Greetings Bishop Craig, Val, Bryan and Doug!

I hope you're all having as wonderful a time in ministry as I am right now. Since you all have an interest in what is happening at Hershey, I just had to give each of you an update regarding our just concluded series using the "What's It All About?" materials.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. I don't like teaching/preaching on money and stewardship. And quite honestly, I was nervous about using "home grown" denominational material. But we decided to go for it and all I can say is, I am in awe of God! What an amazing time in Christ! We are just praising God for all that He is doing. We began the series on January 8 and concluded yesterday, the 29th. We had 58 people using the daily devotionals. People have been commenting on how the Sunday messages (and I used most of them "as is" with some contextualizing) have been used in their personal lives.

On the 22nd, the week on "It's About Provision", I had a strong sense that God wanted us to have an altar call, (something I'm not really into and that we haven't done in a long time). I also sensed that He wanted me to pray asking Him to send us new people who needed to hear that particular Sunday's message. So I prayed. Wow! What a week! We had 3 new families who attended just "out of the blue." In fact, when God laid the idea for the altar call and prayer on my heart it was Thursday. That same evening Mark (who is a believer) was in our church waiting to pick up his son from a community function. He came into our sanctuary and just sat in the dark and thought how beautiful our sanctuary was and how peaceful he felt being there. He commented on Sunday, "I just felt God calling us to be here today." And his family also invited a friend who is struggling with a recent divorce. Mark and his wife Karen told us they have "found a new church". Wait, it gets better.

The other family are my neighbors whom we have been praying for for over a year. They don't have a church home. At our invite, they came to our Christmas Eve service and we weren't sure what they thought and hadn't had much contact with them. 2 weeks later, they called asking what time services were held. So now, I'm really nervous about our neighbors attending during a series on money and stewardship! Well, they didn't show up that week, but they did on the 22nd! During the altar call, we had 14 people come forward for prayer asking God to provide for a need in their lives...and in the 14 were this new couple and our neighbor! Praise God! (Our neighbors are now going to be regular attenders and are participating in our small group meeting in our home). But God isn't finished yet.

Yesterday, I added 1 King's 17 to the message. As a response to that, we asked the congregation to fill out tithing commitment cards for 2006. The response was overwhelming! Our Leadership Team had developed a 2006 budget which was about $467.00 per week more than our average giving for 2005. From 2 different requests, one a letter and one as a response to the series yesterday, we have commitments of increased weekly giving of $1,316.00! This is over and above what people had given in 2005. The congregation willingly adopted the new budget yesterday. We also added 13 new giving units...people who either have been attending for a while and had never given, or new families committing to give. For a church of 100, this is amazing. I'm just awestruck about what God is doing. I'm so thankful for all of your help and your prayers in many areas. And thanks too for the great materials! They are extremely well done, and I praise God for them. 

Well, now that I've sufficiently gushed and testified, I pray that all of you will realize just how important your ministries are to us small churches and to our communities. With your help and support, and the work of the Spirit, I am convinced that the greater Hershey area will see profound impact and experience great joy (Acts 8:8) through Hershey BIC!

Blessings on you all,
Doug Miller