From a pastor that has cared for the Suncoast since day one! Great read! Dear Church of the Suncoast, As I was thinking about your incredible mission and the celebration of your 8th Year Anniversary, I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts from this week. First, I am so grateful for your pastor who is both a longtime friend and someone who is steadfastly committed to the only thing that can redirect and change a human heart for all of eternity. It is the message that Church of the Suncoast has been proclaiming week in and week out, month in and month out, year in and year out for eight years now under Brian’s leadership. It is the message of the life-transforming hope of the gospel, It is the message of God’s unconditional love and amazing grace. Over the years as I have followed you, more than anything, you have been steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Thank you Brian for your partnership in the gospel. You are a Game-Changer. This week as I was reflecting on some things our church has been going through I thought of all the highs and lows you have had to navigate just to get where you are. I found myself reading through the first few chapters of the book of the Revelation. John the apostle has been exiled to an island because of his faith but he finds himself writing to different churches, to the church in Ephesus, to the church in Smyrna, to the church of Laodicea, 7 different churches. He follows the same format through all 7 churches: “Here’s what you’re doing right, keep going. He affirms them. But then, he corrects them, he says in effect: Yet I have this against you. These churches are just a few decades old, but there’s already a decay setting in. Mission drift. And the church has to be corrected all the time. And then there’s a promise, those great words, You eat from the tree of life, you’ll be given a white stone with a name on it known only to you and God. You will sit down next to Christ on a throne. And I was thinking as I reread that this week, I wonder what he would write to the Church of the Suncoast one day? You know, if one of those letters were to come your way, what would it say? This now is kind of my best idea of what I think it MIGHT say: To the Church of the Suncoast, from the God who cherishes you: I love your heart for lost people. I love the way you think and risk and imagine and spend and stop at nothing to let everyone know that they matter to Me, one little life at a time. I love your risk it all attitude. I love your “whatever it takes” volunteers. I love your passion and your zeal for people far from God. Church of the Suncoast, I urge you now to stay the course. No matter what you do from here on out- YOU are making a real difference. You are the ONLY hope for some wayward souls.” I love your passion to help people take next steps with God. I love that you want to turn atheists into missionaries. What a heart!” But I give you two warnings . . . First, never stop dreaming big dreams. Never stop taking those missional risks, because the day you get content, the day you sit back and rest on your laurels, the day you start to care more about catering to church people than reaching lost people is the day the dream begins to die. And I have such plans for you, if you’ll just keep trusting me and keep daring and not stop dreaming. Don’t . . . ever . . . stop . . . dreaming. Then second, stay FULLY dependent. Keep on trusting and obeying. Remember as you enjoy this coming EASTER season . . . that I also work in hidden and obscure places. Remember that YOU too were born out of humble beginnings. Remember that what you do, you do in my strength and by my name, so stay humble and abide in me. Trust in me. Serve when I say serve. Go when I say go. Give when I say give.” And then the promise: To the one who endures, to the one who overcomes, to the one who perseveres, I will give the wisdom of the ages. I will give the abundance of a Harvest -- I’ll give it to YOU. I’ll give you a river of resources and a steady stream of people. You Stay on Mission, Church of the Suncoast … dependent upon ME and you will fulfill your Mission.” Church of the Suncoast. I can only imagine what God is getting ready to do over the NEXT 8 years. I celebrate with YOU all that God has done and all that He is going to do. You guys rock!!! Stan Coleman Founding Pastor South Palm Community Church
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:04:41 +0000
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