Brothers and Sisters,
One of the questions I’ve heard recently is, “Why aren’t we meeting every Sunday night?” That’s a great question, and I want to take a moment to share the heart behind this change.
In 2024, our Sunday nights were filled with a variety of focuses—work nights, outreach, birthday & anniversary celebrations, and meetings. While these were valuable, we recognized that our people needed a break. Our church is filled with faithful servants who pour into ministry week after week, and constantly filling the calendar can lead to burnout rather than spiritual growth.
That’s why, starting in 2025, we made a shift. Sunday nights are still active, but in a different way.
We now have:
- Team meetings: Leadership, finance, business meetings…
- Fellowship 101 every other month for new and prospective members
- One big churchwide fellowship every month
But here’s what we’re encouraging on the nights we don’t meet at the church: Use this time intentionally. Invite people from your Sunday School class over for a meal. Open your home to fellowship, go out to eat with a church member. Spend quality time with your family. Rest so you can serve well throughout the week.
Imagine two lumberjacks who arrive at a forest to cut down trees. The first man immediately starts swinging his ax, working up a sweat. He glances over and sees the second man sitting there sharpening his ax. Frustrated, he thinks, When is this guy going to get started? I’m already working hard!
But as time passes, the first man grows more and more exhausted. His ax is dull, and every swing takes more and more effort. Meanwhile, the second man, with his sharpened ax, begins cutting trees more efficiently and effectively. By the end of the day, he has accomplished far more with less strain.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 says:
If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
We don’t want to swing a dull ax in ministry. The time spent resting, investing in relationships, and sharpening our hearts will make us more effective for the long haul. If we never pause to be refreshed, we’ll eventually wear ourselves out.
So if you’re wondering what to do with your Sunday nights, I encourage you to use them well. Ministry doesn’t just happen in the church building it happens around dinner tables, on living room couches, and in everyday moments of life.
God is doing great things at Fellowship Baptist Church.
In Christ,
Travis Smith
Servant of Jesus Christ
Lead Pastor, Fellowship Baptist Churc
