A REFLECTION ON FIVE YEARS

By Pastor Dan

Dear Friendship Family,

This month marks five years since the Lord called me to Friendship, and I began ministering here with you. As I’ve thought about this anniversary the last few weeks, I felt the Spirit nudging me to write something to acknowledge this occasion with you.

In many ways it is hard to believe that five years have already passed. It seems just a short time ago when I first interviewed with the search team, then met the staff and council, and eventually had space to converse with all of you. In those moments the names and faces came so quickly that they mostly were a blur. Over these years it has been a joy for your faces to become more familiar, and to learn more of the faith and life stories that make you who you are. I hope that I never take for granted the privilege of being able to walk with you and beside you in your lives in whatever form that might take as your pastor. I know that I have been blessed by you and learned from you in a multitude of ways already during this time we’ve shared.

As I look back across these five years, it is certainly true that a lot has happened in that time. At Friendship, we’ve hired seven different staff members, gone through a worldwide pandemic which brought about discussions and decisions we never thought we’d be having or making (and probably hope we never have to again!), started a partnership with a sister church in Kenya, sent youth and mission groups across many states and to many different countries, taken up the $10 challenge and a blessing offering, and much, much more. We have seen several of our brothers and sisters finish their earthly pilgrimages and return home to the Lord, while also seeing many new members born and baptized. We’ve also had the joy of seeing many profess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For some of us, life might not be so different than it was five years ago, but for others there have been large changes in our families, health, jobs, and stages of life. No matter the changes for good or ill, I hope that all of us can look and see in faith that the Lord has been present and faithful in all of it.

The first time I preached here at Friendship will be exactly five years ago this coming Sunday (March 3rd). We reflected on the opening verses of Revelation 21 together, and the Lord’s proclamation that he is making all things new. We talked about how living toward this vision of the Lord means avoiding the extremes of living in frozen fear on the one end, and putting our hope in every new fad of our culture on the other. We acknowledged that while we were excited for this new beginning between pastor and congregation, that only the Lord can bring about the true new beginning that we all long for. Our trust is in the Lord and his salvation.

As we look toward the future, the Lord’s Word continues to ring true. We are in another time of leadership transition, and we don’t know exactly what things will look like going forward. But, we do know who holds tomorrow, and we do know that he has promised to make all things new. The Lord continues to gather, protect and preserve for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. So, no matter what the next five years might hold, we walk forward in faith and hope, not because of our own strength or knowledge, but because we know the Lord, and trust that he will do all that he has said.

I give thanks and praise to the Lord for bringing us together five years ago, and for the many blessings he has poured out on us through his Spirit in this time. I am looking forward to what God has in store for us next, and pray that we might be united in faith, hope and love, as we serve together in the name of Jesus. To God be the glory!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Dan

Recent Updates