14 Stronger

If you were to ask me what I love most about ministry, I wouldn’t hesitate. Baptizing new believers and teaching the faith, especially in moments like confirmation, brings me the deepest joy. This past Sunday, we had the privilege of witnessing the fruits of our church’s faithful work, and it was incredible!

While I don’t always think of membership as the primary fruit, I have to say, the conversations I’ve had with these families have been remarkable. They’ve been seeking places to grow in their faith, asking deep, thoughtful questions, and studying the Bible with real passion. On Sunday, we welcomed 14 new members into our church, bringing our total to 47 in just 2.5 years since the split! Friends, that’s amazing fruit!

But what’s even more exciting than the new members was the baptism and confirmation we celebrated. If you’re newer to our church, you might not realize just how special Dylan’s confirmation was. For years, our church has had a heart for confirming our youth, but for one reason or another, we hadn’t confirmed any since 2017. Now, I’m praising God as we see young people returning to the church, and we see His hand moving through our children’s ministry!

One of those moments of God’s work is Izzy’s baptism. Her family joined the church last December, and after some beautiful conversations during Kid’s Club, Izzy told her mom she wanted to be baptized! That’s the fruit of a family and a church working together to disciple this amazing young woman.

And then there’s Dylan—a thoughtful and talented high schooler who plays on his school’s golf team. He’s quiet but incredibly sharp, and his confirmation is such a testament to God’s work in his life and our community.

I hope you’ll add Izzy, Dylan, and our entire children’s and youth ministry to your prayer list. These young people represent the future of our church, and through them, God’s work will continue far beyond us. Praise be to God!