our future as a fellowship, as next year, our church building reaches its centenary. In fact, the building was dedicated in the month of May 1911, so May is our official birthday. Like the Queen though, we can have more than one birthday and I pray that we will make the most of the opportunity that comes our way next year and hold a number of events to celebrate.

Planning for the future is actually something that God wants us to do. He knows what lies ahead for us as a fellowship and as individual Christians. “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord in Jeremiah 29:11, “They are plans of good ... to give you a future and hope”. That seems a good reason to plan ahead. To give us a future and hope.

In this changing world where being a Christian is something unique rather than the ‘norm’, I think it is most important that we understand what our hope is and that to get to that confident knowledge of hope, we need to prepare and plan the way ahead. On a practical level, I know we are trying to modernise our facilities and this must be a good thing, but if we follow it up and plan our spiritual lives as well so we maintain a witness in Whitland. I believe we need to look at ways to increase our membership in 2010 so we are more confident in our centenary year and all of us have a part to play in this respect.

We should not worry about last year because it has gone and there is nothing we can do to change it. We should however, consider what God wants from us this year and plan accordingly and I believe He wants us to get ready to celebrate. And we get ready by planning to have more people on our role, reaching out to the wider community and open our doors more often as a place of worship and prayer.

The challenge for 2010 then is laid out. I pray that all of you will take part and that the Church Meeting will consider the practical things we can do. Then we can be ready for the future and remain as a confident fellowship. “For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "they are plans of good, to give you a future and hope."

May God bless you and those you love as we plan for the future.

Revd Martin Spain BA Ed (Hons), FCMI; MIfL.