We serve a great and mighty God and He is worthy of our praise.It has been some time since we shared a more extensive update with our larger distribution list.Thank you for your patience and for your love in Christ that is our common bond.The intent of this note is to share both an updated praise report from our congregation here in Greensboro and to tell you a few ways that you can be praying for us in the weeks and months to come.
I believe you are all aware that we are undergoing a season of transition at Covenant Fellowship.Our dear friend and founding pastor, Joel Gillespie, made a decision early this summer to ask the congregation to release him from his call as pastor of our church and to help support him and his family as he ventured into a new chapter of vocation.In late May we celebrated the 16 years of service that Joel shared with our church.As I reflect on these last months I am filled with awe and thanksgiving at how the Lord has helped all of us to take each step in faith and unity.The Word has been a great comfort and light to our path and we have learned to lean on God's daily mercies to see us through this transition as there is no easy step by step guide for how to go about these changes in the life of a church.We have been reminded that God is good ~ all of the time.He has provided for us every step of the way.
Dwight and Susan Thomas hosted a group of our church leaders for a Vision Retreat early this summer.We have revised our church Vision - affirming the vast majority of the original vision of our church and tweaking the language in a few places to reflect our current language and thinking. Please take a moment to read these changes on our website.Our congregation voted on a Nominations Committee (or Search Committee) just three weeks ago and that group is making great progress.A survey was shared with everyone attending Covenant Fellowship and we learned this morning during Open Time that we have now heard from more than 30 of our current families.Our website is up to date (please take a look at www.covenantfellowshipgreensboro.org ) and we have created a job description to share with prospective candidates seeking more information about our church.Since the last Presbytery and Synod meetings in June we have already received a number of applications and letters of interest.In the next week we will be formally posting the open position and beginning the process of reviewing information from our candidates.
Please pray for Covenant Fellowship.Our earnest desire is to see each member of this congregation grow in their relationship to the Lord.We are currently studying the parables found in the Gospels and it has been such a rich and rewarding season of teaching on Sunday mornings. God is using each of our gifts and talents to accomplish His will and for His glory.Our worship time has been a blessing.Terry Crahen, from our sister church at Faith Chapel, joined us in June and will join us again soon to lead our Communion time.Open Time and our Sunday meal time have been full of praises, testimonies, and requests for prayer.In sum, the church is growing in our love for one another and in our Kingdom mindset through this time of transition.We would ask that you pray with us for God to sustain us and continue to grow us in the days ahead.Please pray for the man that God will call to serve as our teaching elder and pastor - may the Lord be working in his heart preparing him for his calling to our local church body. Pray that we will be patient and that we will seek the Lord's timing - that we will press ahead in faith and that God will provide for our daily needs. Pray also for Joel and his family as they seek the Lord's guidance and provision.
At the end of the summer we will be sending off a few of our dear friends and coworkers in Christ.Tim and Cassandra Rausher will be moving to Wake Forrest, NC where Tim will begin seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.Logan Haggard will be moving to Tennessee to take a job teaching music in the public schools.Tim, Cassandra, and Logan have each served important roles with us blessing our youth and enhancing our worship.We will miss them dearly.Please pray for them as they seek a new church home and as they step out in faith through their upcoming moves.
Thank you for your love, for your prayers, and for helping us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Blessings to you,
Steadman
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"The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." ~ Psalm 12:6
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."~ Romans 15:13
"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust." ~ Psalm 103:13-14
"Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children." ~ Proverbs 14:2
"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all time. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." ~ Psalm 62:5-8
"But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress." ~ Psalm 59:16
