I am so thankful to have been able to attend the 25th annual Pastor’s Conference at FBC Jacksonville this year. The theme of the conference was Endurance and all the seminars and sermons dealt with various aspects of enduring in ministry. I was greatly encouraged and renewed as a pastor and a Christian. Every once and a while, we all need to be reminded of why we are here on this earth. God has called us to endure - to keep on serving, keep on reaching, keep on praying, and keep on growing. He has called us to stay faithful to Him as He has been so faithful to us. I am thankful for FBC Jax and all they do to help pas-tors through this wonderful conference.
As I walked the campus of FBC and sat in the massive auditorium, several things ran through my heart and mind. I remember sitting in the auditorium that seats thousands and hearing the choir made up of hundreds of voices, accompanied by a beautiful sounding orchestra. I met several staff members who led many different impacting minis-tries. As great as FBC Jax is, it is not Ocean Park. I am so thankful I serve in this fellowship of believers. We have been given a task that no other church, no matter the size, has been called to. We may not be as big in number as some churches, but we are just as big, if not bigger, in heart. Don’t compare Ocean Park with other churches and feel discouraged. Instead, confidently know that God has a purpose for this church and praise Him because you get to be a part of it.
I look forward to worshiping our great God and King with you this Sunday. We will continue our focus on Christianity According to Jesus as we look verse by verse at the Sermon on the Mount.
In His Grace, Russell