Grace and peace to the congregation and friends of the First Baptist Church in Payette (FBCP). As Interim Pastor, it is my pleasure to provide you with some of our recent activities, and to share some thoughts on how we may make changes to our practices as we move forward.
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Two of my duties as stated in the Congregation-Interim Pastor Covenant are (1) evaluate the state of FBCP, and (2) identify what “could and should happen in the future” of FBCP. Regarding the first, I believe the congregation of FBCP is comprised of mature believers who are warm and welcoming. They are aware of the need to plan for the future, especially with regards to attracting a younger generation to sustain FBCP into the future. This second duty is addressed in the following discussion. The Diaconate voted to form a Strategic Planning Committee of seven individuals. I envision this committee to be comprised of myself along with pairs of individuals from the Diaconate, the Board of Trustees and the congregation’s general population. Each of these pairs will be comprised of one man and one woman, with one being a member of FBCP for over ten years and one for less than ten years. The committee will be tasked with developing a three-year Strategic Plan that will address suggested actions leading FBCP into a vibrant future wherein various age groups will be represented. No doubt some of our preferences may be adjusted to accommodate