Greetings dear churches! Grace and peace to you all. January is somewhat like Genesis—it’s the beginning of many plans, ideas, and vision for 2021. But just as we seek God in our personal life plans, we as a church sought God’s help by beginning the year with prayer for our leaders (in church and goverment) those in need (poverty, oppression, bondage to sin), and family (our church family and individual families). This was a sweet time as we leaned on the Lord, for his shoulders are broad to carry our burdens—He alone can sustain, comfort, empower, for He is Lord over all and the giver of life.
We also started listening to the best sermon which was ever preached—and it wasn’t from one of our pastors, but from Jesus Christ himself in the sermon the mount. God has been reminding us that the Christian life is an inside-out kind of living. It begins with attitudes that we must have (beatitudes) which leads to a life of action. Jesus has been showing us that we must be influential as a church as we continue being salt and light in our community. This is also the first time that we as a church are preaching through the same series at both services (9a — English; 11a — Russian).
Family group restarted this past month as well. This is a group comprised of young married couples to seasoned couples whose kids are out of the home. It’s a joy to see such a variety of ages whose main connection is the blood of Christ. We truly believe that by gathering and sharing life together we can all serve one another by praying, bearing burdens, and building each other up with the Word. This is also the context where we can practice Titus 2 (older men teaching younger; older women teaching younger) and especially the over 50+ “one-anothers” found in the New Testament.
As we continue to make plans and seek to honor the Lord, we understand that we make our plans, but the Lord directs our steps. Not only have we seen this corporately as a church, but the Lord has drawn souls to himself and on March 7th we will have a baptism where four souls are going to make a public commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
God is good!
Denis Gerasimov
