This has been a year full of confusion, division, and interruption. I remember losing our gathering place at our middle school, sitting down with the Ascent staff, and hesitantly discussing whether or not we would make it through the pandemic. What would God do in this year? We felt pressure and doubt like never before. Ascent Church has learned firsthand that God can do the impossible. God did it in a drought. Rather than drawing back, God is advancing His church.
As I write this from our first ever building, I can hear a painter spray painting the lobby. I hear a sledgehammer leveling and preparing a new stage for worship.
I’m in awe. We are walking in a miracle.
Only God knows what He will do in this new home, but I’m certain it is greater than we could ask or imagine. It’s an honor to share this annual report with you and celebrate all that God has done this past year and where He is taking our church in the future.
I believe our best days are ahead. You and your family are invited to join
us on this adventure. The future is bright.
-Thomas Lane
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN FULL OF IMPACT! TOGETHER, WE SERVED OUR CHURCH, LOVED ON OUR CITY, AND IMPACTED LIVES.
WE HAVE GIVEN OVER $40,000 TO LOCAL AND AND GLOBAL OUTREACH THIS YEAR. WE ARE HERE FOR THIS CITY.
THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE PARTNERED WITH WEEKLY THIS YEAR:
ECHO - COME ALONGSIDE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.
WORLD VISION- WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN TACKLING THE CAUSES OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE.
99FORTHE1- FIGHT FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN VIRGINIA BEACH BY MEETING PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS.
We know that this pandemic has been challenging for so many people, and as the church, we felt called to respond to the needs in our community. We believe that nothing is more powerful than the church in action. We wanted people in Hampton Roads to know that they're not alone and can still have hope.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT FORCED US OUT OF OUR LOCATION AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE WENT COMPLETELY ONLINE FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. GOD WAS STILL ON THE MOVE. SINCE WE WENT ONLINE IN MARCH 2020, WE HAVE SEEN OVER 15,000 DEVICES TUNE IN FOR CHURCH FROM ALL OVER HAMPTON ROADS AND BEYOND.
59,583 PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH ASCENT ONLINE EXPERIENCES DURING THE MONTHS WE WERE UNABLE TO MEET. PEOPLE GREW IN THEIR FAITH, DECISIONS FOR CHRIST WERE MADE AND IT WAS NOT A WASTED SEASON - GOD STILL MOVED!
THIS YEAR, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT GROWTH THROUGH OUR ONLINE CHANNELS. SOCIAL MEDIA IS A WAY FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY DURING THE WEEK. THIS RELATIONSHIP TOOL WAS EVEN ELEVATED WHEN WE COULD NOT GATHER IN PERSON AND THE WE SAW SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN INTERACTION WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY. PEOPLE RECEIVED ENCOURAGEMENT, ACCESSED SERMONS, WON GIVEAWAYS, AND DOWNLOADED DAILY CONTENT THROUGH OUR CHANNELS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS YEAR
PROVED THAT EVEN MORE. WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
IN JULY, WE RETURNED TO IN PERSON EXPERIENCES AT OUR NEW LOCATION - THE WYNDHAM HOTEL ON THE OCEANFRONT. WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY NEW FACES WALK IN OUR DOORS, AND MANY LIVES CHANGED SINCE THIS MOVE. AT THE END OF THE YEAR OFFERING CAMPAIGN WE CALLED "ARISE," WE SHARED HOW WE BELIEVED GOD WAS MOVING US INTO OUR FIRST PERMANENT HOME. YOU GAVE ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR GOAL OF $100,000 AND WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR WHAT GOD IS GOING TO USE THESE RESOURCES FOR IN OUR NEW HOME.
GOD DID IT! AT THE END OF 2020, WE ANNOUNCED TO OUR CHURCH THAT AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BEGIN REMODELING OUR FIRST PERMANENT HOME, ON SHORE DRIVE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE FELT GOD CALLING US TO THIS STEP AND HE TRULY DID THE IMPOSSIBLE IN A DROUGHT. THE BUILDING IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY WE WILL HAVE TO REACH, EQUIP, AND IMPACT PEOPLE FOR JESUS IN OUR NEW HOME.