Particular Churches

This past Sunday night I had the privilege of witnessing the birth of a new and particular church.  Five years ago our presbytery (regional church) planted a church in Gainesville, FL.  Joel Fick was called as the organizing pastor and the work began to thrive.  After much toil and effort, as well as blessing by the Holy Spirit, the church was ready to become a new and separate congregation.  Since I am not very near while serving in Haiti it is a delight to participate in these events when I can.

Not only did the church become a particular church but we also had the privilege of installing Pastor Joel Fick as the regular pastor and to ordain and install two men as ruling elders for the church.  It is a neat testimony regarding how the Lord has provided men to lead the congregation of Redemption Orthodox Presbyterian Church.  The larger church works very hard by God's grace to plant new churches and it is always an encouragement to see those efforts come to bear fruit.

As a missionary it is always a blessing to see the church grow.  We desire that the church in Haiti grows and that God provides leaders for her.  But none of this can happen without the support of churches back in the United States and Canada.  It is people like the folks at Redemption OPC who give generously to Worldwide Outreach so the work of Foreign Missions, Home Missions and Christian Education can go on.  Jesus builds his church both at home and abroad and the churches are very much connected.  It is good to remember that we rely on each other - as the work of Home Missions sees God-given success the work of Foreign Missions can expand.  And the stories told of each person who has come to the church would give all the glory back to our great God.