Vitality.  It’s a word that brings to my mind fullness of health, strength and energy. I would like that to describe my family life, the work I do, and certainly my spiritual life and commitment. I am certain our church family seeks to be full of vitality that blesses our neighbors and community.  Pastor Ryan has encouraged our church community to embark on a process to ensure that we nurture a culture of faith at Bethany that is healthy and mission-minded.  The Vitality Pathway of the Covenant Church was created for this purpose.  A group of eleven Bethany members have committed to come together over the next several months to follow this pathway.  This group encompasses both new members and those who have spent a lifetime worshiping at Bethany.  When we gather together we tune our ears to hear the Spirit, and move forward in expectation that the Lord will lead us through a process of prayer, reflection, and worship. Each month, the team meets as a whole group to discuss the work of smaller subgroups. Each smaller sub-committee is charged with a specific focus such as exploring what Biblical story reflects the long history of our church family, and considering the needs and opportunities for care and ministry. Recently, the group met to review a first draft of a guiding set of Biblical commitments, a “Relational Covenant” that guides and reminds us of how we are to love and treat one another as fellow believers. We’re excited to share this with you at the upcoming Sunday school class on May 15th.  Another group met recently to explore what Biblical story would help us see our present journey more clearly. Another special subgroup came together to tell the stories of Bethany’s long history. These are the steps along the Vitality Pathway to discern and discover His call for us at this time. There is more to come.

Bethany Covenant is growing. We’ve experienced transitions. God is on the move! When Pastor Chad left for his call to California, his last sermon poignantly reminded me of the Vitality Pathway: take an honest look in the mirror and ask in faith where, and to whom, Jesus is leading us to love in His name. The Vitality Pathway, and the ministry team appointed to this process humbly seeks to do just that.

Join us by praying for this team and that Bethany would be an increasingly healthy, mission-minded family of believers. That’s vitality.

– Bill Cheney | Chair of Vitality Team