My wife and I have just returned from spending several days with Pastor Mick and Bonnie Rockafellow and the precious folk who make up the Grace Brethren Church of Lansing, Michigan.
As we sang carols together and enjoyed a musical program at the Christmas banquet on Saturday and again in the services yesterday morning, I reflected once again on the value of faithfulness.
When we began publishing FGBC World two years ago we determined to focus on the people and churches of the Fellowship rather than spotlighting primarily the work of the national organizations or the successes of the “premier” churches in the Fellowship.
Mick and Bonnie have been at the Lansing church 15 years now. The congregation is small, but faithful, and I doubt it will attract many news media headlines anytime soon.
But I see pastor and people in Lansing as a testimony to faithfulness–week after week, meeting, studying God’s Word together, being the church to each other and the community.
As we were finishing lunch at the Chinese buffet Sunday I asked Mick how to pray for him and the Lansing church. He wants what so many of us want for our churches—more good folk who have a real desire to see God work in their community and who are willing to “put their shoulder to the wheel” to make ministry happen. What church ANYWHERE wouldn’t echo that prayer request!
So this is a “shout out” to Mick and all his fellow pastors (and wives) who labor faithfully, with integrity and purpose, through good times and tough.
Proverbs 28:20a says “A faithful man will be richly blessed.”
This is also a day when we mourn the passing—but celebrate the ministry—of two faithful men, Pastor Terry Taylor and missionary Eddie Miller.
Let’s be found faithful, and let’s celebrate, affirm, and pray for our brethren who are doing the same!
Keith