Good afternoon members of the press. As you know our morning services ended over an hour ago. We want to thank members of the press for their sensitivity extended to our church family.
Many of them are personal friends of people still being held in Haiti. Some of them have never even met because we have three different services each Sunday morning.
Being able to come together for prayer and fellowship has been a means for helping our church cope with the current situation. Though we do not know exactly what transpired down in Haiti, we know we care for those who find themselves in an hour of need.
We will continue to pray around the clock not only for the safety of our people, but for a quick resolution. We will continue to encourage family members who sometimes feel helpless. And we will continue to ask for the help of our government.
I would like to thank Senator Risch for making two phone calls to us yesterday. He called to encourage us and to urge us to press on as we work for our friends and family.
Although I have not spoken to all family members of those being held, I can tell you that the ones that I have been sharing this last days with are full of hope. Yesterday I spoke with a pastor from one of our other churches. We spoke about how this has affected our lives, and realized that even though we would never want this to happen again, it has brought people together who did not know each other before. It has caused our congregations to lean on one another even more than before. It has caused us to turn our attention once again to the words of Jesus Christ for there is where we truly find our comfort.
For me personally, it has not only led to my tears, but caused me to once again know that we find out what we really believe when we face a trial. And I have found out that my faith in Jesus Christ is just as real now as it was before.
This week I will attempt to get back to my real work….that of being a pastor to this congregation. A work that I love with the people that I love. A work that is rewarding and challenging . A work I plan to spend the rest of my life doing.
Thank you Central Valley for your support and thank you to everyone who by card, e-mail or phone call has shared an encouraging word.
If and when we have information that needs to be shared, we will give notice. Until then we watch your words that sometimes tell us things before we even know them.
God Bless
