T

I think we have discovered a new form of cruel and unusual punishment: Lock someone in a room and make them watch political ads for 12 hours. Someone told me that there were so many yard signs near them that they are afraid that they voted for a realtor. However, our voting is not over. Here’s why.

This Sunday (morning and evening) is an important day that marks the culmination of a lot of work and the beginning of some new opportunities. In the morning service we are going to be entering into a formal partnership as the Sending church for Nathan and Jen, our missionaries in Asia. The service will not be live-streamed because they are in a high-risk setting that is increasingly hostile to the gospel, gospel churches, and certainly gospel workers. We are honored to be able to support so many good missionaries. To be called upon to be the Sending Church is a particular privilege since we are taking on a greater responsibility for their oversight, care, and security. Each missionary needs a strong local church to be that for them and this is important for us to step into this role for Nathan and Jen.

In the evening, we are voting on our Leadership for next year (elders, deacons, deaconesses, other positions). We’ve not run ads (thank goodness) or done rallies. Instead, we have done training, conducted interviews, had a number of conversations, and are presenting these brothers and sisters as recommendations of people who will faithfully serve this church because they are committed to making much of Christ and not themselves.

We are also voting on the budget recommended by the Finance Team and supported by the Elders. The budget is one of the tools that helps us see what we value and aim to accomplish. Speaking of which, it is very gratifying to see Greater Glory Church get launched. We’ve talked and prayed about this for so long and now, it has happened! We miss the brothers and sisters who left us to be part of this, but oh do we rejoice in a sister congregation being planted! Others will need to step up and take their place.

We are also putting pencil on paper now and starting to map out what steps we have to take place in order to get a healthy local church established in Wikwimikong, Manitoulin, Canada. The Lord often entrusts resources to generous people and generous churches. We seek to be wise and strategic with how we use what we are given as well as generous. We think it reflects Christ well.

You may have voted for someone in the past who turned out to be a poor choice. You may have voted for someone in yesterday’s election who did not win. But being part of a gospel church ensures that you are part of an eternal enterprise that will not and cannot fail. It’s particularly exciting to be on the front row of its expansion.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Acts and Romans 15