Churches like ours rise and fall on the commitment and giving of regular volunteers. This is really no different from the early church that we read about in the book of Acts. The early church started because a band of regular people experienced an event that changed everything and re-oriented their lives and values forever. On the original Easter Sunday a movement was born and that movement is still going strong to this day. Easter has always been about the celebration of a single event in human history – an event that changed the lives of men and women and launched a movement called the church that is still re-writing history to this day. That single event, of course, was the resurrection of Christ, and I am watching the resurrection of Jesus continue to shape us today.
Platt Park Church recently received a $100K gift for building renovations. This gift came from a woman in our community who came to Christ later in life and is experiencing the transforming power of God’s love in her life today. She told Tim and I that she felt God telling her to give this huge gift to our church to help speed up the building renovations so that more people might encounter Christ. I share this with you so that you can join us in celebrating God’s work in the life of our faith community. I feel like we are experiencing the flow of God’s spirit today. Since 2010, when we were required to relocate from our worship space at South High School due to renovations in the school, it has felt like provision upon amazing provision from God. In the midst of many challenges, we have experienced the flow of God’s spirit working in this church.
Week in and week out volunteers give and serve and place the needs of others ahead of their own. We are not perfect – not by a long shot – but we are growing to be more like Christ every day. Our church would not exist without such passionate, devoted followers of Christ. A HUGE thanks to the amazing people who keep re-orienting their lives and priorities around the life of our risen Lord. Thank you for trusting God enough to risk comfort, security and misunderstanding. Thank you for giving your time and talent and treasure so that others might know His love. The greatest sin and shame in most churches today is selfishness and I am continually inspired by the other-oriented-ness that is growing in our church. May it grow even more! You people inspire me. Thank you for living a life that counts for all eternity.
To God Be the Glory!
Susie Grade 