Dear Grace,
What a weekend! Thank you for praying for our Pastor/Elder Couples’ Marriage Retreat. It was the first of its kind, and it was so sweet for Sarah and I to work on hosting this experience. What was a dream a year and a half ago came to fruition over 4 sessions, beautiful weather, holy ground, and heavenly meals. If you see one of our pastors or elders or their spouse, make sure to ask about it!
We are hoping to be able to roll out some of this content in a marriage intensive for ministry leaders over the next few years, even as we continue to deepen our own marriages.
And then… Pastor Seth – wow! It was so sweet to have my “ministry son” in the faith come back and preach at Grace. Your response and welcome of him and his family was special – it really expresses the best of what makes us such a unique church family. To raise up a pastor, and then send him out to multiply the kingdom work is what it means to be a “teaching hospital” – not just a place to give care to the hurting and broken, but also to raise up caregivers who will then go on to give care to others.
If you haven’t been following our social media posts, you missed seeing pictures of the hundreds of Gracers coming together to have fun packing family and baby kits to be sent all over the country. Our domestic relief partner, Convoy Of Hope, works with local churches in disaster-stricken areas to provide immediate relief and support. They were first on the scene in NC when floods hit. They were there when hurricanes came through Florida. The 1500 kits we packed will be on standby for when the next tragedy inevitably strikes.
Our pilot of the Emotionally Healthy Relationships course finished last Wednesday with almost 80 people crossing the finish line. It has been an unbelievably sweet journey, and I strongly recommend everyone who calls Grace home (and even if you don’t) to take the course when it is offered again in the fall. We’ll have increased capacity with more table leaders. It will transform your life.
In my half day of solitude today, I was surveying some of the most pressing care needs in our church. Please give your prayers and attention to:
- Isaac and Hannah Brunk – their baby boy Oakley was born just about two weeks ago and still hasn’t been able to come home. He just had surgery yesterday for a hernia, and they are hoping to come home soon after recovery. Pray for smooth and complication-free recovery.
- Continue to pray for Todd & Julia Harris and baby Faith. A bigger story than I have room to recount here, but God has been faithful and continues to give mercy for each day. Faith is a fighter, and while they have yet a long journey, pray for the joy of the Lord in each moment.
- Pray for one of our beloved youth leaders, Greg. He lost his dad to a year-plus battle with cancer. Pray for peace and a rich time to grieve and mourn.
This Sunday we wrap up our missions month focus. Leading into this, I have been feeling very strongly that the Lord is calling us to tangible and real steps in response…what our joy in the Lord compels us to. Come with eager and expectant hearts. Seek His heart. Ask for His joy. Let’s keep listening for the Lord and responding to His grace. He is worthy of our praise, and worthy of the praise of ALL the nations!