It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since we moved to Kentucky and I began working with the Worthington congregation. The year has flown by. I just wanted to stop and take a moment to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to minister and preach here. Thank you for welcoming us and taking good care of us. Thanks for the way you have been patient with me as I got settled in and got my feet under me in my first full-time ministry. It’s obvious to me that you are personally invested in the church here and that you all don’t expect me to do everything. Everyone pitches in and plays their part. And this is how it should be, because no person can do it all on their own. That’s why God has given us the church, which is made up of many members (1 Cor. 12:12). The church is not made up of “professional” or “expert” Christians and then “regular” Christians; rather, there is a job for everyone to do. And those jobs are not all the same. The members of the body have different functions, but one goal and one purpose.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; there are varieties of activities, but the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (…) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11). It’s not that my role is more important than your role or that your role is more important than someone else’s role. Every role and every job is important. God has gifted us each in unique ways. And we are stronger when we each use those gifts to the fullest possible extent. When we each use our God given gifts “for the common good” the result is that we are all strengthened and built up. 

So thank you for what you each do for our church. I know that there is work and planning that goes largely unnoticed, and I’m sure there is more that goes on behind the scenes than even I know about. Whatever your contribution is to the work here at our church, thank you! Whether it’s seen or unseen, thank you. Keep up the good work, and keep on keeping on. Thank you for welcoming me to the work here at Worthington, to work alongside all of you for the good of this church and our area. Working together as a team with one goal and one mission, we will continue to believe God’s promises and trust in his provision and work for his glory.