A Pastor's Perspective 03-19-2024

When 87-year-olds and seven-year-olds work side by side to Display Christ-like love, Fayetteville becomes a better place; this is what I saw Saturday. Under Susie Reeder's leadership, 377 people spread out into our community for Operation InAsMuch Blitz Day. For some this has been a yearly event. For others this was their first experience. All together we did not merely remember Jesus' words; by His grace, we acted on them. It took a lot of work, but we had a lot of fun, and thanks to God, we did a lot of good.
   Our church engaged in numerous things, making Fayetteville an even better place to live; we could do so because many people gave of their resources and time. We did things to help the foster children around us, the Red Cross, the Rape Crisis center, cleaned and did repairs to several ministry houses, uncluttered and cleared a lot by Fayetteville Operation InAsMuch in hopes of seeing 28 houses built.  Six will house women and their children and the other 22 will house veterans, elderly and the disabled. We planned and produced an Egg Hunt and Cookout with a new ministry partner in an underserved area of our city. We planned and created a soccer clinic for the children of Margaret Willis School and had by far the biggest turnout of participants we have ever had.  Communion was served in several senior facilities. Children went to these facilities with a song to sing and gifts to give the residents. We even had a group delivering potted flowers to our neighbors and invited them to church.  We did a Bible study with youth at the Juvenile Detention Center and painted house numbers for older ones on their curb in front of their house.  We sent volunteers to 2 laundromats and paid for their laundry cost and invited them to Snyder.  We also built four ramps and repaired a fence.
   Our church has been doing this for almost a quarter of a century, but with the fresh eyes of a still new pastor, the thought consumed my mind and swelled in my heart, "This is what it looks like to be the Church." It is not the only way, but it is one of the critical ways we take the opportunity to be the body of Christ, and make a difference in Fayetteville. May we continue the good work for His glory and the lifting up of Jesus' name.
It is such an honor to be your pastor.
Looking forward,
Blake