A few of you have talked to me about the near tragedy last
week in Michigan involving violence in a church setting. For me it felt close
to home watching the video of a room evacuating with the same VBS background we’re
about to put up.
It was also an opportunity to be grateful to our church security
team for keeping us safe. - This past Sunday, as many of you were settling into
your seats with coffee in hand, greeting friends, or helping your children find
their classrooms, there was a team of servants already at work - our church
security team.
You might not notice them every week. That's actually by
design. Like Nehemiah's builders who worked with one hand and held a weapon in
the other (Nehemiah 4:17), our security team members worship with watchful
hearts, balancing their own spiritual nourishment with their calling to protect
our congregation. They show up early, search the church grounds for any threats,
they stay diligent watching cameras and vehicles, they spend hours each month
training and discussing better tactics to keep you safe. (Our elders reviewed
their 44-page manual impressed with the attention to detail – I think they
thought of about everything.)
I've been reflecting on how their ministry mirrors the heart
of our Good Shepherd, who said, "The good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep" (John 10:11). While we pray we never face serious threats,
these men have volunteered to stand in the gap if that moment ever comes. They
arrive early, stay late, and maintain vigilant awareness - all so that you can
worship freely and our children can learn without fear.
Their service reminds me that the body of Christ functions
best when each member uses their unique gifts. Some teach, some lead worship,
some greet at the door with warm smiles - and some keep watch. All are
necessary. All are worship.
So this week, if you see one of our security team members,
take a moment to thank them. Pray for their wisdom, their discernment, and
their families who share them with us each Sunday. They are an answer to our
prayers for peace and safety.
God is so kind to us, and I’m thankful that so many of this
church family uses our gifts to build the body of Christ. Thanks for being a
part of it!
Pastor Sam
P.S. If you feel called to explore serving on our security
team, please reach out to Sal. We provide training and support for those
interested in this vital ministry.
This week we highlighted and prayed for dads in our church family… it’s hard out there. Being a dad is like being a shepherd who's still learning to walk.
We lead while we limp. We guide while we grow. And that's exactly where God wants us.
Pray for Presence Over Performance "Lord, help dads understand that showing up imperfectly beats absent perfection every time."
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend." - Proverbs 27:5-6
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4
Pray for Courage in Confession "Father, give dads the strength to say 'I was wrong' and 'Will you forgive me?' to their children."
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." - James 5:16
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins." - 1 John 1:9
Pray for Joy in the Journey "God, help fathers find delight in the small moments - the bedtime prayers, the skinned knees, the terrible jokes."
"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." - Psalm 127:3
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." - Proverbs 17:22
Your children don't need a perfect father. They need a present one who points them to the Perfect Father. Every time you fail, you get to demonstrate the gospel: confession, forgiveness, and grace in action. That's not plan B. That's the plan.
We’re all better off for having a church family that cares for and prays for each other – thanks for being a part of what God is doing at BBCC!
- Pastor Sam
P.S. Remember: The father who admits he needs Jesus is teaching his children the most important lesson of all.
"[GOD] tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." - Isaiah 40:11
