Building the Kingdom

From One Servant Leader to Another

My First Year, by the Grace of God

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them— yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

At our August 16th Executive Board Meeting, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm celebration of my first year in this role, led by President Brian Frable and the board. The addition of Barbara to the celebration, marking our 38th wedding anniversary, was icing on the cake! This past year, I have been truly blessed by the unwavering support of our Executive Board and our exceptional HPBC staff team. Their dedication, wisdom, and encouragement have been crucial in navigating challenges and celebrating successes. I am deeply grateful for their partnership and commitment to our shared mission.

This led me to reflect on my first year in this role, God’s amazing grace toward me, and the work of our board and staff. The words of 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 resonate as Paul, recognizing his unworthiness, acknowledges that it is only by the grace of God that he was who he was and did what he did. He worked tirelessly, but even then, he knew that it was not his strength but God's grace that empowered him.

Admittedly, I have also grappled with a deep sense of inadequacy and unworthiness this past year. Stepping into this role brought with it a mix of excitement and trepidation. There were moments when the burden was heavy, and I questioned my readiness for the task. Yet, like Paul, I have come to understand that God’s grace shines the brightest in these moments of weakness. His grace has driven me to work hard, seek Him earnestly, and rely on His strength rather than my own.

Throughout this year, in my early morning prayer times, I have written petitions, humbly asking for God’s favor, wisdom, discernment, and courage in the face of difficult decisions, tight deadlines, messages to be written, and issues to be dealt with. And time and again, I have recorded the answers to those prayers. Each answered prayer is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. I have seen projects completed, gained wisdom for confusing situations, found the courage to make difficult phone calls, and discerned where to invest my time and energy.

All glory to God for His unending faithfulness and goodness!!

Craig Webb, HPBC executive director-treasurer