Annual Gift

What's Next

I almost always get excited about what’s next. Every single phase in my life has gotten better. I tell every high school student that college is better, and every college student that being an adult with your own salary is better. Even as a parent, each age of my children seems to get better! That is what being a pastor at St. Andrew is like, too. With the grace of God and a common effort from everyone that calls St. Andrew home, we see ways that God has called us to take new and innovative steps to make this world more like the kingdom of heaven.

We are so blessed to have God and one another. I pinch myself every week that I get to stand up and lead this congregation as Sr. Pastor because of the abundance of our blessings. Our pastors and staff are a blessing to you and me. Our lay leaders shoulder the burden of leadership and help ensure that this place continues to honor God and love every person that walks through these doors. Church members show up almost every day to this campus with smiles on their faces and a joy to study the word of God and live it more fully in their lives.  What a blessing!

And amidst all this blessing, we must remember Jesus’ saying in Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

The only way to live a faithful life among this level of blessing is to take what God has given us and invest it for more. If all that we have done is enjoyed the blessings, we will have missed the point. God is calling us to take the next steps as a church and as individuals to fulfill his mission. CS Lewis writes that there is always a next step—a “further up and further in” to his kingdom. As long as we give all that we have

to God, we should always be excited

about what’s next!

 

Arthur Jones
Senior Pastor, St. Andrew Methodist