A local church is ringing in the new year with prayer.

Pastor Bruce Martin, the lead pastor at Calvary Temple in the Central Park neighbourhood, says parishioners will be spending New Year's Eve praying together at church. Cohorts will visit the church at different times to pray for and with each other.

"We will certainly pray for the individuals that are present, but we will also pray for our country for sure, and the leadership of our country, and pray that we will get through this pandemic," Martin says.

On Sunday, his three sermons will challenge his church to believe that God is with them in the new year.

"I am very optimistic and hopeful for the new year. I am believing that God is helping us and I really believe that we need to have faith and trust the Lord."

The pastor says he is excited to know God has a bigger plan than imaginable and will be following the same advice he will be giving his church on Sunday.

His advice for those looking to grow closer to the Lord is "don't just look at the destination, enjoy the journey." Martin says God wants to be part of those walks; keeping people safe.

"That is just such a wonderful promise. each one of us can embrace that and hold onto it, and thank God for it every day."

Martin loves being a part of Winnipeg's body of Christ, saying he is proud of and thankful for people's faithfulness to God.