We are enjoying a time of God's favor and enjoying the chance to participate with Him in a great work through our church family.  Every Sunday, one or more people come through the Pastor’s reception line and are broken and hurting.  Many express they are not even sure how they first heard about CBC but all are here because they need the presence of the Lord and the love of God’s people.  Rachel and I pray with them, encourage them and connect them with other members of the church family who can help and embrace them.

I try to relay as many of the stories of what God is doing (the ones I know about) on Sunday mornings.  It is funny how those stories "label" people.  One woman explained that after I told her story on a Sunday she later was talking to someone and they said, "OH! You are the Starbucks Lady"!  There are many stories of lives that are being changed ... while I cannot share them all, here is one that I know you will find encouraging (I changed the names because I don’t want to embarrass anybody!):

AN ADOPTED NAVY FAMILY – this spring, Matt and Kim attended CBC and both gave their lives to Christ.  One of Deacon Pastors and his wife met with them to talk about their decision and offer them a Bible and a Bible study resource. Shortly after that, Matt deployed and is still away at the time of this writing.  Kim has continued to be involved in a Connection Group this spring and has been growing in her faith.  In the last few weeks, she came forward and was baptized by that same Deacon Pastor.  At 19, with a new baby, a deployed husband and no family close by Kim has been doing everything herself.  She has made friends at CBC and we are so proud of her! 

Recently, I was talking to one of the older men in our church over a Wednesday night dinner and sharing with him an idea for connecting our young families who are not from JAX with some of our median and older adults in a sort of “Adopt A Family” set up.  To explain why this is so important, I told him Kim’s story. 

As my story ended, guess who walked by?  Kim!  So, I called her over and introduced her … my friend quickly picked up that THIS is the young woman I had been describing and turned to her and asked, “Can my wife and I take you and your baby to lunch on Sunday?”  She agreed … it did not stop with lunch, though.  They have continued to love Kim, her baby … and her friend.  You see, Kim introduced them to her friend, Ann and invited her to visit CBC.  Not so sure she would be accepted, she faced her fears and decided to give it a try. 

Ann has come to church for a couple of weeks now.  Last Sunday morning, she wrote on her Connection Card that she prayed to give her life to Christ!  (…and the angels rejoice)

But the story does not end there … Ann, who is also a young navy wife with a new baby and deployed husband, decided to participate in our Sumer Vacation program last Wednesday night.  She explained she had several friends she had invited and was hopeful they would be in church with her this Sunday … and you know, I am not sure that this story is even close to being over!

I tell you this story to encourage you because you may not know all the good that is happening and how God is answering your prayers and rewarding your faithfulness and sacrifice. 

BUT, I want us also to be aware that we have a real enemy who does not stand idly by when God goes to work.1 Peter 5:8 says, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  Friends, let’s give God glory for the good that is occurring around us … he lives that are being changed.  But let’s also be a serious-minded people who are aware of the devil’s schemes; let’s be prayerful and careful that he will not have any success creating discord, division or sin.

God bless you!

Pastor Paul