Hi friends
I often find it encouraging hearing others' views of
different experiences and after reading Mark's letter to the community group
leaders, I thought it would be encouraging to take an excerpt out of it and let
you read it yourselves:
"Another week, another
outpouring of God's grace and blessing on us at Southcity. I find it
fascinating that God regularly tells the people of Israel to set up monuments
so as to remember what God had done. He sets up wonderful celebrations and
festivities to remember but he is always taking them forward. I believe this
weekend was one of those monuments with Craig and Colette returning to minister
to us but in doing so spurring us on to keep our eyes ahead of us.
Aside from the personal joy of
dedicating Caleb and being ordained onto eldership, I regard this weekend as a
monumental moment in our history as Southcity Church. We have been encouraged
to maintain a holy discontent with the status quo by living with a "joyful
but not satisfied" spirit. We have been encouraged to remember (for those
who were here) and to know (for the rest of us who have joined) the history and
the trajectory of Southcity. We who have joined are like tributaries merging
with the main stream of a river that has forged a path from its source and is
heading to its mouth. Everything we bring is who we are but we are no longer
our own streams, we are part of a mighty river that is strengthened as its
volume grows. Having the ministry of a couple like Craig and Colette this
weekend has opened me to seeing this more greatly and helped me understand that
what we have stepped into has a mighty story so much greater than our own
personal stories."
What an incredible privilege to be part of something that
is here today because of an incredibly faithful, kind and generous God, as well
as faithful, kind, and generous people who contended for the future which we
get to live in the blessing of. May we always spur one another on to contend
for the gospel and for each other and for the generations to come, giving up
our preferences, our resources and our time, in order that Jesus' name may
continue to reach all nations now and until the end of time.
One of Craig's words to us as a church was that our voice
would grow louder and reach further. With this in mind would you pray for Jaci
as she has the opportunity to speak on a national television show about
parenting. A journey started a few months ago writing parenting tips for a few
young moms, and this has grown in influence to the point of a book being released
this Monday past on amazon.com, and the hard copy being
released this coming Thursday as she speaks in front of a national audience.
May God's name continue to be lifted high.
Church, we are an ancient-future people. A people who have
a history, but a people who are moving towards our future. Do not get stuck
around the wells and monuments of the past, as good as they were, but keep
moving forward in God on this journey he has each of us on.
May you know God's peace, love, and mercy.
Much love
Richard
