For I know the plans I have for y’all,” declares YHWH, “plans for prosperity not disaster, to give y’all hope and a future. Y’all will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to y’all. Y’all will seek me and find me, when y’all search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13 from yallversion.com.
(You have heard me translate the plural “you” of the Bible into the Southern “y’all.” Now, someone has done that very thing in a unique translation of the Bible. Thanks to Raicheal Fulle for leading me to it.)
I have always been drawn to Jeremiah 29:11 during times of transition. On Sunday, Noelle asked, “What’s next?” I was quickly drawn to this verse, which has guided me through many different times in my life. As we stand on the threshold of 2024 and 2025, I don’t know exactly what comes next, but I do know that God will guide us on the journey ahead.
The “yallversion” of the Bible reminds us that Jeremiah 29:11 is intended to be a text of hope for people in community on their faith journey. In the Old Testament, it was meant for the Israelites in exile as a reminder that God would not abandon them. Today, it is a message of hope for our church-community in the midst of transition and growth.
I am thankful for this church-community, which started with men and women of faith who planted a church in downtown Anderson 125 years ago. About 50 years later, as we outgrew the downtown facility, other men and women took the audacious step of moving to our current facility. This reminds me that God is where we are, whether at the corner of Orr and Main or at 1404 N Boulevard. It also assures me that God guides our future as we seek to serve Christ.
While I am not sure of everything that is ahead of us in 2025, I trust that God will give us a future with hope. In the first part of the year, we hope and pray for the right candidate to join our staff to lead the Children’s Ministry of the church. We hope to finish our capital campaign and sanctuary windows project while retiring any debt incurred by the end of the year. I trust that we will welcome new members and guests in worship, and I pray that you will make room for them in the pew, Sunday School class, Bridge Meal table fellowship, and our journey of faith together.
As we start this New Year, I invite you to worship in person or online. If you cannot join us in person, don't hesitate to contact one of the pastors and let us know you are watching online. We trust that God has plans for “hope and a future” for our church-community, and we invite you to share your gifts so that we can bear fruit together.
In Christ,
Michael
Yorumlar