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October Pastor's Points

Dear Church Family,

I want to talk about God’s faithfulness this month because since last November, God has shown Himself to be so faithful to myself and our church family.  Since last November I have felt the reality of all out spiritual warfare like I have not felt before in my 20 years of ministry.  But in the midst of it all, God has shown His faithfulness to me and our church family stronger than I have ever felt in all of my ministry!  In the midst of the battle we have seen more baptisms than we have had in the last few years and He is providing for us financially like never before!!  God is so faithful!  He is worthy of our trust!

I was reading the devotional, Our Daily Bread and in it I found the following story shared by Jennifer Benson Schuldt…

My little girl stood apprehensively at the pool’s edge. As a non-swimmer, she was just learning to become comfortable in the water. Her instructor waited in the pool with outstretched arms. As my daughter hesitated, I saw the questions in her eyes: Will you catch me? What will happen if my head goes under?

The Israelites may have wondered what would happen when they crossed the Jordan River. Could they trust God to make dry ground appear in the riverbed? Was God guiding their new leader, Joshua, as He had led Moses? Would God help His people defeat the threatening Canaanites who lived just across the river?

To learn the answers to these questions, the Israelites had to engage in a test of faith—they had to act. So they “set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before [them]” (v.14). Exercising their faith allowed them to see that God was with them. He was still directing Joshua, and He would help them settle in Canaan (vv.7, 10, 17).

If you are facing a test of faith, you too can move forward based on God’s character and His unfailing promises. Relying on Him will help you move from where you are to where He wants you to be.

Lord, we’re prone to quickly forget Your goodness
and care for us. May we trust You today and
into the New Year—whatever uncertainties we
face. You are the God who can be trusted.

Fear fades when we trust our Father.

I have learned this truth over the past several months.  Fear fades when you trust in the Father!!

Trusting Him Together,

 Pastor Alan

September Pastor's Points

Church Family,

I pray things are going well for you and your family as we approach the fall season.  We have had an exciting summer full of camps, mission trips, vbs, and church-wide fellowship events!!  The result of some of this summer ministry activity culminated in us baptizing 10 of our children and youth on one Sunday!!  And the good news is that we are still following up with others that are preparing to follow in baptism as well!!

Also, on Sunday August 30^th we launched our regular schedule of ministry for the fall with new Life enrichment classes, children’s ministry, and student small groups all on Sunday nights.  Attendance in all parts of the new fall schedule was very strong and we are looking for God to do awesome and amazing things as we minister together.  Make sure that you are plugged in to what God is up to!  Along with the new fall schedule on Sunday evenings, we are also offering a new music ministry piece as we are asking our people to come together on Wednesday evenings to learn a musical piece called “Believe in Christmas”!  If you love to sing please come and be a part of this special “Christmas Worship Experience” that will be presented at our Christmas dessert fellowship on December 13^th.  Rehearsal is at 7:30pm on Wednesday nights. 

Finally, I want to encourage you to be in attendance over the next few weeks as we begin a new sermon series entitled “Unforgiven”.  We are going to consider the need for believers to walk in forgiveness with others.  I am very aware that some of us have been hurt very deeply by others in whom we just do not feel like we can ever forgive.  Then there are others that choose not to forgive over very minor offenses, but feel very justified in their lack of forgiveness.  We are going to consider the absolute necessity of forgiveness in our relationships if we are going to walk in obedience to the Lord.  We are also going to consider what happens if we choose not to forgive and what that will produce in our lives.  We will consider pride, anger, bitterness, hatred, but we will end with joy as we look at the blessing of restoration between brothers and sister in Christ.  This can be a life-changing sermon series if we will listen to the Word of God as we are led by the Spirit of God to become more like the Son of God!!  I cannot wait to see what God is going to do among us!!

I love you and I love being your pastor!!