May 6, 2021

By Jason Duley

One of the elements of my work as Senior Pastor that I enjoy immensely is the relationship work. I get to talk with so many people!

During Covid, that has been a logistical challenge. It was once common for me to have a hundred spontaneous conversations with people on a Sunday morning. This past year, however, I’ve had to schedule conversations (enlisting my staff to help), and I’m lucky to work in maybe ten conversations a week. What’s awesome, despite the lack of quantity, is that the quality of these conversations has deepened.

What I hear from many of you is not complaint that these are difficult times. It’s that your faith is growing during these difficult times. I have heard people say, “I’m spending more and better time with family” or “I got into a virtual small group and deepened my relationship with Christ and with other people.” One or two have said “We’ve grown closer in our marriage.” And I love that someone told me, “I’ve become more committed to worship even though I’m not there! I’m more consistently present through Livestream than ever before in my life.”

I simply love being part of a church that’s empowering people to grow in their faith, which is demonstrated in relationships that deepen on a spiritual level. It’s been challenging to do that during Covid, but you’ve demonstrated that it is happening.

Now we’re turning a corner and planning to reopen with regular in-person worship beginning in June. This will be Sunday worship, time to be determined, for which you will need to register. Space will be limited. But it’s a start, and it’s going to allow us to deepen these same relationships again on a spiritual level.

 As we return to normal, may God guide our steps to further growth and deeper relationship with Him.