“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even
greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)

Excitingly, the Movement theme for 2023 is “The Year of Miracles!” Although Jesus walked on the earth for 33 years, the gospel writers
only accounted for just 35 days. In those 35 days, however, Jesus produced 37 miracles – more than one miracle per day! In Jesus’ ministry, “The blind [received] sight, the lame [walked], those who [had] leprosy [were] cleansed, the deaf [were able to] hear, the dead [were] raised, and the good news [was] proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5) Imagine the disciple’s surprise, then, when Jesus told them that they would do “even greater things than these.” (John 14:12)

In 2022, “The Year of The Spirit,” we saw God moving through the Toronto Church in unprecedented ways! Most excitingly, we saw 37 souls baptized into Christ! Though each of these souls is special, there were several additions that stood out as particularly amazing. Demi was
reached out to and then baptized by Anita one year to the day Anita was baptized, and Demi was baptized in the same exact place as Anita! Zonya and Joseph were both baptized in the Spring; and by the end of Summer, Zonya and Joseph had each baptized two more of their family members! Lastly, Tomi was baptized in March; and just six months later, because of her ministry potential, she was awarded a full scholarship into ICCM (International College of Christian Ministry)!

These incredible additions were in no small part due to the incredible evangelistic efforts and campaigns initiated by the Toronto disciples! In April, we saw our highest Church attendance ever at our Easter Sunday Bring Your Neighbour Day Service, with 148 people in attendance! In June, the awesome Toronto sisters (35) had 90 in attendance for Women’s Day! We also initiated a second Region, led valiantly by Kirk and Margie Hamula, who moved from California in May to enter the full-time ministry in Toronto!

Incredibly, we also saw the tremendous financial sacrifice given by the Church. The Toronto Church is to be commended for its’ giving spirit! In May, the Church blew out its’ 22-times Special Missions Contribution goal of $90,000 and gave over $101,500 (113%)! Then in November, although we aimed to raise our pledges from $4,422 per week to $5,000 per week, the Church again exceeded our expectations and increased its’ weekly contribution to over $5,400 per week!

With all that God did in 2022, it is exhilarating to think about what “even greater things” will mean in this new year! The following are our 2023 prayer goals:

1) “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8) We saw 37 baptized into Christ last year! This year, we are aiming to see at least weekly baptisms (52)! We believe this will be accomplished through the multiplication of disciples as we train and raise up our many new Christians to “bear much fruit”!

2) “But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.” (Acts 4:4) Although the first-century Church had grown far beyond 5,000 at this point when you include the women, the recording of this milestone signified the incredible growth and impact God was having through His Church! Likewise, in 2023 we aspire to reach or surpass 100 sold-out disciples in the Toronto Church!

3) “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2) Paul instructed Timothy to raise up and entrust more reliable men into leadership, just as he had raised up Timothy. In 2023, we are praying that God will raise up at least one new Evangelist and one new Women’s Ministry Leader from our congregation!

4) “When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching…” (Acts 18:5) Although Paul had been evangelizing faithfully as a tent-maker, and even converted Priscilla and Aquila, once Silas and Timothy arrived, he devoted himself exclusively to preaching. We can reasonably assert that Silas and Timothy must have brought money with them that allowed Paul to leave his job as a tent-maker and to go back into the full-time ministry. It is our conviction that every disciple is in the ministry, whether full-time or not. (II Corinthians 5:18) However, we also believe that one cannot fully train for the ministry without being freed up from their secular jobs. Therefore, it is essential to hire on interns to raise up future Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders! It is our desire in 2023, to hire at least four new full-time interns in the Church!

5) “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Without a doubt, one of the most powerful ministries in a congregation is the Campus Ministry. This vital ministry provides energy, zeal and mobility to the entire church, and over time these same disciples graduate into vibrant disciples for the Singles and Marrieds Ministries while also providing a workforce for the Teen Ministry. Thus, our prayer goal in 2023 is to expand our now thriving Campus Ministry onto at least two new University or College campuses!

6) “For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) In addition to our faithful growth goals are our financial goals. Though money is not mentioned in the Great Commission, we must understand that raising funds is just as much a part of evangelizing all nations as sharing our faith and planting churches. We intend, therefore, to collect a 20-times Special Missions Contribution in May of this year!

7) “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:20) Not only was there rapid vertical growth in the First Century Church but there was also horizontal growth. They grew in number, but also expanded geographically throughout the entire world! In 2023, it is our desire and prayer that the Lord will allow us to plant either the Ottawa International Christian Church or the Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon) of the Toronto Church!

How can “even greater things” happen in 2023? Jesus simply commands us “to ask in [His] name.” Essentially, the only way to do “even greater things” than Jesus is to go through Jesus! Let us go to God through Jesus then, and pray for these “even greater” goals in 2023! To Him be the glory!

Evan Bartholomew