MI NI S T RY
God’s Guidance, Plan, Blessing and Future by Pastor Cheryl God’s Future God’s ways are not our ways sometimes. By faith it seems to work out though. We must keep our spirit open and be patient for the Spirit of God to lead FBCR forward to it’s post-pandemic future. God loves the community of FBCR. It has a faithful history and an important ministry ahead to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community and beyond.
God’s Guidance Nearly 6 years ago, after recently retiring from public school teaching, Gregg and I settled into a different state, community, church and home. I had also retired in the past from serving in hospital chaplaincy, Linfield College chaplaincy, pastoral counseling and elementary school counseling. It was time to make myself available to family after living 25 years in Oregon. God guided us to Calimesa.
God’s Plan FBCR membership and serving on the Mission Commission (God loves the whole world) was God’s plan for me. Two years later a FBCR staff retirement came a little earlier than expected. An inquiry was made concerning my possible interest in temporarily filling the staff position. I considered it. But the scope of the ministry was too broad and I was not quite comfortable covering all of the duties of Christian Education and more. Familial responsibilities were also a reality and I needed to keep my hours parttime. Focusing down to my main interest, I replied “children only”. Yes, that fits.
God’s Blessing I am so grateful for the opportunity to step into your lives as Director of Children’s Ministry four and a half years ago. It has been God’s blessing for me. I made significant connections with our Senior members, adults, parents, youth and children. I needed all of you and your gifts to create a meaningful children’s ministry. I experienced the value of intergenerational ministry at FBCR, the gift of friendships and family. God continues to bless me by watching youth and young adults step up and say, “I want to serve”. Also by adults that say yes to continuing the children’s ministry.
God’s Sending As I reflect on God’s guidance, plan, blessings and future, Gregg and I are being sent forth again to ministry as a result of a small advertisement discovered in a Christian publication. Out of curiosity, Gregg and I responded. We were surprised it was such a good fit. Our destination is New York’s Adirondacks, designated as rural and described as the Northern Appalachians (on account of the poverty). Infused with summer visitors by the thousands, they are escaping the cities of the Eastern seaboard for a respite from the heat, humidity and crowdedness. They are searching for a quiet place for their soul to rejuvenate. They come to float on the clear blue mountain lakes, hike through the lush green woods and breathe clean air. Many come unknowingly to receive God’s care for them. A small white historical steepled church, located along side an Adirondack highway, opens up its doors only during the Summer to create community and a refuge for visitors to worship the God of Creation. My hope is that they will also meet the risen Christ. New York’s Adirondacks is certainly beyond anywhere we thought we would be serving in ministry. As we prepare for our summer move, our relationships have been growing with this small church body. We meet on Zoom every Sunday, early in the morning, to worship God. For four months we will serve the summer community but hope to lay down a framework for ministry for others to continue throughout the year in that rural impoverished area. Then we return back home to Southern California. Lord willing we will return the summer of 2023 to the Adirondacks to open up those old church doors and provide the opportunity for seekers to learn more about the amazing but unpredictable God we love and serve.
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