A Word of Hope-July 2026

Blessings for Ebenezer from our Lord and for His Kingdom are happening again (still?!). Within two weeks’ time, I received five visitor cards with the ‘interested in church membership’ box checked. Each of them represents local, or not too distant, individuals or families looking for a church home. I have had similar numbers in the past, yet this was the first time I was able to reach out to each of them in one week and then receive a response showing continued interest from each contact. This is the same week in which I learned that we will be losing one of our students from UNCG to her studies in a new state. Yet even there, she will be looking for another LCMS church, and we have been blessed with an infusion of youth in our worship in the time she spent with us. We have simply to do what we do, be who we are, practice our faith (including that outreach part!) and be genuinely authentic in our worship, and God will bless us. That is true even when we don’t see any increase in attendance or growing membership. The hope in us also understands that there will be trials and difficult times, all of which are balanced by our ultimate hope in the resurrection. We see the hope and blessing each week in the lifegiving meal from our Lord at the table where He has given us life and strength for all we endure, and all that we celebrate.

Pastor John Scheuermann