Church Family,
This past Sunday, as we continued our journey through the book of Acts, our attention was once again directed towards Saul. Given the fervor with which he began preaching the Gospel, it did not take long after Saul’s conversion for him to become the target of persecution and even an attempt on his life. He was forced to flee both Damascus and Jerusalem, eventually going to Tarsus. Despite this kind of dogged persecution, the Church experienced three things: peace, comfort, and growth. What could possibly be more counter-intuitive? Christians were chased from city to city, yet they found peace. They were the target of disputes and threats, yet they found comfort. They were being actively killed off, yet their numbers grew. Church, are we confident enough in the Gospel that we would faithfully endure what Saul endured? Are we confident enough in the Gospel to trust that in spite of any persecution we face we will experience peace, comfort, and growth through the work of the Holy Spirit? Let us be both convicted and encouraged as we dwell on this passage this week.
Prospective Members Class
We will be hosting a prospective members class on Saturday, September 28 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attending this class is not a firm commitment to anything; it is simply an opportunity to learn about Light in the Desert Church and what it means to be a member. If you are interested in attending please email Bryan (Bryan@lightinthedesert.church) or sign up on the sheet in the foyer.
Elder Candidacy
One of our convictions as a church is that the biblical model for the church involves being led by a plurality of elders, multiple godly men who can provide diverse perspectives and insights necessary for the overseeing of the church. In pursuit of that ideal we have had a few men in the process of prospective eldership. Our current elders formally announced one of those men, Brian Murphy, as an elder candidate to be voted on by the church members on October 20th. While our bylaws only require a two week notice before a vote, we are taking a much longer lead into this vote so we have time to do two things. First, of course, be praying about this vote. It would be a tremendous mistake to not make sure that such a decision is informed by lots of prayer. Second, pursue Brian in the time leading up to this decision. If you have concerns about his qualifications to be an elder, questions about his beliefs, or even just don’t feel like you know him well enough to make a decision then this is your time to talk to him and figure these kinds of things out. Catch him after service on a Sunday, find a time to call him, or even meet up with him for coffee or a meal. It’s not a bother; this is part of what he has volunteered himself for in pursuing eldership.
Grace be with you,
Logan Murphy
Pastoral Intern