The first Millennium was marked by the final flourishing and then destruction of the mighty Roman Empire, Europe descending into a period known as the Dark Ages.  Through the gloom the followers of Jesus Christ pressing ever onwards and outwards in their spreading of the gospel, though many became more bound in dead religion than a living daily faith. 

The second millennium saw a global seeking after wisdom, power and enlightenment.  Seeing an acceleration in population numbers, knowledge and tragically the means and willingness to carry on warfare to an unparalleled degree.   The last century seeing a dominance in the belief in progress.  Many Millions being carried along with popularist presentations of evolution and political theories that promised a 'hope', without need for God.  These experiments crashing down in world war and national upheavals.  Through these years the numbers of Born Again believers quietly soared to the highest numbers ever in history, the Holy Spirit being restored as a element in personal faith.

As we together face the 3rd millennium and the expected return of Jesus grows ever closer what kind of individuals, what kind of Church are we to be? The Lord laid this verse very strongly on my heart as a rallying passage to take EPPING FOREST ELIM CHURCH into this new Millennium.  "From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing.  I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; and they will not bedisdained."  Jeremiah. 30 v 19.

As Pastor I look forward to walking / sowing and harvesting with you in this New Year of promise.  On my own I can do very little, on your own neither can you!  But together with Christ as our lead "we can do all things!!"   Let us start this year as we mean to go on.

P.S. Listen out for the BAF project which we shall be sharing this month.!

P.P.S. - Have you been Baptised ? Please ask for more details from Pastor or deacons.