Summer is an often busy and fun time of the year, especially as it relates to church. It is good to stop in the middle of the summer and reflect on God's blessings! What are the blessings you count this summer?
I want to briefly reflect on some blessings. The time and space I will dedicate to each do not do them justice but I'd rather reflect briefly than not at all.
CBC's 61st Anniversary
The first thing I want to mention is another year of blessings for our church. This past Sunday we celebrated our 61st anniversary as a congregation. It seems like not long ago we were sitting at the McAllen Convention Center at our 60th anniversary banquet. During this year we have moved closer to developing a vision for catalyzing a disciple-making multiplication movement from CBC and throughout the RGV.
As we move forward with that vision our worship services remain vibrant, our staff continues to lead and work hard, our local and global engagement continues meaningfully, and our group ministries continue in the process of making disciples. We have had a great VBS on campus, our students attended Camp Zephyr, our children attended Camp Tejas, multiple people have gone on mission trips, we celebrated with our community holding an awesome Fourth of July tailgate, and our students are currently engaged in Valley Project. We are so thankful for our staff, our leaders, our deacons, our volunteers, our Bible Fellowships, WIT, our choir, worship and media teams, the committees and many other ministries that keep this congregation vibrant and on mission.
Eight Years as Lead Pastor
Yesterday marked the eighth year I began my ministry at CBC as Lead Pastor. When our family arrived in McAllen, our oldest son, Josh, stayed behind finishing his degree at Dallas Baptist University and working for Fielder Church in Arlington in the media ministry. Our daughter Rachel was in High School, Mia in Middle School, and Stevan in elementary. By now, Josh and Rachel have graduated from college, Mia and Stevan have graduated from High School. Rachel, Mia and Stevan are out of the Valley for work or school. Josh has moved to McAllen to work for CBC and Rachel got married this last spring. All this to say that a lot has changed in 8 years!
I am thankful because Calvary has been a blessing to my family in numerous ways. I am also thankful because my family has supported me in the ministry here. During these eight years we have made friends here and we have experienced the love and support of a wonderful congregation. I have been blessed to work with a fine pastoral team, an excellent team of deacons, extraordinary administrative committees and excellent leaders. I cannot say enough about how rewarding it has been for me to serve God through Calvary Baptist Church, McAllen. Thank you for making us feel at home and like familia.
Calvary People on Short-Term Trips
We are thankful for every person in our congregation that has participated in a short-term local or global engagement trip. Many have already returned and we are grateful for what has been accomplished. Others are still on the field or about to leave. We thank God for a church that offers prayerful support and often financial support. Please continue to pray for the work in each of these places and for those who are still traveling.
Among others, here are several of our individual and team short-term trips:
Those who have returned already:
- Chris Brana, Maki Nakagawa, Chad Mason and Paulo Gatan, Philippines
- Brent McBain, Belize
- Eder and Denise Ibarra, Hungary
- Eli Garza, New York
- Ruth Santana, Spain
- Tom & Jackie Centrella & team, Western Europe to support work with Northern Africans
- Fourth of July Tailgate, Calvary McAllen (100+ volunteers)
- VBS Team to our new church start: Iglesia Bautista Calvario, China, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Bruce & Paula Hepburn, Puebla, Mexico
On the field now (as of the date of this post 7-16-18):
- Amin & Luisa Calvo, Amazon Basin
- David Love, Amazon Basin and a non-public location
- Chelsey and Ashton Johnson, Germany
- Calvary Students, Valley Project (4 VBS, 1 personal evangelism team, and 4 projects "getting dirty for God," including flood relief all in the RGV)
Leaving soon (as of the date of this post 7-16-18):
- Juan Huerta & Jose Luis Jimenez, Tlapaneco people in Guerrero, Mexico
- Calvary Children's 6th Grade Missions Project
Thank you for your continued prayer support for each of these!
God is good! We are blessed! Our church, God's mission through us, and our ministries have the hand of God on them. It is fitting that we pause briefly in the middle of a busy summer to count our blessings. Time does not allow us to count the dozens of decisions and lives touched at CBC's VBS, Camp Zephyr, and Camp Tejas but we do not take those for granted (click on the respective links to see highlight videos).
Note: I have added a video to last week's "Celebrating Communion and Community" post that gives some practical help for administering the Lord's Supper in home fellowships, nursing homes, etc. Click on the post to view it or watch it below:
Lord's Supper Video Blog from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.
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