Good Morning Family!
First thing this morning, I want to express our gratitude for all of those who have worked so tirelessly and skillfully designing, constructing, remodeling, and also financing the new church kitchen. It is incredible and it is a testament to what can be accomplished by the family of God, for the ministry of the local church, and to God’s glory.
If you have not been down to see it, you will be amazed. It’s new functionality and striking design will serve this church well for a long time to come. For many churches, this one included, the kitchen is where much ministry is crafted. Times of gathering around meals and fellowship were the heartbeat of the early church and many times those things were done in the homes of the members. But, over they years as the local church became a cornerstone and gathering place in local communities, the place to gather became their common meeting space and was a specific spot that the community could look to for encouragement and truth. This is why we have a structure at 41 Gospel Street.
Of course, the “church” is not a building, it is the people who make up the local family of God. So, individuals in any community gather in different places to facilitate their mission of reaching out to the community in which they are planted. This is why we have different local Bible teaching churches in each community. Yes, the mission should be the same: reach out with the Gospel and disciple believers. But God does indeed call different expressions of His family to different roles and different emphases to achieve the same goal and to reach different people.
I said all of that to say that I believe this church family has been very obedient to the Lord as we have endeavored to do some much needed improvements on the facility He has entrusted to us; the kitchen being one such very large undertaking that is nearly finished. There are several other projects that have been in planning and process simultaneously to protect and improve our buildings and grounds that are underway, and you will hear about those soon as the Lord has been providing all along the way for those as well.
I am simply in awe of the work that has been done this year not only inside our buildings, but outside as the grounds have been reworked to provide better drainage. Soon, we will be doing some needed repairs to the Sanctuary roof and the Education building and those projects have already been provided for through God’s people. This has been an amazing year of seeing God’s hand in leading us in planning, processing, and proceeding as He has provided. Incredible…
As always, my prayer is that we would all, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15
Your Shepherd of the Hills,
Bro. Steven
Dr. Steven Gann
