We had an amazing Sunday at ABC! Last weekend we experienced our highest attendance since the pandemic, we celebrated multiple new members and a baptism, and we successfully conducted a much-needed ministry fair. As you know, we encouraged our church to rise up and meet some critical ministry needs during this new season of growth, and I am proud to say that many of you stepped up to the plate. We had 53 new volunteers turn in cards and say “count me in” to be a part of what God is doing at ABC! I want to thank those 53 for their faithfulness and willingness to join God in His work here at ABC. I’m grateful for each of you, and I look forward to seeing God work through you in the coming days. As you bless our church through your efforts, I have no doubt that God will bless you as well.
Serving the church can be one of life’s greatest joys. It opens up doors to new friendships, it matures us in our faith, and it often leads us to new blessings in our lives. Because of this, I believe service is something we should celebrate as a church family. We should honor those who serve our church so well, both inside and outside of our church walls. When I think of public servants, I don’t think there is a better example than the brave men and women who serve our nation through our armed services. They embody the Biblical mandate to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). Every day, men and women set aside their own interests to selflessly protect and serve people they do not even know. What a wonderful gift God has given us in our nation’s service men and women! We must not take that blessing for granted, nor overlook it.
Because these men and women are worthy of our honor, I want ABC to stand up and celebrate our local heroes on Veteran’s Day weekend, Sunday November 8th. On that date, we are going to have a “Wall of Honor” in our lobby. This wall will feature names, photos, and biographical details of men and women who have served (or are currently serving) our nation. I would like to ask you to help us honor the heroes in your life. If you, or any of your relatives, have served (or are currently serving) in any of our armed services, I’d like to invite you to submit their information for our Wall of Honor display. This wall will proudly showcase the names and faces of ABC’s heroes so that our entire church family can honor and recognize them together on November 8th. If you have not done so already, please submit information on each veteran by using this FORM, or you can fill out a hard copy in the Great Hall on Sunday. It will be a Sunday you won’t want to miss as we proudly celebrate these men and women, and we’ll hear a special testimony from Vietnam POW and ABC church member, Ken Wallingford.
I hope you have either made the time, or have scheduled a time, to get out and vote! Going to the polls is one of the best ways you can honor these men and women who bravely fought to protect our freedom. Bethany and I casted our first votes in Austin, TX this past Monday. Make sure you plan to do the same, and make your voice known through the 2020 ballot box. Vote for men and women who stand up for policies that express our Christian values, and join me in prayer for the leaders that God will appoint in this new season. Invite someone to join you this weekend, and I look forward to worshipping with you as we press on to Daniel chapter 6.
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