More than once, we have commented that the last 10 years or so have been a "wild ride" for the people of God.

There has been trauma, stress, spiritual battles and ups and downs aplenty for those determined to hold fast to true doctrine, righteous behavior and the historic focus of our efforts within the Church of God.

Back in the spring of 1998, looking at it through human eyes (often a danger, admittedly), I personally wouldn't have given you a nickel for the chances that the financial situation of the UCGIA would have been as stable and solid as it is now, at the beginning of 2007.

Only a fool would do other than give God the Father and Jesus Christ all credit and praise for showing us mercy in giving us a fresh start in fulfilling the age-old and eternally new mission of the Church: preach the gospel and prepare a people.

For 10 years, a lot of foundation building has been going on in the United Church of God. A strong foundation of doctrine, of stable local congregations, of a faithful ministry, of literature, of a media infrastructure, of a financial base and of training and education has been built—with credit and thanks again going to God.

In one way or another, multiple thousands of faithful members of the Church have allowed themselves to be used by God in laying this strong foundation on the earth—and we have endeavored to make it a reflection of the eternal, strong and stable foundation that has already been prepared: "The apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).

I personally believe that this foundational work of the United Church of God is nearing completion. I further believe that we must now finish it in whatever ways God leads us, so that we will have done our part to be in a position to accommodate and receive the growth that God may choose to give.

None of us has a guarantee of dramatic growth in things we can see with our eyes: new converts, baptisms, financial income, etc. But we have been used to build many aspects of a foundation on which a superstructure of growth in the doing of God's work can be built.

We must now, I believe, evaluate whether the foundations built up to this point are adequate, as best we can foresee, to accommodate the growth that God may be beginning to give us. Perhaps it is now time for us to "think big"—at least bigger than we have to date. In that regard, it is up to us to remain faithful to our calling, to patiently continue in the work we have before us and to look to God. Because it is He, and He only, who "gives the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:7). UN