“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6 ESV).
Have you ever noticed that it’s often easier to start something than it is to finish it?
When we begin something new, we’re excited. The vision is fresh. Our enthusiasm is high. We’re ready to go! But somewhere along the way, things get difficult. Obstacles arise. Progress seems slow. Life gets busy. And sometimes we just get tired.
It’s true in marriage, parenting, our careers, and even our walk with Christ. It’s one thing to begin with enthusiasm. It’s another thing to remain faithful over the long haul.
This Sunday, November 1, we’re beginning a new four-week message series called “IT’S TIME TO FINISH!” We’ll be studying the Old Testament book of Zechariah and discovering how God strengthens His people to finish the work He has called them to do.
You may remember that in 2025, we launched our three-year IT’S TIME generosity initiative with a sermon series from the book of Haggai.
Haggai was a prophet whom God sent to encourage the Jewish exiles who had returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They had laid the foundation, but opposition and discouragement had brought the work to a standstill.
Through Haggai, God called His people to BE STRONG. DO THE WORK. BE FEARLESS.
Now, as we approach the midpoint of our three-year generosity initiative, we’re returning to that same historical setting, but this time through the book of Zechariah. Haggai and Zechariah were contemporary prophets. They encouraged the same people to complete the same work.
Haggai encouraged them to get started. Zechariah encouraged them to finish!
And that’s what we want to do, too.
REMEMBERING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
This November marks another important milestone for our church family. Because 35-years ago, in November 1991, Robin and I began meeting with seven people in our living room. Those humble beginnings would lead to the planting of Wilson Community Church, the church we know today as Eastgate Church.
We didn’t have much money. We didn’t own a building. We didn’t have a staff or even a permanent place to meet. But we had a calling. We had each other. And we believed God wanted to use us to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We had no idea what God would do with those small beginnings.
But God did.
Today, we have two campuses in Wilson and Rocky Mount. We’re seeing more and more people come to Christ, be baptized, and grow as His disciples. Our Rocky Mount campus has moved into its own church home and doubled in attendance. Our Wilson campus continues to grow as we prepare for future ministry opportunities. What a journey it’s been!
And what have we learned along the way?
God’s work is accomplished by God’s power, not ours.
That’s exactly what God told Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who was leading the rebuilding of the temple. When the work seemed overwhelming and the obstacles looked like mountains, God reminded him that success would not come through human strength or resources, but through His Spirit. And then God gave him this remarkable promise:
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it” (Zechariah 4:9).
What God had called Zerubbabel to begin, He would enable him to finish.
Now, we’re not claiming that God has given Eastgate the same specific promise He gave Zerubbabel. But we are trusting the same faithful God as we seek to obey Him. And we’re remembering that the most important thing isn’t how much we can accomplish for God in our own strength. It’s what God can accomplish in us and through us as we trust Him.
IT’S TIME TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
When we launched our IT’S TIME generosity initiative in 2025, we established three important goals:
BE STRONG — Strengthening Community Engagement. We want to reach more people with the gospel and help them become growing disciples of Jesus.
DO THE WORK — Elevating Ministry Capacity. We want to strengthen our staff and ministries so that we’re equipped to disciple the people God is sending us.
BE FEARLESS — Laying the Foundation for Future Growth. We want to prepare for the next chapter of ministry at both campuses by acquiring a home for our Rocky Mount campus and setting aside funds for a future worship center in Wilson.
After much prayer and consideration, we came together to make a three-year faith commitment of $1,635,220. And here’s some encouraging news. As we prepare to begin this midpoint emphasis, our church family has already given approximately $690,600, more than 42% of our goal! Praise the Lord! But as grateful as we are for every dollar given, I want to remind you of something we’ve said from the beginning.
Our greatest goal isn’t a financial number. It’s 100% of our church family growing together in faith and generosity.
We’re not asking everyone to give the same amount. We’re asking everyone to seek the Lord and prayerfully consider what He would have them give, over and above their regular tithes and offerings.
Some of you made faith commitments when we began this journey. Thank you for your faithfulness! We’re inviting you to prayerfully reaffirm or perhaps increase your commitment as the Lord leads.
Others have joined our church family since March 2025. This is an opportunity for you to become part of what God is doing among us.
And if your financial circumstances have changed, we understand. This isn’t about guilt or pressure. It’s about seeking God’s will and responding faithfully to Him.
After all, generosity isn’t just about what God wants from us. It’s about what God wants for us.
He wants to grow our faith, deepen our dependence on Him, and teach us to hold loosely to the things of this world as we invest in what lasts forever.
FOUR WEEKS IN ZECHARIAH
Over the next four Sundays, we’ll discover how God encouraged His people to complete the work of rebuilding the temple and how His Word encourages us to finish well.
- 11/1/26 – #1 Be Strong – Zechariah 4:1–14
- 11/8/26 – #2 Do the Work – Zechariah 6:9–15
- 11/15/26 – #3 Be Fearless – Zechariah 8:9–17
- 11/22/26 – #4 It’s Time to Finish – Zechariah 8:18–23
We’ll begin this Sunday with “Be Strong.”
In Zechariah chapter 4, the prophet receives a vision of a golden lampstand supplied with oil from two olive trees. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s continual provision for the work He has called His people to do.
The message is clear.
God’s work requires God’s power.
We may have limited resources, limited energy, and limited ability. But our God is unlimited in His power! So the question isn’t whether we’re strong enough to finish. The question is whether we’re depending on the One who is.
A 21-DAY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Along with this new series, we’re inviting every household at Eastgate to participate in a special 21-day spiritual journey, beginning Monday, November 2, and concluding on Sunday, November 22.
We’ve prepared an IT’S TIME Journey Guide with daily Scripture readings, devotions, prayer prompts, and information about our church’s vision and progress. We’re asking everyone, parents and children alike, to spend these three weeks seeking the Lord together. And here’s the question we want every one of us to pray:
“God, what do You want to do in me and through me?”
So here’s how you can prepare for our IT’S TIME TO FINISH series:
📖 Read Zechariah chapters 1–8. Pay special attention to how God encourages His people when they’re facing opposition, discouragement, and what seems like an impossible task.
🙏 Begin praying now. Ask God to strengthen your faith and show you how He wants you to grow in generosity.
❤️ Pick up your IT’S TIME Journey Guide this Sunday. Begin the 21-day devotional on November 2 and take time to pray together as a household.
✍️ Prepare to make your faith commitment. Bring your Advanced Commitment Card on Sunday, November 15, after seeking the Lord about your next step. Then join us on November 22 for our Celebration Sunday!
👥 Invite someone to join you. We all know someone who’s feeling weary, discouraged, or uncertain about how to finish what they’ve started. This series will remind us where our true strength comes from.
After 35 years of ministry, I can tell you this: Robin and I have seen God’s faithfulness again and again. And we’re not finished trusting Him yet!
I believe God still has more work for us to do as a church family. More people to reach. More disciples to make. More lives to be changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So let’s keep trusting Him.
Let’s keep growing together.
Let’s keep giving generously.
And let’s finish well!
Not by our might. Not by our power.
But by His Spirit. And all for His glory!
Join us this Sunday for IT’S TIME TO FINISH!