Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)
In a world full of uncertainties, these promises provide shelter through every storm. Given the perpetual troubles in the world and recent anxieties in our nation, it is good to continually hide ourselves in the love of God in Christ. We can know without doubt that God will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28) and that He will graciously give us all things (Romans 8:32) because He has already given us Christ who has given His life for ours! The Gospel is always wonderful, but there are times when it is especially so. And dealing with change and loss is one of those times.
At the quarterly meeting in July, I mentioned some of the changes and losses that we will be going through in the Fall. These are not tragic or troubling, but they are worth mentioning again for your consideration and prayers.
- Our Associate Pastor Doug Dobbins, who has been with us for 4 years and was recently ordained, has just about completed his seminary work at Gordon-Conwell and will be moving down to Texas to continue his studies and to minister to his family. Doug has been a great blessing to us at MSBC and he is well loved and will be missed, but we believe this is God’s will for him at this time and trust the Lord will lead him in this next phase. Please keep him and his parents in your prayers. Doug will be preaching for me on August 9th and 16th and his last Sunday will be August 30th.
- At the same time that Doug is leaving Seminary, our very own Jason Pouliot will be entering Gordon-Conwell in the Fall! We are very pleased with this development and believe that God has great plans for Jason and are looking forward to his ministry here at MSBC. As it stands, Jason will be taking over the youth group for Doug. Please keep Jason in prayers and if you’d like to financially support his education, please speak to him or call the office.
- To help with music (Doug’s other job), our good friend Doug Gregan will be joining us a couple of times a month. This Doug is the founder of New Brothers Fellowship (one of the missionaries we support) and he has blessed us with his music in the past.
- Beth Ann Kay, another Gordon-Conwell student and member of MSBC, has been missing from worship lately. But this is not due to any back-sliding. She has been working with a women’s prison ministry in New Hampshire on Sundays and helping with worship and bible studies. She has requested prayer for wisdom and strength.
- Dan Rogers will be returning for his second year at Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Bible College. Dan will be joining our team to Africa and then heading back to school in late August. It has been great to have him around to help with Kids Day and VBS and whatever else we might need. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers (especially for safe travel).
Not all losses are harmful and I think it is obvious that these changes will all be for the good of the Kingdom (though we may find ourselves a bit short-handed at times). But again, we have the love of God in Christ and every spiritual blessing and promise in Him. So we can have great confidence that He will provide for our every need according to His riches in glory. (Phil. 4:19) So please keep these folks and our church in prayer and consider if perhaps you may be a part of God’s provision for the Fall.