It's now been 44 years since we started Bethany in our living room. My dad and mom pastored Bethany for the first 20 years, and Melanie and I have now pastored here for 24 years since returning from Africa as missionaries in Ghana and Nigeria.

Now a new generation is coming upon the scene! The face of Bethany is changing as hundreds of new youth and children are filling our hallways. Where will Bethany be 13 years from now in the year 2020?

By God's grace, we are working to assure that the next generation has the facilities they need to evangelize Baton Rouge and the world. With two major campuses and our west satellite campus, we can reach, train, and send out to the ends of the earth tens of thousands of people.

It's going to take tremendous sacrifice and teamwork to achieve our 20/20 Vision. Melanie and I are prepared to make the greatest commitment to Bethany we have ever made. We have never been a high-pressure church; we have simply shared the vision and let the Lord move on hearts.

It will be the same for this 20/20 Vision campaign. We will pray, commit to goals that stretch our faith, and then do what's in our hearts, as God provides. Paul said, "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7 NASB).

We pay off cars in three years, pay for college in four years, pay off boats in five years... why not pay for our new buildings in three years? We can do it if we will each make a serious commitment, release our faith, and be consistent every week. Paul also said, "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come" (1 Cor. 16:2 NKJV).

We are honored to work alongside you in the harvest. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart, and may God's richest prosperity be yours as you build the kingdom!

Yours for the harvest,
Larry and Melanie Stockstill