September Newsletter

I want to share the number 68 with you all in this newsletter.  There is nothing particularly special about the number 68, although I do enjoy Psalm 68:10-11, “Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.  The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it.”  So as I share the number 68 I ask that you all remember this scripture when you think of 68, and I do want you to think of it!

Some of you are probably asking, “Why this number?”  Well, it is the percentage of membership increase in this church in 8 months!!  68%!!  I can barely believe it, but I am not surprised because as the psalmist said, “The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it!”  My brothers and sisters, the Lord has announced the word in our congregation, and in our community, and the company of those who are proclaiming it is becoming great!

When I wrote out first year goals for our humble congregation I asked God to increase our membership 50% in the first year.  But now in 2/3 of that time we have grown 2/3 larger!  In fact if we keep up with this growth we will have grown by 100+% in one year!!  I am sorry if all the exclamation points are somewhat annoying, but it is difficult to convey the incredible amount of excitement pouring out of me as I consider how much God has blessed us!!!!!

As we have been blessed and have settled in we see how God provides for the poor through us.  Our Second Saturday Snack Sack has grown and has more participation than ever.  We have begun a new ministry called The Community Resource Ministry where we are putting together resources to help the needy figure out who can help them when they come to us.  We are working with other churches of other denominations to feed and care for the poor.  There is no wonder why Psalm 68:10 speaks to us, “Your people settled in it (our church), and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.”

Recently Columbia Theological Seminary has begun the Flint River Ministry Initiative.  This Initiative looks to raise $60 million to provide scholarships for seminary students who will work in churches in need of revitalization.  The Initiative will also provide churches the resources to pay for the pastor until the church reaches self-sufficiency.  Do you know where they got this idea?  Well I am sure they thought of it before our church, but our church has become the example of how to revitalize churches!!  In the seminary’s most recent newsletter this Initiative is described and 1^st Presbyterian Church of Albany, GA is highlighted as a shining example of the Lord announcing the word!

“Becoming God’s hope and joy!” is our simple vision.  Psalm 68:10-11 is an incredible piece of scripture.  The number 68 is a miracle that keeps getting more miraculous.  Put them together and you have our church, an example to other churches, a light of hope for the needy in the downtown, and a growing sanctuary of joy.  Do not stop proclaiming the Lord’s announcement, do not stop telling the community about God’s work here, do not stop inviting people to church, do not stop anything you are doing, because it is working!

Riding the wave of the Incredible Holy Spirit,

Rev. Garrett

The Greatest Commandment

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” – John 15:12-15 (NRSV)

What friends do you have that you love with the greatest love?  How have you experienced the love of those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for you?  What does it mean to be willing to die for your friends?  Jesus laid down his life for us, his friends, would you lay down your life for him?  Are you Jesus’ servant, or are you his friend?

The following story I received by e-mail years ago:

There was a family that was experiencing a small tragedy. One of their two sons had acquired an illness that required a marrow transplant. Of course, the medical personnel had all the family members tested to see who had the proper type of blood. It turned out the older brother of the sick boy was the perfect match. So the father sat the older brother down and told what they needed to do in simplest terms for the young boy. The father told him that his little brother was very very sick and that he needed to show his little brother how much he loved him by having surgery. The doctors need to take a little piece of him and put it in his little brother's body so that he doesn't die. The young boy thought about it for a couple seconds, and then he said he would do it.

So the older brother went through surgery. It was a success, and his little brother was recovering quickly. After the relief and joy passed over and the family was just sitting around relaxing, the father noticed his older son looking a little down and depressed. He took his son aside and asked him why he wasn't happy- his brother was getting better. His son said that he was very glad that his brother was getting better. So the father asked again, why are you so sad? The boy said, "When is it time for me to die?"

That's when the father realized what the boy actually had on his mind. His older son believed in his heart of hearts that he had to give up his own life so that his little brother who he loved could live.

We do not always have to give up our life for those we love to live; we just have to love in such a way!  Loving in this way forces our hearts to overflow with gladness and joy, and touches the lives of those around us.  Loving in this way changes attitudes and perspectives.  Loving in this way is truly following the command of Christ.  Jesus loves you as a friend!  As his friend love others the same way, be willing to sacrifice yourself for your friends in need just because you love them.  That is what love does!!

With hope and joy, 

Garrett

God's Love is All You Need

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Who loves you like this? Who do love in this way? Do you believe God loves you this way? How must you love better to ensure that you become more like Christ? What would our lives be like if we loved the way that love truly is?

I received the following story from an e-mail:
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups, and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy."Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies.""Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat of the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?""Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in an awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy."How much?" asked the little boy."No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

There is no charge for love!! God loves you just the way you are, even if he wants you to get better. As Christians in a loveless world we must begin loving this way too; loving others the way they are. There is no charge for our love, and when we love others as God loves us our love will never end! Each of us has been hurt and wronged, each of us has experienced jealously and pride. Today choose to love and put the rest aside and we will make the world a better place!

With Hope and Joy,
Garrett