Hello Brothers and Sisters,
As I write this, Jacqueline and I, along with Jon and Liz Collins are just back from the annual Bridge Fellowship Conference in Muskegon. Bridge Fellowship is the association of churches that Byron Baptist Church was in longstanding fellowship with. You may recall, at the end of June, that Doug Crawford, director of Bridge, came and spoke at Byron Baptist Church during the Sunday morning service and the Sunday School hour. He invited Jon and I to come as guests to learn about the fellowship and to share about the work that God has done and is doing here in Byron. We are thankful glad for the very brief opportunity we had share about the work that is taking place here; to encourage fellow pastors and pastor’s wives from across the state. But something else happened. We were entirely overwhelmed by the amount of people who shared that they had been praying for us. People we have never met, from churches we have never heard of. We were deeply ministered to and challenged by the teaching of God’s Word. We were moved and encouraged by the sound of 150 pastors and wives singing God’s praise. We were inspired to work harder in personal and church ministry. We were humbled by the love we were shown from a community who doesn’t even know us.
And why? Because this is what happens when God’s people focus on the things that matter and unite together. There were a multitude of differences present. From “the boot people from Byron” (yes, we were called that) to the suit people of Grand Rapids (yes, I just called them that). There were some folks who drove from Iowa and Missouri and from Dollar Bay and Munising (in Michigan’s UP). There were preferences and varying theological and educational levels. But there was One Spirit, One Lord, One God and Father. One Gospel. As a pastor, I was greatly encouraged, because in this season of two churches having recently become one, we still have so many challenges ahead of us. But if we are able to focus on the things that matter and unite together, everyone of us will experience what Jacqueline and I, what Jon and Liz, and what every one in attendance at this conference experienced—the joy of belonging to the household of God.
This Sunday, we will examine together the qualifications of a deacon. I am excited to worship with you. I love being with God’s people anytime, anywhere. But I love being with the people of God I am called too and united with in this life. To lift our voices in song. To hear God’s Word read. To pray. To preach and proclaim the truth of God’s word. Lord willing, I’ll see you then!
Grace & Peace,
John White
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267