1 Year and Counting

July 1st marks the 1 year anniversary of our time here in Freeport, Illinois. I have been a vocational pastor for just over 4 years now and a senior teaching pastor for a year. To serve Christ's precious church as an undershepherd is a tremendous delight and a great privilege indeed (1 Peter 5, Hebrews 13:17).

I am blessed to have a fine group of fellow leaders working alongside me each and every week (our deacons, trustees, and church intern). Their humility is a wonderful model for our entire congregation (myself included). I am also blessed to have a like minded associate-pastor who is willing to get his hands dirty in the ministry "foxholes". Steve loves Jesus, the Word of God, and people.

Our congregation has put the entire focus of our church back on the Lord Jesus Christ and that has made all the difference. Biblical unity is grounded in the truth. Our fellowship in Christ is sweet and the common gospel confession we share is the bond that knits our heart's together.

The Word of God is again central in our morning and evening worship services. We have enjoyed 37 expositions from the book of Revelation. We are currently in chapter 5 and have been blessed to study every single verse (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Chapter 1 presents a vision of the glorified Christ in all of His post-resurrection glory. Chapters 2 & 3 are Jesus' letters to 7 churches and the type of congregations/people that exist in every century of church history. Chapters 4 & 5 illustrate heaven's worship of God, the Sovereign Creator and Jesus, our blessed Redeemer. We also have enjoyed an O.T. survey through much of the Older Testament, a series on a Biblical Theology of Worship, and a series of topical expositions on Biblical Preaching.

For those of you who continue to pray for us, thank you so very much! We know God continues to work through prayer and it is our delight to testify this day to His unchanging faithfulness.

My favorite verse in Scripture remains the same though its meaning grows sweeter every sing day. Joshua 1:9, Have i not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you may go.