Pastor’s Message for December 2021

Not the Kind that Jingles, the Kind that Transforms

I played Space Invaders, Pac Man, Galaga, Asteroids, Donkey Kong. For those that do not know what I am speaking about, those were some of the popular video games of my youth. But, unlike the video games of today, they could only be played at the neighborhood arcade. Teenagers cashed in their allowances, babysitting and lawn mowing money for quarters so they could go to the arcade and play their favorite video games. I couldn’t wait until school let out so I could run to the arcade to beat the high score. Hour after hour, I would reach into my pocket, grab hold of a shiny quarter, and shove it into the machine. As I look back, I can’t remember a time when I reached into my pocket and was not able to grab a quarter. Having an endless supply of quarters was all I could hope for during my video game playing days. That was the change I wanted: the kind that jingled, not the kind that transforms.

Change has always been a normal, accepted part of our lives. Every year, spring changes to summer, summer changes to fall, and fall changes to winter. Not too long ago, we experienced change as Daylight Saving Time time ended and now it is brighter during the morning commute and darker during the evening commute. Even though the changes mentioned cause us to adjust our wardrobes, our clocks, and our lifestyles, these changes are accepted as part of our existence in this part of the United States.

But not all change is accepted and embraced. Transformational change can be met with pushback because it requires a change in direction; a change of thought, process, and action. A perceived drawback of change is that change results in things being different; routines are no longer the same. Many thrive in an atmosphere where the process has already been laid out and all that is needed is to follow that process. “You pair A with B, then attach C to D, put it all together and the product is E.” Simple right? Yes, it is simple, but it may not be transformational.

In the coming weeks, we will be faced with the kind of change that transforms. As many of you already know, I will become the Washington District Superintendent in January. This will be a major change for both churches, but it will also be an opportunity for change that transforms. During the past few years, we have experienced some life-altering events – events that have forced us to look at the world through a different lens. As a result, we have adapted and adjusted the way we show the love of Christ to the communities we serve. We have displayed a new energy that has birthed new ministries, new models of leadership, and a renewed spirit within the churches.

I was grateful I was able to walk alongside you as you reached out to your communities in Christ’s love. Now I encourage you to continue walking boldly into your future. You pastor is leaving, and that is going to bring about change, but you have weathered a season where change sometimes happened daily. You adapted, excelled, and were transformed by that change. As people of hope, look forward to your Christ-filled future and embrace what He has in store for you. Everyone should hope to find some change – not the kind that jingles, but the kind that transforms.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their trust and confidence.

Jeremiah 17:7

God’s blessings in all we do,
Pastor Ross