Pastor’s Notes
June 2014
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, church family.
So many of you offered such sweet congratulations as my family and I celebrated my completing my seminary degree a few weeks ago. I greatly appreciate all of the well wishes and congratulations that you gave. Your support as I have worked toward this goal has been invaluable to me.
But I also want to thank you for being you. That might sound strange, but as we have studied on Wednesday evenings in the “Your Church Experiencing God Together” study, we realize that the church is more than just a religious organization, it’s more than just another club, it’s more than a community support group. The church is the “bride of Christ” and as such, occupies a special role in God’s plan for His people.
You, friends and family, are placed here for a purpose – to bring glory to God in Christ Jesus, to work as the “hands and feet,” going to tell the Good News of salvation in Christ, and especially supporting and showing love to one another. I know that during the next few weeks of summer we will have many in our church family travelling for relaxation and to spend time with other family members. I want to encourage you to stay in contact with your Sunday school class and church family throughout this season, so that we can continue to pray and support one another. Likewise, get in the habit of inviting people to church around you! Remember this key point from our study: our relationship with Christ is personal – but it is not private. You are the salt and light of this community, and the light needs to shine. There are many around us who need to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus, now, more than ever.
We have much work to do as a church. But the amazing thing about this kind of work is that it is energizing and exciting! We’re in the process of a new missions work beginning in Oroquieta City, Philippians. It is already working and we look forward to broadening the mission there.
Likewise, meetings are being conducted and research beginning on completing the vision for our Sunday school and fellowship facilities. Please continue to be in prayer during this planning stage, as we’re preparing reports back to the church in the near future.
Church family, as always, I believe with all my heart that our God has incredible days ahead for His church. We will always seek to be aligned with God’s will for His church. Our buildings are not “the church.” They are tools for the church. All of this is God’s and we are stewards of what is His. As always, it must be to His glory, as should be the lives of the people of His church!
Our mission is unchanging: to make disciples as we go, teaching all that Jesus commands!
Bro. Jim
