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Pastor’s Report 2022

by Doug DeFord | Published March 1, 2022

Dear Church Family,

As you reflect on the last year of Alathea’s history, what words come to your mind? Several words come o my mind: perseverance, hard work, more perseverance, sacrifice, change, and progress. I also think about our loving, heavenly Father and some words that describe Him: merciful, gracious, loving, good, and wise.

Without question, 2021 was another very trying year. I’m not sure many of us thought that 2021 would be a more trying year than 2020, but I’m also pretty sure many of us would say that it was at least as trying if not more so. But I also truly believe we would agree that against the backdrop of the challenges, what stands out more vividly is God’s faithfulness to us.

While we acknowledge the less-than-ideal circumstances we were in at the beginning of the year and the hard work and sacrifice that the completion of our building project required, what I would like to focus our attention on is the progress that it all points. And while I commend all of your for the energy and resources you put into our building and your faithfulness to persevere through it all, that is only a fraction of the progress I refer to.

The “progress” and “success” I refer to is the kind spoken of in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Be honest: did you ever feel weary over the past year when we were in the thick of this building project and trying to keep the rest of life and ministry going as well? Of course you did, and so did I! But this verse is not admonishing us not to get tired. It is admonishing us not to faint or to lose heart. To the glory of God, I’m convinced that it was because of your love for the Lord and for His church that you did not lose heart; you did not faith; you persevered; and not you can expect to reap!

This does not mean that we can stop doing good now; that we can stop persevering. But I’m convinced that as we have persevered and continue to do so, we are in a position to begin reaping a tremendous harvest. We’ve grown personally. Opportunities are abounding. Souls are being saved and will be saved! The beautiful cycle of disciple-making has begun to turn and it is picking up momentum!

Let’s remain sober and vigilant. Satan is not going to rest. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says it best: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

I couldn’t be more excited to walk and serve together with all of you in 2022! That’s because I love you dearly. But also because Jesus is with us and will be until the end of the age!

Love,

Pastor Doug

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