The verse that we have chosen to commemorate this special occasion is: 1 Samuel 7:12 12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” In Hebrew, the word “Ebenezer” is a compound word: "Eben" means stone, and "Ezer" means help. So, Ebenezer literally means “Stone of Help.” When Samuel raises this stone, he is physically marking a moment in history where the people of God recognize that everything good that has happened — every victory, every act of mercy — was because of the Lord’s help. It is not a monument to human achievement but a testament to God’s grace.
The Ebenezer stone was set up for the community, but it was meant to affect every individual heart. Each person in Israel could look at that stone and remember a personal moment of fear, repentance, or victory. In the same way, this anniversary is not just a church-wide celebration — it’s an invitation for every person to say, “God has helped me too — in my health, my marriage, my job, my faith, my pain.” It turns church history into personal testimony.
From Ebenezer to Expectation: Finally, the beauty of this verse lies in its direction. “Till now” doesn’t just look back; it propels us forward. It helps us look forward. If God has helped us till now, then we can trust Him for what’s next. The Ebenezer stone becomes a springboard of faith. It says: “If He did it before, He can do it again.” As our church looks to the next decade, this verse becomes a rallying cry — a reason to dream bigger, believe deeper, and surrender more fully, because God is not done yet and you get to be a part of this!
Over the past decade, Forward Church has faithfully invested in mission work through the North American Mission Board, the International Mission Board, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Because of this collective partnership, over 11,000 churches have been planted in the last 15 years, more than 3,500 missionaries are on the field, and 25,000 seminary students have been equipped for ministry in just the past two years. These numbers are not statistics—they are stories of salvation, discipleship, and lives changed through generosity and obedience.
We also celebrated how Forward Church has directly participated in church planting. In just ten years, our church has helped launch or sponsor 10 new churches in cities such as Sacramento, Monterey, Sarasota, Tacoma, New York City, and the SF Bay Area. Even more exciting, there are currently 80 additional churches in the pipeline across the United States that Forward Church is helping to send, strengthen, or support.
Our impact has not been limited to our own nation. Through the digital ministry of sermons originating from Forward Church that can be listened to via podcasts, Forward Church has helped bring the hope of Jesus to 1,068 cities, 126 countries, and 47 states across 6 continents. These numbers reflect the heart of our church—to make Jesus known everywhere for everyone, from local neighborhoods to global nations. To listen to the Forward Church Podcast, please visit: https://www.forwardchurchpodcast.com/
As we enter the next decade of ministry, we are calling every believer to join this movement. First, pray fervently for Forward Church pastors, members, missionaries, leaders, and the millions who still need the gospel. Second, participate locally by gathering with the church, serving, and inviting others. And third, partner financially, so the mission of making disciples and planting churches can continue with even greater strength and reach.
Senior And Founding Pastor
Bogdan Kipko
To partner financially with Forward Church, please give online using this link: https://pushpay.com/g/forward.
To plan your visit to Forward Church Sunday Service, please visit this link: https://www.forwardchurchirvine.com/visit.
Watch Pastor Bogdan’s sermon at the Ten Year Anniversary Service, here: Forward Church Ten Year Anniversary: The Lord Has Helped Us To This Point.
Subscribe to the Forward Church YouTube Channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/@kipko?sub_confirmation=1,
We invite you to come and join us for Sunday Service every Sunday at 11am at Forward Church in Irvine CA.
For more information, please visit: https://www.forwardchurchirvine.com.
