2023 was an amazing year at Rolling Hills and personally – praise God! So many amazing things our God did for His glory. I feel so blessed and grateful to be on this journey with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is so good, and all the praise and adoration is due to Him alone.
As I reflect back on the year, here are my Top Ten Highlights from 2023. Hopefully, this will inspire you to make a list and look back on what God has done in your own life.
1. Celebrating 20 years as a church at the Ryman Auditorium.
Wow! This was awesome on so many levels. Yes – having two amazing worship services at the “Mother Church” in downtown Nashville was epic, but even more thinking back to having 15 people in an apartment clubhouse and seeing what all God has done. Celebrating my Savior with all our church family and friends was incredibly special. Only God!
2. NEXT Capital Campaign for the NEXT 20 years Double Wow! I’m still in awe at what our God did with our NEXT Capital Campaign. To see the investment and generosity of His people across all our campuses. It was truly a church-wide effort. As we studied the book of Nehemiah, we realized we now have the opportunity to build God’s Church to impact generations for His glory. I love God and His Church. $13.4 million! I’m so still in awe and forever grateful. I can’t wait for the NEXT 20 years to see what God will do!
3. Grand Opening of Nolensville Campus This is truly a miracle story. I can’t believe that 4 years ago we were meeting in a school in Nolensville and literally had no place to go. Then, this year, we opened a brand new beautiful building in downtown Nolensville on 10 acres of prime real estate. Only God! Great job to Pastor Jason, David Curtis and the entire Nolensville team. I am so excited to watch this campus grow!
4. Grand Opening of Columbia Campus This is a big answer to prayer. We have felt called to Columbia for some time. We met in a school for two years, and then God opened the door to buy a former church. It is fantastic and will serve as our permanent home in Columbia as we reach the city for Christ. Great job to Pastor T and the entire Columbia team. Let’s go!
5. Being back in Moldova It has been 3 years since I was physically in Moldova. For the prior 18 years, I had been in Moldova every year and sometimes multiple times. Due to Covid and then a war with Ukraine, I could not go. After a lot of Zoom meetings, it was so incredible to be back with our staff, precious orphan and vulnerable children and people I love in the Lord. Our God and our Justice & Mercy Staff Team are doing a mighty work with thousands in need! So thankful!
6. Serving with my Family in the Amazon I have been serving with JMI in the Amazon for many years, but the last two years have been extra special as I have been able to go on mission trips there with my family. It is awesome to see your kids serve. To watch them lead, pray, love and give of their hearts to help others is special. I love my family, and I love serving God with them at church and in the world.
7. Finishing For The Kingdom Four years ago we launched a Capital Campaign called “For the Kingdom.” By God’s grace, we have literally seen God accomplish all we prayed for and even more. We didn’t know how much money we needed to raise (we never do), but we put our best in God’s hands and He did it (just like the miracle of the fish and the loaves). New Student Ministry area in Franklin, new permanent church home in Nashville and Nolensville, new parking lot and road in Franklin. Thankful!
8. Easter Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection is a highlight every year, but especially this year. Coming through Covid and the uncertainty following, this year Easter felt like we were fully back. Our God is greater! Easter shows us that nothing is impossible with God. He will carry us through any challenges or struggles we will ever face. Jesus is Greater! And, Easter proves it.
9. An Evening with JMI One of the highlights every year for me is when we bring our international staff in for the An Evening with JMI “Gala.” Having been through a global pandemic and living through a war, our international staff teams have been through extremely challenging times. This year was such a celebration of God bringing us through, but also the increase of ministry in difficult times. Ministering to Ukrainian refugees and serving in some of the toughest places, our God is faithful. And, Tudor (if you were there, you heard it) and so many others show it. Thank God for His protection and provision.
10. Christmas Eve Services
Let’s end the year with a Wow! To start the year at the Ryman and then to close with the most people we have ever had at Rolling Hills is amazing. Christmas Eve was special. The worship, candles, TV special, multiple overflows and many lives impacted for Christ Jesus. It was such a beautiful and intimate time to worship Jesus at Christmas, to be with family and to celebrate how our Savior is still changing lives for His glory today. Thank You, Jesus!
Bonus: This year I finished writing two new books that will both launch in 2024. One book, The Business of Ministry, is with Moody Publishing and will launch on January 2, 2024. And, the other book, Finding the Extra in Ordinary, is with Tyndale Publishing and will launch on February 6, 2024. Praying our God will use these books to help many churches and individuals grow in their faith and service to our Lord God Almighty. So thankful.
I hope you’ve had a great year! Regardless of how the year has gone, just know that God is with you. He loves you with an everlasting love. And, there is always a new beginning. 2024 is just a few days away. New Year and New You. Let’s thank God for what He has done, and look forward with great expectation at what our God will do NEXT. Here we come, 2024! Blessings!