Beloved Church Family,
I am so proud of the many God-led events that have taken place recently among our brothers and sisters. In our personal lives, Natalie and I have a new daughter who has forever changed our hearts since the moment of her first breath. In the life of our church, we have a vibrant, loving church that has reached its arms around this community and worked to share Christ. We are a church that is not just growing out, we are also growing up. Make no mistake; God is at work in this place. Something new is always on the horizon when God is at work, and God is always at work. So, as Samson’s father said at God’s display of might, “We have seen God!” (Judges 13:22b)
We have seen God in the waters of baptism this month, and we have seen God in several healthy new births among our church family, and we have seen God in His Bible, and we have seen God in the music we sing, and we have seen God in the millions of tiny, uncountable steps of faith we each have taken daily growing in our walk with Christ. We have seen God here.
I point these things out to you because I want you to see we have reason to boast in the mercy of God. We have experienced things in this church that are emotional and revolutionary. Lives have been changed forever by Jesus. And as you feel the pride of being part of what God is doing here, may you be led with a renewed strength to call on others to join us here in worship, discipleship, and fellowship.
Let me also take this opportunity to ask that as the summer rolls around, you each continue to make our worship gatherings a priority to your families. I truly believe that our families are healthiest when they spend at least one day a week worshiping together. Our habits, our relationships, our minds, bodies and souls are all connected to a God who wants to pour mercy into our lives. It becomes more difficult to receive his infusion of love when we avoid meeting him in a holy way. So please, if you are in town and healthy, continue to join us for the worship gatherings on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. It will make all the difference in the world.
And finally, we want you to know that our church is concerned with helping your family to have an incredible summer. We change pace in the summer. The youth group becomes very active and we have many Summer Sunday Night activities planned. Be on the lookout for opportunities to relax and enjoy one another’s company in the presence of God this Summer. I look forward to the coming season with anticipation. With God, our coming days will always hold more promise and hope than the days which have passed us by. Remember, God said: “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
In Christ’s Love,
Bro. Joseph