By far, the fastest growing area in our church is our Next Generation Ministry. It has been incredible to see how God has grown these groups over the last 12 months and we believe that it is time, Here and Now, to take the existing Preschool Rooms and upgrade them to better facilitate the care environment for these kids. Each week, our Leaders take such amazing care of these children and point them to Jesus. By upgrading these environments, we feel as though our Leaders can do an even better job and be better equipped to serve the Next Generation in our Preschool Ministry.

One of the areas that many churches have found themselves lacking in since the COVID-19 pandemic is international missions. Due to travel restrains, health concerns, and just the difficulties of traveling between countries, there as been so much regression in many churches’ ability to send international mission teams abroad. Thankfully, God has been good to us here at Vaughn Forest Church and we have been able to send multiple teams to several countries over the lst few years. One of our biggest areas of impact has been in Ensenada, Mexico, where teams (including entire families from our church have been able to go in, build a home for an impoverished family, and share the gospel with them…and subsequently seeing many accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior This trip to Ensenada is a great first-time mission trip for someone, and one that is also wonderful for folks who are interesting in bringing their family to the mission field. We believe that Here and Now Gid os calling us to escalate our involvement in this mission opportunity and be even more effective at bringing the gospel to the nations.

Practically speaking, almost everything that we do to reach our community, area, and ends of the earth starts on campus at Vaughn Forest Church, but by no means does it stay on our campus. Each week, we have hundreds and thousands who join us online for our worship services, both here locally, across the United States, and even in other countries. We know of several house churches in nationas that are hostile to the Gospel of Jesu Christ that utilize our weekly worship gatherings as their weekly service. This is an incredible door that God has opened for us to serve other believers as well as reach the lost in parts of the world that only a few yers ago would have not been possible! With that said, we know that there are some upgrades that need to be made and we believe that Here and Now is the time for those upgrades. Very practically, there are a few technological pieces of equipment used for production and online streaming that will make our online presence and on campus presence significantly better. Our team has done an incredible job with what we have and the people of Vaughn Forest have been so generous whenever there is a need, and now we have the opportunity to take this ministry to a higher level.

One of the most exciting things happening in our community right now is the growth of new families moving into the Pike Road/East Montgomery area. According to state demographics, the city of Pike Road was one of the fastest growing communities in all of Alabama in 2023. That is incredible! God has given us an amazing opportunity by bringing so many families within reach of our church.

The people of Vaughn Forest have already been so faithful to serve our community with no strings attached with the simple goal of loving them as Jesus would have us. Service opportunities at all of the Pike Road Schools and several Montgomery Schools have allowed us to impact the next generation with the gospel of Jesus; while serving at community events, helping with needs, and praying for our neighbors has shown these families the love of Christ.

With all that said, and with so much to be grateful for, there are still so many families we want to reach! We believe that Here and Now we can privde the resources needed to continue to serve our community in Montgomery and Pike Road and allow us to reach further will the new families who have moved into our area with the gospel. We want to accelerate and ramp up our ability to shine the light of Jesus in our Community! We also have an amazing opportunity with our partner ministry, Reality and Truth, to help them as they serve those less fortunate in the Downtown Montgomery area. There are a few practical needs that we can help them with such as appliances, landscaping building materials, and more. We believe that Here and Now, we can continue to be and help them to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those impoverished in our community.

In the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, militants with the terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise, multi-pronged assault on Israel. As Israel has responded and things have escalated into all-out war, thousands are dead and injured on both sides. An estimated 200,000 people in Israel and 1.4 million people in Gaza are also reportedly displaced by the war, while the movement of aid is difficult throughout the region. We as a church unapologetically and steadfastly stand wit hthe nation of Israel and their legitimate claim to the land they inhabit, however this does not mean that we turn a blind eye to the suffering that exists on both sides of this conflict. We believe that Here and Now, we have an opportunity to Partner with Send Relief (a collaboration between the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board) to help those who have been affected by these actions of war, provide aid to the victims and bring the Gospel Message of hope in Jesus to this conflict.