Dear Santa,
I’m sure the North Pole is running full throttle right now! Reindeer stretching, elves sprinting, sleigh humming. So, I won’t keep you long because I know you have lots of responsibilities.
2025 was such a great year at Northside! We were able to bless LOTS of marriages in our January marriage seminar. The launch of Know Your Bible 2.0 was epic and we are already reaching so many new people. And we focused more on glorifying God, both collectively as a church family and personally in EVERY area of our lives. You really outdid yourself and over-delivered on my 2025 list. Thank you for that!
As I have done for the past ten years, I want to get our list in for some BIG things we’re asking for as a church in 2026. We have a few things on our hearts for the coming year, and since you’re known for checking lists twice, maybe you’ll take a look at ours.
- Know Your Bible Workers: This year, we’re praying for a church full of people who aren’t shy about sharing their faith in Jesus. We have the mission. We have several new tools. What we need are everyday disciples stepping forward with courage and compassion to grade lessons, share online with seekers, walk with new believers, and share the gospel deep in our community. We anticipate reaching more souls than ever, so we need willing hands and willing hearts to share.
- Better Stewardship: We want to be a people who handle God’s blessings with wisdom, humility, and purpose. Not wasteful. Not distracted. Not careless. Just faithful. We want to use our time, treasure, opportunities, resources, and influence in ways that honor Christ and bless people. Many are stressed financially, so we’re hosting a Faith, Finance, and Freedom Seminar January 31 with Kent Hartman. We’d like to help lots of people inside and outside the church. We want to teach them God’s and Grandma’s common, biblical sense for handling their money. Please bring us lots of people so we can help them be better stewards of God’s blessings.
- Upward Growth: We’re praying for real, deep, transformative growth that lifts us closer to Christ. Not a quick burst, but steady, upward, spiritual momentum. We want a congregation that matures in the Word, deepens in love, and strengthens in unity. Individually and collectively, we’re pressing toward the goal, and pursuing the upward call of God with everything we’ve got. If you could deliver anything this year, it would be a church full of people growing closer both to God and to each other.
I realize that’s a lot to get into your sleigh, but you’ve always found a way over the years. We are making big prayers, taking bold steps, and looking with eyes upward and forward.
Tell Rudolph we appreciate his light. We’re letting ours shine, too.
-Toby