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The Lord’s message rang out from you… —1 Thessalonians 1.8
In September, I hit the one-year anniversary of my work as Regional Mission Leader for the Great Lakes Region. In the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to and learning from many of you—pastors, church planters, campus ministers, and lay leaders. A few key themes have become very clear in all of those conversations.
First, our congregations are facing many challenges. Some of those challenges are internal, such as smaller congregations, smaller budgets, and disagreements over a variety of things in the community. Some of those challenges are external, including the widening chasm in our politics and the impact of denomination-wide disagreements. All of this has been taxing on leaders and congregations, who have shown remarkable leadership and dedication in guiding their congregations through these difficult times.
All of that makes the second observation shine more brilliantly. The Spirit of God is working powerfully in and through our congregations. I’ve heard many stories of how people in our communities have come to faith in Christ and who have found belonging in the body of Christ in and through our congregations. I’ve listened to campus ministers describe the amazing ways the Spirit is at work on college campuses. I’ve witnessed the joy of worship and the passion for discipleship among our church planters. I’ve heard testimonies of lives changed through the simple invitation to join a Discover Your Bible group.
The Lord’s message is ringing out (resonating) from our congregations! As you continue to lead and serve, I encourage you to explore this month's articles and resources. I hope they help you continue to deepen and widen your participation in God’s mission in your community.
—Scott Stark Regional Mission Leader
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