“…so these stones shall
become a memorial
to the sons of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:7
As the Israelites crossed the Jordan to take
possession of the Promised Land, they gathered twelve stones from the riverbed,
one stone for each of the twelve tribes. They used the stones to construct a
memorial that would remind future generations of God’s faithfulness to His
people.
Is it possible for an entire generation to know nothing about the Lord?
It’s entirely possible, especially when the previous generation fails to tell
them. This happened to Israel and it could easily happen to us (Judges 2:10).
Passing on a legacy of faithfulness and godliness is one of the greatest
responsibilities we have as God’s people.
Sunday, October 5th is our
“Memorial Sunday” known as Homecoming. This is a time for remembering and
celebrating another year of God’s faithfulness to us as a church.
As I consider
Homecoming this year, there are several memorial stones that come to mind:
- A
celebration of a mentor and friend. Mark
Hathcox will be preaching God’s Word in morning worship. Under Pastor
Mark’s leadership, Green Hill licensed me to the Gospel Ministry, which
marked a significant change in the direction of my life.
- A celebration
of friendships. God has richly blessed me
with friends – brothers and sisters in Christ who have impacted my life in
tremendous ways. Some have moved on to various ministries and ventures in
life, but have indicated that they will be with us for Homecoming. I’m
looking forward to worshiping with God’s people!
- A
celebration of God’s work. It’s been a great year at
Green Hill. We’ve celebrated new converts and Baptisms, new members
joining our church family, and the completion of many projects. We’ve also
added another full-time staff to our ministry team. Again, we welcome Mike
McCormick and his family to Green Hill.
- A
re-dedication for kingdom service. The renovation of the Harter
Building is one of the many projects completed this year. For over 60
years, the Harter Building has been used for kingdom service. Following
our fellowship meal, we will celebrate in a special re-dedication of the
Harter facility to continued kingdom service.
- A
one-year anniversary. Where has time gone? I’m
humbled to be completing my first year as pastor of Green Hill and I look
forward to many more!
These are just a few stones that remind me of
God’s faithfulness. I hope that you and your family will join us for this
special gathering for worship on October 5th and stay afterward
for the fellowship meal and Harter Building re-dedication service.
Serving Together,
Pastor Brett
