Dick Bennett / Young at Heart Director and Caring Network Pastor
I LOVE MY CHURCH
My life has been spent basically in preaching the gospel and reaching out to others in their time of need. It’s called “ministry.” It’s trying to be Jesus in a lost and fallen world by sharing the good news and praying with people. I answered that call 59 years ago. I’ve learned that I have very few answers to the difficult questions of life, and that my faith is tested often on a deeper level as time goes by. It’s called “spiritual growth.” In recent times I have found myself on the receiving end of such ministries as we are walking through the valley ourselves with family illness and satanic attacks. None of us are exempt. And oh what a comfort it is to have others come along side, people to whom you once gave comfort yourself. We recently had that experience as we called on a couple who committed their lives to the Lord under our ministry over 30 years ago, and they were there to help us in our time of hurt, and come along side our son who lives near them. They did it during some dark hours. What a blessing! It’s called “the body of Christ.”
And how we thank God for this part of the body that we call Eastern Hills Church. That’s one of the reasons “I Love My Church.” It’s because they pray. It’s because they care. It’s because they understand pain. It’s because they offer support in any way they can. It motivates me to keep on keeping on. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. There’s hope in the name of Jesus. “I Still Believe, I Still Believe.” I want to sing that song every Sunday now. I thank God for our worship services that bring me to the foot of the cross and lift my faith to new heights. Where would we be without it? If you’ve been neglecting church, your answer may be different than mine. We need the ministry. We need the growth. We need the body. We need each other. See you this Sunday in church.
My life has been spent basically in preaching the gospel and reaching out to others in their time of need. It’s called “ministry.” It’s trying to be Jesus in a lost and fallen world by sharing the good news and praying with people. I answered that call 59 years ago. I’ve learned that I have very few answers to the difficult questions of life, and that my faith is tested often on a deeper level as time goes by. It’s called “spiritual growth.” In recent times I have found myself on the receiving end of such ministries as we are walking through the valley ourselves with family illness and satanic attacks. None of us are exempt. And oh what a comfort it is to have others come along side, people to whom you once gave comfort yourself. We recently had that experience as we called on a couple who committed their lives to the Lord under our ministry over 30 years ago, and they were there to help us in our time of hurt, and come along side our son who lives near them. They did it during some dark hours. What a blessing! It’s called “the body of Christ.”
And how we thank God for this part of the body that we call Eastern Hills Church. That’s one of the reasons “I Love My Church.” It’s because they pray. It’s because they care. It’s because they understand pain. It’s because they offer support in any way they can. It motivates me to keep on keeping on. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. There’s hope in the name of Jesus. “I Still Believe, I Still Believe.” I want to sing that song every Sunday now. I thank God for our worship services that bring me to the foot of the cross and lift my faith to new heights. Where would we be without it? If you’ve been neglecting church, your answer may be different than mine. We need the ministry. We need the growth. We need the body. We need each other. See you this Sunday in church.