2004 - The Year in Review by Rev. Tony Carson

In looking back on the events of 2004, I realize how tremendously blessed we have been at CMT.  David said in Psalms 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  This overview of last year is not so we can pat ourselves on the back, but so we can be reminded of how good God is, and how He “daily loadeth us with benefits.”  Like David, we “bless the Lord” and give glory to Him for all He has done.

First of all, I want to thank God for the great revival spirit that we have had at CMT—the hunger for renewal, the longing for lost souls to be found, the desire to be used of God, and the love for one another that has been manifested in so many ways.  God has truly honored and given us the desires of our hearts.  Thank God for 69 precious souls baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus, and 51 who received the gift of the Holy Ghost in 2004!

We also praise God for the tremendous growth numerically in our church.  Our Sunday School grew 31% -- from an average of 158 in 2003 to an average of 207 in 2004.

In 2004, God blessed us with a full-time Youth Pastor -- Rev. Richard Faulkner, his wife, Sis. Trish, and their children, Kaci and Justin.  They have been such a wonderful blessing to CMT.  Since their addition to the ministerial staff, our number of young people has exploded!  They have been much more than just Youth Pastor; they have just pitched in and ministered in any area we needed them.  God bless you Bro. & Sis. Faulkner!

We were also privileged to have a Spanish Ministry started at CMT in 2004.  Our Spanish Pastor is Rev. Pedro Gracia.  The Hispanic services are totally in Spanish and are on every Tuesday night at 7:00 and every Sunday afternoon at 2:00.  The congregation of our Hispanic brothers and sisters has grown from a handful to over 40!  Just recently, 3 were baptized in the lovely name of Jesus.  With a population of several thousand Hispanics in Lafayette, we feel this ministry is a great blessing to our community and our church.

A new converts class was also introduced to CMT last year called “Victorious Living”.  Our Home Bible Studies director, Bro. Barry Partridge, has done a tremendous job overseeing this ministry.  It consists of 16 lessons taught every other Saturday night by a variety of teachers from CMT.  We are looking forward to our first graduates receiving their certificates in May of 2005.

Time would not permit mentioning all the blessings God has given to CMT this past year, but to God be all the Glory!!  The Bible says, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”  However, God expects us to do our part as “laborers together with God”.  Therefore, I would like to say how much I appreciate all the wonderful laborers that God has sent us at CMT.  Let us continue to work with God to see even a greater manifestation of His presence in 2005.  If we will do what we can do, God will do what we can not do.