Raising the Bar: 21 Day Spiritual journey

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." - Psalm 77:11

As we begin this 21-day journey together, we start by remembering. For over 40 years, Watts Bar Community Church has been a beacon of hope in our community. Through seasons of growth and challenge, God's faithfulness has never wavered.

When the psalmist felt overwhelmed, he chose to remember God's mighty works. Today, we do the same. We remember the countless lives changed, families restored, and hearts healed within these walls. We remember the faithful volunteers who have served, the generous hearts that have given, and the prayers that have been answered.

God's track record is perfect. His love for Watts Bar Community Church is unwavering. As we embark on "Raising the Bar," we do so with confidence—not in our own abilities, but in the One who has carried us this far and will carry us forward.

Prayer Focus: Thank God for 40+ years of faithful ministry at WBCC. Ask Him to help you remember His goodness as you consider His call on your life during this campaign.

"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task." - 1 Timothy 3:1

Leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility. Today we lift up Pastor Kelly and our entire church staff in prayer. Leading God's people requires wisdom beyond human understanding, strength beyond personal capacity, and love beyond natural ability.

Paul reminds us that church leadership is "a noble task"—one that deserves our respect, support, and fervent prayer. Our leaders carry burdens we may never see, make decisions that affect our entire church family, and shepherd hearts through life's most difficult seasons.

During this campaign season, our leaders need our prayers more than ever. They're casting vision, making critical decisions, and trusting God for direction that will impact generations. Let's surround them with prayer and encouragement.

Prayer Focus: Pray specifically for Pastor Kelly, church staff, and ministry leaders. Ask God to give them wisdom, strength, and clear direction during this campaign.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" - Matthew 19:14

Children hold a special place in Jesus' heart—and they should in ours too. Today we pray for the next generation at Watts Bar Community Church: our children and youth who will carry the torch of faith long after we're gone.

Every child who walks through our doors is a treasure, a future leader, a world-changer in training. Our children's and youth ministries are more than programs—they're investment in eternity. When we provide safe spaces, excellent teaching, and loving mentors, we're following Jesus' example of welcoming children.

The facilities we're praying about aren't just buildings—they're launching pads for the next generation of Christ-followers. Every dollar invested in children's ministry multiplies exponentially through the lives they'll touch in decades to come.

Prayer Focus: Pray for our children's and youth ministries. Ask God to bless our young people with strong faith foundations and for wisdom in creating excellent ministry environments.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

God specializes in making all things new. Today we pray for fresh perspective—new eyes to see the broken and hurting in our community, new hearts to love the unlovable, and new passion for reaching those who feel forgotten.

Sometimes we need God to shake up our comfortable routines and expand our vision. The campaign we're embarking on isn't just about buildings—it's about having the capacity to love more people, serve more families, and impact more lives.

Fresh perspective means asking: "God, who are we missing? What families in our community need what we have to offer? How can we better demonstrate Your love?" When we see through God's eyes, our hearts break for what breaks His.

Prayer Focus: Ask God to give you fresh eyes for the broken and hurting in our community. Pray for opportunities to show Christ's love in new ways.

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." - Mark 10:43

Behind every thriving church are faithful volunteers who embody Jesus' words about greatness through service. Today we celebrate and pray for every person who serves at Watts Bar Community Church—from greeters to teachers, from tech team to hospitality, from nursery workers to maintenance volunteers.

True greatness isn't measured by position or recognition—it's measured by a servant's heart. Our volunteers understand this truth. They arrive early and stay late. They prepare lessons, set up chairs, change diapers, and clean up messes. They serve with joy because they're serving Jesus through serving others.

These faithful servants are the heartbeat of our church. Without them, Sunday mornings wouldn't happen, children wouldn't learn, and guests wouldn't feel welcomed. Their reward isn't earthly recognition—it's the joy of partnering with God in His work.

Prayer Focus: Thank God for all who serve faithfully at WBCC. Pray for more volunteers to step forward and for God to bless those who give their time sacrificially.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14

Watts Bar Community Church isn't just IN the community—we ARE part of the community. Today we pray for Ten Mile and the surrounding areas that God has called us to serve and love.

Jesus calls us "the light of the world"—not the light of the church building. Our light is meant to shine into the darkness of our community, bringing hope to the hopeless, help to the hurting, and healing to the broken.

Every family struggling with addiction, every child facing uncertainty, every senior feeling isolated—they're all part of the community God has entrusted to our care. We're not here to judge or condemn but to love and serve, just as Jesus did.

The campaign we're praying about will give us greater capacity to be the light our community needs. More space means more opportunities to serve, love, and shine brightly for Jesus.

Prayer Focus: Pray for the Ten Mile area and surrounding communities. Ask God to show you specific ways to be His light in your neighborhood.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." - Psalm 100:4

As we conclude our first week of prayer, we enter God's presence with grateful hearts. Gratitude isn't just a nice gesture—it's a doorway into worship and a foundation for faith.

Looking back over this week, we've prayed for God's faithfulness, our leaders, the next generation, fresh perspective, volunteers, and our community. In each prayer, we find reasons for gratitude. God is already moving, already working, already blessing.

Gratitude changes our perspective. Instead of focusing on what we lack, we celebrate what we have. Instead of worrying about the future, we trust the God who has been so good in the past. Thanksgiving opens our hearts to receive even greater blessings.

Today, let your heart overflow with praise. Thank God for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love. Thank Him for Watts Bar Community Church and the privilege of being part of something bigger than ourselves.

Prayer Focus: Spend time in pure thanksgiving and praise. Thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to you personally and to our church family.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

Week two begins with vision—God's vision for our future. The same God who spoke these words to Israel speaks to us today. He has plans for Watts Bar Community Church that are bigger than we can imagine and better than we dare hope.

Vision isn't about human ambition or building empires—it's about aligning our dreams with God's purposes. When we pray for growth and expansion, we're not praying for success for success's sake. We're praying for the capacity to fulfill the Great Commission more effectively.

God's plans always involve hope and a future. The expansion we're praying about isn't just about more space—it's about more opportunities to give hope to the hopeless and a future to those who feel forgotten.

Trust God's vision even when you can't see the full picture. His plans are perfect, His timing is perfect, and His provision will be perfect.

Prayer Focus: Pray for God's vision to become clear regarding future growth and expansion. Ask Him to align our hearts with His plans for WBCC.

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." - Proverbs 16:9

Planning is important, but divine guidance is essential. Today we pray for our building committee and all the critical decisions ahead. Human wisdom can only take us so far—we need God's wisdom for the journey ahead.

Good stewardship requires careful planning. We study, research, and seek counsel from experts. But at the end of the day, we acknowledge that "the Lord establishes our steps." Every decision, every timeline, every dollar amount must be bathed in prayer and submitted to God's will.

Our building committee carries a weighty responsibility. They're not just planning buildings—they're planning for ministry impact that will extend for generations. They need wisdom that comes only from above.

Trust the process, but trust God more. He will guide every step if we continue to seek His will above our own.

Prayer Focus: Pray specifically for the building committee and all major decisions ahead. Ask God for wisdom, unity, and clear direction in every planning step.

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." - Romans 15:7

Every Sunday, families visit our church for the first time. Some come out of curiosity, others out of desperation. Some are looking for community, others for healing. All of them need to experience the love of Christ through us.

Welcoming isn't just about greeting at the door—it's about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels valued, accepted, and loved. It's about having facilities that say "we care" and programs that meet real needs.

The expansion we're praying about is ultimately about hospitality—making room for more families around God's table. When visitors feel welcomed, they're more likely to return. When they return, they have opportunities to encounter Jesus and find their church home.

Christ accepted us just as we were, and He calls us to do the same for others. Every family that visits is a divine appointment—an opportunity to demonstrate God's love.

Prayer Focus: Pray for visiting families who need a church home. Ask God to help us create a welcoming environment where everyone feels loved and accepted.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." - John 4:23

Worship is the heartbeat of our church. Every Sunday morning, we gather to celebrate the God who loves us, saves us, and transforms us. Today we pray for worship excellence—not for show, but for the glory of God.

True worship happens "in Spirit and in truth." It's authentic, heartfelt, and focused on God rather than performance. Excellence in worship means removing distractions so people can encounter God freely and deeply.

From our Sunday services to special events like Easter productions, we want every worship experience to create space for divine encounters. This requires excellent facilities, quality sound, and thoughtful preparation—all in service of helping people meet Jesus.

The expansion we're praying about will enhance our ability to worship with excellence. Better acoustics, more space, improved sight lines—all these serve the greater purpose of glorifying God and drawing people into His presence.

Prayer Focus: Pray for our Sunday services and special productions like Easter. Ask God to use our worship times to draw people into His presence.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Stewardship isn't about the church's need—it's about our joy. God doesn't need our money, but He invites us into the blessing of generous giving because He knows it transforms our hearts.

A "cheerful giver" isn't someone who gives without thought, but someone who gives with intention, prayer, and joy. They understand that everything belongs to God anyway, and they find delight in partnering with Him in Kingdom work.

During this campaign, we're not asking anyone to give reluctantly or under pressure. We're inviting everyone to seek God's heart about their participation. Some will give sacrificially, others will give modestly, and all will give according to what God places on their hearts.

The goal isn't to meet a number—it's to experience the joy that comes from obedient, cheerful giving. When we give with the right heart, everyone wins: the giver is blessed, the church is strengthened, and God is glorified.

Prayer Focus: Ask God to develop a generous heart within you. Pray for wisdom about your personal giving and stewardship during this campaign.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

Wise stewardship requires both faith and planning. Today we pray for God's financial provision as we pursue this project with minimal debt, trusting Him to supply what's needed while we make wise decisions about timing and resources.

Paul's confidence wasn't in human resources but in God's unlimited supply. "My God will meet all your needs"—not some needs, not most needs, but ALL needs. This includes wisdom about how to fund this expansion most effectively.

While we desire to minimize debt, we also want to be good stewards of timing and opportunity. Sometimes faithful stewardship means taking strategic steps that build momentum while trusting God for continued provision. The goal isn't perfection in financing—it's faithfulness in following God's leading.

We're praying for the vast majority of this project to be funded through generous giving, with minimal borrowing only if needed to begin the work God is calling us to do. His provision comes in many forms: generous hearts, wise planning, good timing, and strategic opportunities.

Prayer Focus: Pray for God's complete provision and wisdom about funding this project with minimal debt. Ask Him to provide generously while guiding wise stewardship decisions.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:3

Unity doesn't happen accidentally—it requires intentional effort. As we conclude week two, we pray for "one heart and mind together" as we navigate this campaign season and beyond.

Paul says to "make every effort" toward unity. This means choosing to assume the best about each other, speaking words that build up rather than tear down, and focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us.

Unity doesn't mean uniformity. We can have different opinions about methods, timing, or approach while maintaining unity of heart and purpose. The bond that holds us together isn't agreement on every detail—it's our shared love for Jesus and commitment to His mission.

During a capital campaign, unity is especially important. People may have different perspectives on priorities, amounts, or timing. But when we keep our eyes on Jesus and our hearts focused on His kingdom, we can move forward together in peace.

Prayer Focus: Pray for unity within our church family during this campaign season. Ask God to bind us together in love and common purpose.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Week three begins with gratitude for what God has already done in our building fund. Before we pray for future provision, we celebrate present blessings. Thankfulness opens our hearts to receive even greater things from God.

Paul doesn't say "give thanks FOR all circumstances" but "give thanks IN all circumstances." There's a difference. We don't thank God for every hardship, but we can find reasons to thank Him even in difficult seasons.

Looking at where we are in this campaign, we have countless reasons for gratitude. God has already moved in hearts, provided resources, and united us in purpose. Every gift received, every prayer offered, every heart stirred is a blessing worth celebrating.

Grateful hearts are generous hearts. When we truly appreciate what God has done, we're motivated to participate in what He wants to do. Thanksgiving fuels faith, and faith fuels action.

Prayer Focus: Thank God specifically for current building fund blessings. Celebrate what He has already provided and done in hearts.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

Personal participation in Kingdom work isn't just about giving money—it's about seeking God's kingdom first in every area of life. Today we pray for clarity about our individual role in this campaign and beyond.

When Jesus says to "seek first his kingdom," He's talking about priority and purpose. Kingdom seekers ask different questions: "How can I advance God's purposes? Where does He want me to invest? What role does He want me to play?"

Your participation in this campaign is between you and God. No one else can determine what seeking His kingdom first looks like in your life. Some will give financially, others will give time, still others will give prayers and encouragement. All contributions matter in God's kingdom.

The promise is beautiful: when we seek His kingdom first, "all these things will be given to you as well." God takes care of those who make His priorities their priorities.

Prayer Focus: Seek God's direction about your personal role and participation in the campaign. Ask Him to show you how to seek His kingdom first.

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." - Psalm 127:3

Children aren't just the future of the church—they're a present blessing and responsibility. Today we pray specifically for safe, secure learning spaces that will nurture young hearts and minds for generations to come.

The psalmist calls children "a heritage from the Lord"—a sacred trust placed in our care. When parents bring their children to church, they're entrusting us with their most precious treasures. We have the privilege and responsibility to create environments where children can encounter Jesus safely and joyfully.

Safe, secure learning spaces aren't luxuries—they're necessities. Children learn better when they feel secure. Parents engage more fully in worship when they're confident their children are well-cared-for. Excellent children's facilities demonstrate that we value the next generation.

Every classroom, every playground area, every child-friendly space is an investment in eternity. The children who learn and play in these spaces today will become tomorrow's leaders, parents, and world-changers.

Prayer Focus: Pray specifically for children's ministry facilities and programs. Ask God to help us create excellent, safe learning environments for the next generation.

"I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul understood that effective ministry requires meeting people where they are. Today we pray for community outreach opportunities—including the potential impact of a gymnasium and other neighborhood-focused ministries.

A gymnasium isn't just about recreation—it's about relationships. It's a place where the church can serve the community in practical ways: youth sports leagues, community events, exercise programs for seniors, disaster relief distribution, and countless other opportunities to demonstrate God's love.

Paul's heart was to "save some" by "all possible means." This doesn't mean compromising the gospel—it means being creative about how we share it. Sometimes the best sermon is a basketball league that shows kids they matter. Sometimes the most powerful witness is a community event that brings neighbors together.

When we think about outreach, we're thinking about incarnational ministry—becoming part of the neighborhood, not just located in it. We want to be known as the church that serves, loves, and cares for the community.

Prayer Focus: Pray for community outreach opportunities, including the potential impact of a gymnasium and other ways to serve our neighborhood.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." - Colossians 3:23

Excellence in ministry isn't about impressing people—it's about honoring God. Today we pray for growth that maintains authentic love while pursuing excellence in everything we do.

Paul reminds us that our ultimate audience is God Himself. When we pursue excellence "with all our heart," we're working for the Lord. This changes everything: our attitude, our effort, and our standard of quality.

Excellence and authenticity aren't opposites—they're partners. We can pursue the highest quality in our programs, facilities, and services while maintaining genuine, heartfelt love for people. In fact, love motivates excellence because we want to offer our best to those we serve.

As we grow, we want to maintain the heart that got us here while embracing the excellence that will take us forward. Big doesn't have to mean impersonal. Professional doesn't have to mean fake. We can raise the bar in quality while keeping the heart for people.

Prayer Focus: Pray for ministry excellence that grows from authentic love. Ask God to help us maintain heart while pursuing higher quality in all we do.

"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." - 2 Corinthians 8:2

Tomorrow is Commitment Sunday, and today we pray for campaign participation—specifically for 100 families to step forward in faith. The Macedonian churches teach us that generosity flows from joy, not abundance.

Paul marveled at these believers who gave out of "extreme poverty" with "overflowing joy." Their secret wasn't financial resources—it was spiritual richness. They understood that generosity is a privilege, not a burden.

The number 100 isn't arbitrary—it represents participation more than perfection. When 100 families commit to this campaign, it demonstrates unity, shared vision, and collective faith. Some commitments will be large, others modest, but all will be meaningful when given from hearts of joy.

Participation matters more than the size of the gift. A widow's commitment of $100 given sacrificially is as valuable as a businessman's commitment of $10,000 given generously. God sees the heart behind every gift.

As you pray about your participation, remember: this isn't about what the church needs from you—it's about what God wants to do through you. Let joy, not obligation, guide your decision.

Prayer Focus: Pray for 100 families to participate in the campaign with joyful, generous hearts. Include yourself in this prayer—what is God calling you to commit?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20

Today is our final day of preparation, and tomorrow we step into a faith adventure together. Paul's words remind us that God's ability far exceeds our imagination—and His power is already at work within us.

Twenty-one days ago, we began this journey asking God to prepare our hearts. Today, we celebrate what He has done during this time of prayer and preparation. Hearts have been stirred, vision has been clarified, and faith has been strengthened.

Tomorrow's commitments aren't the end of the story—they're the beginning of a new chapter. When we commit to God's vision, we're inviting Him to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." His track record proves He always exceeds expectations.

The power that will accomplish this vision isn't in bank accounts or building committees—it's "at work within us." God's power working through surrendered hearts always produces extraordinary results.

Get ready for God to do something amazing. The best is yet to come.

Prayer Focus: Thank God for these 21 days of preparation. Commit to tomorrow's faith adventure and ask God to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.