Good
morning. As I write this I am sitting on a folding chair in the
hallway of Weinberg Elementary School in Gilbert, AZ. I am readying
for worship with the FreedomLIFE Church of Phoenix, which is part of an
exciting emphasis by Southern Baptists to plant churches in larger metropolitan
cities across the US. The cities were chosen based upon their size
and because they each hold near negligible ratio’s of evangelical
populations and witness. In short, few people claim to be followers of Christ
in these cities – hence, the emphasis.
We
are here working with Pastor Shea Ferguson, who, at the call of God upon both
he and his wife, Amber, have uprooted themselves and their four children to
move here from Georgia and become church planters. ParkwayHills is one of a
handful of churches lending them financial support, and this weekend our
Missions and Women’s Minister, Suzi Prizer, arranged for us to come and help
them with a block party, neighborhood canvassing, partnership with an area
pregnancy center, and by bringing encouragement, love and support. Needless to
say, for Belinda and me, this has brought back memories of our own journey –
one which began for us 28 years ago this month.
So this
morning I asked Pastor Shea what he wanted from me for this final day of our visit, and
he told me he wanted me to preach. I said, “No, Pastor! You
preach! This is your church.”
Then he added, ‘but, Pastor, our people need to hear from someone who has already
done this, and who can tell them that they, through the power of God, can
do this too.’ I understood. So my text in a
few moments will be from Matthew 16 – which reminds us that upon Peter’s
confession, our confession and the very same confession of all others who will
follow, God WILL build His church. And
with longing and love in my heart for this pastor, his family and precious church, I will say so once again. And… I will, of course, remember. I will
remember the days of Brinker Elementary school in Plano, the handful of
families who came in 1989, the challenges we faced, and the joy and miracle we
witnessed over and again. For, indeed, it really is so - God WILL, and
DOES, build His church, still.
So
thank you ParkwayHills for giving me, Belinda, Bobby & Kim Adams, Mark Goode, Jim Hitt, Walter Mickels & Lisa Vanderburg the opportunity to go to Phoenix
this weekend and tell this pastor and his small flock what we, too, have seen
and know – that, ‘with God all things are possible’ - especially the building of His
church. For, as the text says...
You
are Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (petra – meaning your confession that I
am the Christ) I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail
(stand) against it.’ Matthew 16: 18
Blessings
from Phoenix, indeed!
Pastor
Sam
