Morning Church family!  I hope you are well today.  Let me start out by saying thank you for your overwhelming reception of me, Rachel, and our family at the fellowship this past Sunday night!  To say we are blessed would be an understatement!  I continue to be amazed at the outpouring of love and support you express to us as our church family.  I believe when God sends ministers to churches that those ministers were sent there to minister to the people of that church.  While that is certainly true (cf. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12) in our experience along the way, the church has equally, if not more so, ministered to us.  That is certainly true in our time here at Grace Baptist Church.  You have impacted our lives more than you can possibly know!  We love you and want to help each of you in your walk with Christ!   I thought of what the apostle Paul said to the Philippian believers because of their ministry to him in his time of need:  “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account” (Philippians 4:17).  I sincerely pray that God would bless each of you for your ministry to me and my family!  The job is big, the people are many, the time is short, and the needs are great so please continue to pray for God’s guidance and provision for our church. As long as we follow Him we cannot go wrong. But there are lots of distractions and temptations along the way so “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Have a great Lord’s Day and know that you’re loved!  It’s an honor to serve with you!