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  My week in Orlando with Janae and others from the church was wonderful. There were a number of terrific workshops and speakers. I was able to attend several compelling workshops, one on starting a fathering movement in your church and one on disciple making with guys. Great stuff and our team is summarizing all that we gleaned from the three-day conference which we will provide for you in the coming days.

This week I was blessed to observe the end of the year programs for our Wee Friends Preschool on Monday and Tuesday evening. It was great to see so many families packed into the sanctuary and to see the children share what they had learned in this past year. Our COM ministry continues to impact many families in the southern end. As I was observing these closing programs, I found myself praying and thanking God for the nearly 50 years of Wee Friends and the many lives that it has impacted. My thanks to Aliza and her great team for continuing to lead this great ministry.
 

Yesterday was National Day of Prayer and I was privileged to participate at the National Day of Prayer service at noon at the Borough building in Quarryville. In addition, I was able to make a few visits this week, prepare a sermon and attend a meeting of the team planning our FAMJAM weekend which is now just three months away! May has arrived, which includes our final Roots nights until fall as well as our spring congregational business meeting on the 14th. You can look for the reports for that meeting this Sunday.

I am celebrating two big anniversaries this weekend. Today Ruth and I celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. We are in Harrisburg where I am substitute teaching and Ruth is spending time with our youngest daughter Tessa. On Sunday, I will celebrate another anniversary. Sunday will mark my 50th anniversary as a follower of Jesus Christ. May 4, 1975, at New Providence Church of God is the day of my conversion. For a half a century now, I have been a believer and have sought to grow in my devotion to Jesus Christ. It has been an amazing fifty-year journey to say the least. I have come a long way in my spiritual journey, but I dare say I have a long way yet to go. 2 Peter 3:18 is a favorite verse of mine. Peter declares in that verse that we “are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.” In fifty years, God has taken a quiet, backward southern Lancaster County boy and made him an ever-maturing follower of Christ and a pastor going on 28 years now. So, I am celebrating two special anniversaries this weekend.

Let me close with this. In my devotions this week I was reading of the kings of Israel and Judah in 2 Chronicles and how many of them didn’t follow the Lord and led the people in worshiping false gods. It seems as though far more kings strayed from God than were loyal to him. But Josiah is one that stands out for me. His story is told in 2 Chronicles 34-35. He was just eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 31 years. He purged Judah of idols and carved images. He sought to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem and he repaired the temple. Josiah led a tremendous reform that brought the people back to God, worshiping and following him. Josiah’s life ends tragically when he dies from a wound in battle, but the nation mourned for him. Josiah’s life of devotion to God and desire to bring the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem back to God is a shining light among a steady stream of kings who did just the opposite. Josiah’s life encourages me to stand strong and remain devoted to the Lord.

Spring is finally here as the warmer weather has arrived. Ruth and I are busy working on the yard and the landscaping around the house but with the wet weather forecast for this weekend, we probably won’t get too much done. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we consider yet another question from our young disciples about why there are so many mysteries in the Bible. We have much to celebrate even more than simply anniversaries. We have an amazing God who has overcome death and the grave and is risen and lives forevermore. Have a blessed weekend and remember, it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin