Church family,

What a great day in the house of the Lord this past Sunday! We kicked off our confirmation class and met with confirmands and their parents to share about the importance of the class and their selection of a mentor. In both services, we had 172 in attendance, praising the Lord. After the service, we held our Next Steps membership class, and I am thrilled to present 7 new members who will join our church in January. 25. I also talked to a couple who are praying about taking the lead on our college and young adult ministry. The Lord is at work in our church!

I will be with the youth this coming Sunday at their conference, Strength to Stand, in Pigeon Forge, TN. I have asked Kenny, whom I served with at Athens First Methodist Church, to come and preach on Sunday. Kenny is a dear friend and mentor of mine, and I know that God will use him mightily to bless your hearts. Please lift prayers for our youth while we are away at the conference.

In Week 2 of our Onward series, we focused on Luke 10:1-12, where Jesus sends out seventy disciples to prepare the way for His ministry. This passage emphasized the themes of provision and trust as Jesus instructs His followers to go out in pairs, relying on God's resources rather than their own. Jesus highlights the urgency of their mission, urging them to share peace and heal the sick while trusting that God will provide for their needs. The disciples were told they would face rejection, yet they were to continue their work with faith, knowing that their efforts contribute to the larger mission of spreading the Kingdom of God.  Ultimately, this week’s sermon reinforces the importance of being proactive in faith, emphasizing that when we follow God, we can trust that He will provide for our every need.

I hope that you have prayed that God would lay a person on your heart to commit to praying for, inviting into your life, and investing in on the card I gave this past Sunday.

In Luke, Jesus reminds us.

16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” - Luke 10:16

As we reflect on the powerful words of Jesus in Luke 10:16,  I want to encourage each of you in your journey of faith and witness.These words remind us of the profound responsibility and privilege we have as followers of Christ. When we share the message of God’s love and grace, we are not merely speaking our own words; we are echoing the voice of Jesus Himself. This is a call to boldness and confidence in our witness.

In a world that often seems indifferent or hostile to our faith, it’s easy to feel discouraged when our message is not received. However, Jesus assures us that our efforts are not in vain. When we proclaim His truth, we represent Him and His mission. Those who listen to our message are opening their hearts to the very presence of Christ.

Let us be encouraged to continue sharing our faith with love and compassion, knowing that we are ambassadors of Christ. Remember, it's not our task to change hearts—that's the work of the Holy Spirit. Our role is to communicate the hope we have in Christ faithfully.

As we go forth, let us do so with courage and grace, trusting that those who hear us are ultimately hearing the voice of our Savior. May we remain steadfast in our mission to share the Gospel, knowing that every conversation is an opportunity to reflect His love.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Brandon