Church Family
I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude after the incredible surprise you gave me on the evening of April 12th in celebration of 20 years of ministry. I honestly did not see it coming, and I was completely overwhelmed in the best possible way. From the gathering to the testimonies, to the kindness expressed, to the love that filled the room, I found myself sitting there thinking, “Lord, I don’t deserve this.” It was one of those moments where you are reminded in a very real way that God’s grace often comes through His people.
As I reflect on these 20 years, I keep coming back to this simple truth: ministry is a gift. It is a gift to walk with people through the highs and lows of life, to open God’s Word together, to pray together, to weep and rejoice together, and to see the steady faithfulness of God at work in His people over time. I do not take lightly the privilege it is to be your pastor.
Some of you have heard me say it often; “I love you, and I love being your pastor.” I want you to know that is not just a phrase to me. It is the honest overflow of my heart.
I say “I love you” because ministry is not distant or transactional. It is relational. The New Testament picture of the church is one of family—brothers and sisters in Christ who are called to genuinely love one another, bear one another’s burdens, and walk with one another in grace and truth. Over time, those words have become the simplest way I can try to express what I feel for you: real affection, real gratitude, and real care for your lives.
And I say “I love being your pastor” because I truly do. I don’t say that lightly or as a formality. It is a joy to serve among you, to open the Scriptures with you, to watch your faith grow, to see marriages strengthened, children raised in the Lord, prodigals return, and weary hearts find hope again in Christ. There is nothing I would rather give my life to than this calling among this church family.
I also want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for my wife, Paula. Her partnership in this ministry has been one of God’s greatest gifts to me personally and to our church. Through her faithful service in the music ministry and her investment in the women’s ministry, she has strengthened and encouraged so many lives in ways that are often unseen but deeply significant. Standing beside her Sunday night and hearing the love expressed toward her as well was a reminder of just how much she has poured into this church family. Her love for Christ, her quiet faithfulness, and her steady support of me and this ministry have been a constant grace in my life, and I am profoundly grateful for her.
Of course, ministry is not without its challenges. There are burdens, tears, difficult seasons, and moments of weakness. But even in those times, God has been faithful. And again and again, He has used His people to encourage, strengthen, and sustain me more than you probably realize.
So, thank you. Thank you for the gift of your love, your encouragement, your prayers, your generosity, and your partnership in the gospel. Thank you for 20 years of grace that I do not deserve but deeply treasure.
My heart today is simply this: I am grateful to God for you, I love you deeply, and I am honored beyond words to be your pastor.
I love you and I love being your pastor!
