August 2025 - Volume 57 - Number 8
Congratulations to Grace Llewellyn on her confession of Jesus as the Christ and as her Lord, and her baptism into Christ. This is the most significant decision a person can make, as it has eternal consequences. We welcome her into the family of God, and especially into our part of the family. Now, we have a responsibility to encourage, teach, support, and challenge her to grow in her faith and to help her become the person God wants her to be. Brandon and Jessica have been molding and developing her all along, and now we have a special place in her continued development
August 11 Once again we will provide breakfast for the personnel of the school district as they return for the beginning of another year. It’s hard to believe it is that time of year already. Breakfast will be served at 8:00, so we will need to be there earlier to help prepare everything. Please let the church office know if you will be able to help, and we will provide you with specific details as the time approaches.
Elder Studies These studies are designed to help anyone who is currently an elder, or who may aspire to become an elder in the future, to understand the roles and responsibilities of being an elder. We are using books from e2effectiveelders for these studies. This study will look at book 2, Reflect His Character. It asks the question, “As an elder, are you living a holy life?” In many ways, the character of an elder may be more important than the decisions elders often must make. This study will begin August 21, and continue for the next six weeks, from 6:30 – 8:00 each night. Books and study guides are available in my office.
Brandon’s News On Sunday, Brandon submitted his resignation to the board. It will be effective June 28, 2026. Let me quote two paragraphs from his resignation letter.
“Over time, I have found myself stretched thin across many responsibilities, both within and outside of church life. This has impacted my ability to lead and serve effectively. While I take full responsibility for this, I recognize the need to step back and create the margin necessary to refocus on the ministry God is calling me toward. I am prayerfully pursuing a new chapter that includes writing, podcasting, and creative digital ministry. I believe these efforts align with the gifts and passions God has placed on my heart.
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had to serve here. This church has been a significant part of my life, and I am truly thankful for the relationships, growth, and support I’ve experienced during my time with you. This will always be home for me.”
I know this is sad news for the church, but I believe it will be great news for the Kingdom. Brandon certainly has a lot to offer, and these new opportunities to develop and share his knowledge and experiences with a broader audience will benefit far more people than he can reach with us. But don’t be too sad yet, we still have almost a year to work with him.
Upcoming Sermons One of the difficulties in reading the Old Testament is trying to understand why some of the stories are included and what we are supposed to learn from them. We will be looking at some of these stories over the next few weeks. If you want to read ahead, here are the stories. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Jephtha’s Vow (Judges 11). Uzzah and the Ark (2 Samuel 6). The Man of God (1 Kings 13). Elisha and the She Bears (2 Kings 2). Please pray for us that we can help us all make sense of these stories and understand why God included them in his Word.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
August 11 Once again we will provide breakfast for the personnel of the school district as they return for the beginning of another year. It’s hard to believe it is that time of year already. Breakfast will be served at 8:00, so we will need to be there earlier to help prepare everything. Please let the church office know if you will be able to help, and we will provide you with specific details as the time approaches.
Elder Studies These studies are designed to help anyone who is currently an elder, or who may aspire to become an elder in the future, to understand the roles and responsibilities of being an elder. We are using books from e2effectiveelders for these studies. This study will look at book 2, Reflect His Character. It asks the question, “As an elder, are you living a holy life?” In many ways, the character of an elder may be more important than the decisions elders often must make. This study will begin August 21, and continue for the next six weeks, from 6:30 – 8:00 each night. Books and study guides are available in my office.
Brandon’s News On Sunday, Brandon submitted his resignation to the board. It will be effective June 28, 2026. Let me quote two paragraphs from his resignation letter.
“Over time, I have found myself stretched thin across many responsibilities, both within and outside of church life. This has impacted my ability to lead and serve effectively. While I take full responsibility for this, I recognize the need to step back and create the margin necessary to refocus on the ministry God is calling me toward. I am prayerfully pursuing a new chapter that includes writing, podcasting, and creative digital ministry. I believe these efforts align with the gifts and passions God has placed on my heart.
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had to serve here. This church has been a significant part of my life, and I am truly thankful for the relationships, growth, and support I’ve experienced during my time with you. This will always be home for me.”
I know this is sad news for the church, but I believe it will be great news for the Kingdom. Brandon certainly has a lot to offer, and these new opportunities to develop and share his knowledge and experiences with a broader audience will benefit far more people than he can reach with us. But don’t be too sad yet, we still have almost a year to work with him.
Upcoming Sermons One of the difficulties in reading the Old Testament is trying to understand why some of the stories are included and what we are supposed to learn from them. We will be looking at some of these stories over the next few weeks. If you want to read ahead, here are the stories. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Jephtha’s Vow (Judges 11). Uzzah and the Ark (2 Samuel 6). The Man of God (1 Kings 13). Elisha and the She Bears (2 Kings 2). Please pray for us that we can help us all make sense of these stories and understand why God included them in his Word.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
