For twenty-one years, God has graciously allowed me to be your pastor. This says a lot about our church family. You have been and remain supportive, loving and encouraging over these many years. I’ve often said, “I am becoming a pastor” – meaning that I’m a work in progress. It takes a church to raise a pastor!
Presently, God is working on me to ‘progress’ in prayer. Like you, I’ve always known prayer to be important to our Christian lives and ministry. Now, however, I’m wanting prayer to become central in my life and in our church life together. When you and I pray, we are declaring our faith. In fact, a prayerless person or church is a faithless person or church. Prayerless people are operating independently of God. This cannot be!
As I read Jesus’ words in John 14 -17, it seems that Jesus is urging us, His disciples, to ask of Him in prayer. In John 14:13-14, He says, "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” We disciples of Christ glorify Him when we pray in His Name and see Him answer!
On that note, I add my urging. I urge you to gather with the family of God on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM for our weekly prayer meeting. Pastor Daniel Dickard stirs me when he writes, “What does it say about our belief in the power of God and dependence on His Spirit when the prayer meeting is the least attended function in the church?” This cannot be! Hope to see you this Wednesday!
Cecil Sanders
Update on the Mike Motta Family!
Please pray for Mike and Katherine as they seek to ‘finish well’ in their current church ministry. We look forward to them arriving here around Christmas time and Bro. Mike beginning his ministry with us at the beginning of 2023.