Getting To Know Our New Church Family
Diane & Gary Russell
From Your Pastor
It has been a whirlwind of activity around here! As Diane and I begin settling into a more normal routine after our move from Omaha, I've found myself reflecting on these past weeks and months. So much has happened. We've made many new friends and have had countless opportunities to connect with many of you. Even so, I feel like I haven't yet had the chance to truly get to know everyone. That will come with time. Thank you for your patience as we continue getting settled and I become more fully engaged in the life and ministry of our church.
Diane and I have been overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness. So many of you have given your time and energy to help us paint our home, prepare for the move, and—who could forget—unload two PODs on one of the hottest days of the year! Your willingness to serve has been an incredible blessing to us. We are deeply grateful for every hour you invested, every helping hand, and every prayer offered on our behalf.
As I get to know our church family, I am continually encouraged by your desire to serve Christ and minister to others. The love you have shown us is a beautiful reflection of the love you have for those around you. I look forward to seeing that love of Christ displayed in even greater ways in the weeks and months ahead. I am confident that as we faithfully engage the world around us with the hope of the gospel, God will use us to touch many lives.
As we embrace this mission together, I'd like to ask each of you to spend a few moments every day praying for the people in your life who do not yet know Christ. Lift their names before the One who loves them most. I believe that as we faithfully pray, God will create opportunities for us to share our faith naturally and lovingly. He will soften hearts and prepare people to hear and respond to the wonderful message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
When that happens, we have the privilege of participating in God's work of changing lives. It takes faith, courage, boldness, and above all, love. God loved us first, and He has called us to love others in the same way. He will provide the opportunities; our responsibility is to recognize them and respond with obedience. From personal experience, I can tell you that when we commit ourselves to this way of living, God blesses us in ways we could never have imagined.
May I ask one more favor? Whenever you have a conversation in which you are able to share something about God or your faith, would you let me know? I would love to celebrate what God is doing in and through our church family and rejoice with you as He works in the lives of those around us.
Thank you for allowing Diane and me to become part of your church family. We are excited about what God has in store for us as we serve Him together.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Gary