One of the great joys of being a member of a local church is knowing that you don’t walk the Christian life alone. God has designed the church to be a living, breathing, active body, made up of many members, each gifted in different ways, yet united in Christ for a common purpose. Our upcoming Ministry Fair is a celebration of that truth, and it serves two important purposes for our church family.

First, the Ministry Fair is about awareness. For those who are new members, maybe not yet even members of the church, or even long-time members who may not know everything happening behind the scenes, this is an opportunity to see how God is at work through the various ministries of our church. From discipleship and LifeGroups to care ministries, worship, children, youth, technology and more, the Ministry Fair highlights the many ways we are serving one another, and working together to proclaim the life-changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Through the Ministry Fair, you may discover ministries that address real needs in your own life or family, opportunities for encouragement, growth, prayer, fellowship, or biblical instruction. In many ways, the Ministry Fair is an invitation to say, “This is your church. These are your people. And this is how God is caring for His flock.” Our prayer is that as you walk through the fair, you’ll gain a clearer picture of how the Lord uses the local church to nurture spiritual growth and provide loving care for His people.

Second, the Ministry Fair is about opportunity. The Christian life was never meant to be passive or consumer-oriented. Scripture reminds us that every believer has been gifted by God and called to serve for the building up of the body. Romans 12:6, speaking about spiritual gifts within the context of the local church says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” Why? So that the whole church, the body of Christ, can be healthy, built up, and properly honor the Lord Jesus Christ. The Ministry Fair helps people connect their spiritual giftings and interests with ministries where they can serve the Lord and other people.

Each ministry represented in our Ministry Fair reflects a real need, whether it’s teaching, hospitality, prayer, service, encouragement, or hands-on care. Some roles are visible, others are quiet and behind the scenes, but all are vital. The fair allows you to ask questions, meet ministry leaders, and explore where God may be leading you to serve.

For some, this may mean stepping into a ministry for the first time. For others, it could be a season to re-engage, redirect your service, or even mentor and support others in their service. Volunteering isn’t about filling slots; it’s about faithfully stewarding the gifts God has entrusted to you for His glory and the good of His church.

Ultimately, the Ministry Fair reminds us that the church is not a building or a program, it’s a people, redeemed by Christ and sent to love God and love others. Whether you come to learn, to connect, or to serve, we encourage you to prayerfully engage with what God is doing among us. We look forward to seeing you at the Ministry Fair and trust that the Lord will use it to strengthen His church and stir our hearts toward even greater, faithful service.

Most of you know that I love snow. I don’t necessarily know what it is about snow, but it always brings a huge smile to my face. Perhaps it’s the time we spent in Poland, a place where we often had snow. Perhaps it’s remembering the joy of being a kid and having a snow day—"yeah, no school today!” Or now, it’s the joy of having my kids and granddaughter come over to our house to go sledding down our hill.

One thing I know for sure though is that whenever I look out at the snow, it causes me to reflect upon God. I think of Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, ”Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” I recall the transfiguration of Jesus where His true majesty was revealed in the sight of Peter, James, and John, where the Bible describes Jesus’ appearance as exceedingly white like snow. There just seems to be something significant about this “whiteness” of snow that covers everything, something connecting this natural occurrence here on this earth to the almighty creator God who made it even possible in the first place.

But then, as I thought further about the snow and the slow melting of the snow, I thought about one more thing, the glory of God upon the face of Moses. The account of Moses’ face reflecting the glory of God in Exodus 34, and when it’s mentioned again in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 3, causes me to stop and think about just how bright, and brilliant God really is. How amazing must the appearance of God really be for the face of a man to continue to reflect that brilliance even when coming away from the presence of God? 2 Corinthians 3:13 said that Moses wore a veil over his face so that the nation of Israel wouldn’t behold the glory of God fading away. That’s an interesting thought and conversation in and of itself.

But whether veiled or revealed, the fact of the matter is that while we are on this earth, we can have but glimpses of the might and majesty of God. Whether it’s found in looking out at a freshly driven snow, or found in the reading of a passage of Scripture that the Holy Spirit illuminates so amazingly right when we need it, or seen in the changed life of someone who has placed their faith and trust in Jesus, we’re reminded that our God is an awesome God. But then, that reminder slowly fades away like the melting snow, and we have to be reminded of it again. And, yes, I’m thankful for those repeated reminders, but I even more long for the day when I will be able to behold the brilliance of my God forevermore. One day, that will be a reality. But until then, enjoy the moments, and point people to source of the brilliance, God Himself.

At the time that I was writing this, my family and I were preparing for our first family vacation as a complete family, me and my wife, our three children, their spouses, and our granddaughter. The next morning the plane will take off (if everything goes as planned), and away we’ll go. Two hours later we should be landing in Florida. Hopefully that’s how it goes.

This is actually something we’ve been thinking about, talking about, and preparing for for a few years now. We’ve also picked up one more since we first started planning, as our daughter got married this past May. We kind of like him. He too is a keeper.

But as the bags get packed and the itinerary gets double-checked, I’m finding myself thinking less about theme parks, restaurants, or the beach, and more about the simple gift of shared moments. Trips like this aren’t really as much about the destination as they are about the time spent together. Time that feels increasingly rare as life fills up with responsibilities, work schedules, and the natural busyness that comes with a growing family.

As I stepped back from thinking about the time away for a second, I started to think about how Scripture often calls God’s people to remember. Israel was commanded to remember what the Lord had done, how He had delivered them, provided for them, and remained faithful even when they were not. Psalm 105:5 tells us to “Remember His marvelous works which He has done.” God wasn’t telling the nation of Israel to remember what He had done just for the sake of nostalgia or reminiscing, He wanted them to see that their experiences of the past were shaping who they were to be in the future.

In a similar, though smaller way, family memories matter because they too shape our future. They remind us of who we are, where we came from, and what we’ve done together. They become reference points of joy, laughter, and sometimes even hardship. And for the family that’s rooted in Christ, we can remember His sustaining and guiding power, no matter the experience. One day, our granddaughter probably won’t remember too much about the flight or the place we stayed at while we were in Florida, but she may remember being laughed with, doing things together as a family, and most importantly, being loved.

The fact of the matter is, life moves fast, too fast; and it just seems to be moving all the more rapidly with each passing year. I guess that shouldn’t surprise us though, as James reminds us that our life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). That truth can feel heavy, perhaps even depressing, but it also gives perspective. If our days are few, then they are precious. And if they’re precious, then they’re worth investing in very intentional ways, especially in the people God has placed closest to us, our family, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So as we board that plane, I’m grateful, not just for the opportunity to travel, but for the reminder that every good gift comes from God the Father. My prayer is simple, that these days would be marked by gratitude, joy, and a deeper awareness of God’s kindness in giving us one another. The memories will follow. And when we get back, we’ll share our memories with you, our extended family, as well.

In Matthew 28:19-20 we read these words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. These are the words of Jesus—His command to spread the message of repentance and faith in Him to all peoples. We call it the great commission.

But notice that in these words Jesus doesn’t simply tell His followers to make converts, but to make disciples. A disciple is someone who has been called by Christ, transformed by the gospel, and committed to obedience to all that Jesus has commanded. And in this process of discipleship, baptism stands at the very beginning. Baptism isn’t presented as an optional add-on or a private spiritual experience, but rather a visible response to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It’s an imperative, something that those who follow Jesus must do, go and make disciples and baptize them. It’s also an imperative to the one who becomes a disciple.

So here’s the question, why did Jesus place such a significant emphasis upon baptism? I think there’s really a two-fold answer. First, baptism serves as evidence that someone is a disciple of Jesus. It’s a way that the church knows who’s following Jesus and who isn’t. Now we have to be careful to note that baptism doesn’t save us, nor does it add to the finished work of Christ, but it testifies that something real has taken place in the life of the one being baptized. That’s the testimony of Zane who’s being baptized this morning. Something has changed in Zane’s life, and his baptism points to that fact, that He wants to follow Jesus in all of His ways because of what Jesus has already done. When a believer goes under the water and is raised up again, they are publicly identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They are saying, in effect, “I belong to Him. My old life is gone, and my new life has begun.” The local church witnesses this act and affirms it, recognizing that God has truly done a saving work in this person’s life.

The second reason it seems that Jesus placed such a heavy emphasis upon baptism is more than evidence though, it’s also a statement of belonging. Baptism is a declaration of intention. When someone is baptized, they aren’t merely saying, “I follow Jesus,” but also, “I want to follow Jesus with His people.” Baptism places a believer into the visible community of the church. It marks the beginning of a shared life of worship, accountability, instruction, and love. You see, Christianity isn’t a solo journey, and baptism makes that truth visible, that the one being baptized is joining with others who also are following Jesus.

This is why baptism is so important to the local church. It’s the front door to the life of the church. Through baptism, the church celebrates God’s saving grace, welcomes new believers into fellowship, and commits to helping them grow in obedience to Christ. Likewise, the baptized believer commits to walking alongside other believers, submitting to the teaching of Scripture, and living out their faith in community.

In a culture that often treats faith as private and individualistic, baptism boldly proclaims something different. It says that the gospel creates a people, not just isolated believers. It reminds us that following Jesus means being joined to His body and walking together until the end of the age. Isn’t that what Jesus said? “… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So today, it’s a really special day. Today, we as the church are doing that which Christ commanded. Zane is doing that which Christ commanded. And together we’re bearing witness to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the beauty of life together in Him. Baptism isn’t the finish line of faith, it’s the starting point of a lifelong journey of discipleship, lived out in the context of the local church.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Central to the Christian faith is quite simply, faith. It seems almost silly to have to say that, but the author of the book of Hebrews obviously felt it necessary to point it out. Why? It seems to be because faith is something that can grow or lessen, be strengthened or weakened, be actively present or at times seemingly absent, and so the author of the book of Hebrews double-clicked on the necessity of exercising our faith.

You see, faith isn’t just a question of whether or not one has it. It seems to be more of a continuum. And yet, Jesus seemed to imply that it’s not necessary to have massive faith, at least not initially, as He spoke of having the faith of a mustard seed, and even that faith had miraculous effect. So what is God telling us about faith?

Well, I think the key is actually found in the verse that preceded one of Jesus’ instances of speaking of the faith of a mustard seed. In Luke 17:5 the Bible reads, “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Jesus’ response to that was that one must exercise whatever level of faith they already possess, whether it’s great faith or small faith, like that of a mustard seed. Faith must be exercised.

Faith, then is not merely something we claim, but something we practice. Like a muscle, it grows through use. When faith is exercised, it strengthens; when it’s neglected, it weakens. This helps us understand why Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people not just to believe, but to walk by faith, live by faith, and endure through faith. An active and growing faith is one in which one’s trust is in the character and promises of God, especially when circumstances tempt us to rely on our own understanding instead.

This is why the apostles’ request, really a prayer, in Luke 17:5 is so instructive. They didn’t ask for new information, better strategies, or fewer challenges. They asked for increased faith. They recognized that the life God was calling them to live required deeper dependence on Him. And Jesus’ response reminds us that growth in faith doesn’t begin with waiting for some dramatic spiritual moment—it begins with obedience right where we are.

All throughout Scripture, faith grows as God’s people respond to His Word. Abraham’s faith grew as he followed God into the unknown. David’s faith grew as he trusted God in both times of peace and times of war. The early church’s faith grew as they prayed, preached, suffered, and persevered together. In each case, faith wasn’t abstract, it was being lived out in real circumstances, under real pressure.

This brings us to why I’m writing about faith in the first place. Well, every year we have a theme for our church, a specific, special emphasis to consider. This year's theme, a theme that will run throughout 2026 is “Lord, increase our faith.” I want us to especially note, however, that this isn’t a passive request, nor is it a vague spiritual slogan. It’s a petitioning of God Himself, a prayer that, as long as we mean it, commits us to growth. This call to the Lord, “increase our faith,” assumes that God will place us in situations that stretch our trust, deepen our dependence, and call us beyond comfortable Christianity. It also acknowledges that we’re going to need Him and His grace every step of the way.

As your pastor, it’s my desire, and a desire that I hope the entirety of our church family will want to share as well, that in 2026 we wouldn’t simply talk more about faith, but that we would live it more fully. It’s my desire that we would trust God more deeply in prayer, obedience, generosity, and perseverance. It’s my desire that we would take God at His Word, even when the outcome is uncertain. It’s my desire that we would believe, as Hebrews 11:6 says, not just that God exists, but that He is good, faithful, and rewarding to those who diligently seek Him.

May 2026 be a year where our church is marked by clearly growing faith, not because we are strong, but because our God is faithful. May our prayer continually be the humble and honest cry of the apostles: “Lord, increase our faith.” Happy New Year!