The Last Five Years...

Introduction

Five years ago I entered Victory Bible Church as a shepherd over the flock here in Junedale/Hazleton area that God had entrusted to me. When I think back to how God lead me to this place from that email I received on a Saturday morning in February of 2018 to my first drive to the Hazleton area on February 28, 2018 and then following cars to go from the cemetery to the church. To the burden of the people of this church to see the ministry continue. To the drive back home on that sunny February day. To that Palm Sunday coming to the church church to preach on Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John’s Gospel. Then hearing from Dr. Pedrone and Rudy Holland the week after Easter that you wanted me to come down to pastor this church. We have been through a lot in these past five years as we have journeyed through some tough times as a church, as families, and individuals. We have had deaths and seen marriages. We have gone through trials, storms, valleys, and mountaintops. We have seen God’s hand at work and seen oppression and opposition from Satan. This morning I wanted to reflect on the last five years and some things that God has shown me from the Word as we have journeyed together.

2018: New Beginnings

When I think about that first weekend I think of a time of excitement as I came down on Saturday before the Sunday service, but also a part of me was like “What I am doing?” I am really ready to be a pastor of a church? Yet, I knew God had me here for a reason.

Ruth (New Beginnings) the first four Sundays

Fuller Center Bike Ride

Deer crash and the help from from the church. (July 2018)

Romans - laying the foundation of the believer’s life. Not ashamed of the Gospel.

Romans - the problem with sin

The first Christmas “The Eternal in Human Skin”

2019: Changes and Challenges

Davis College about to move and job to end…what was next?

First Resurrection Sunday - What if there was no resurrection?

Appendix (April 2019)

Without a job after the college closed, but God provided.

Grace Fabian visit in May 2019.

Romans 5-8 The problem with sin and the grace of Jesus Christ.

Second Christmas: For Unto Us a Child is NOT born - what if Jesus had never been born? And the sequel For Unto us a Child is Born - because He has been born

2020: Vision 2020 for Jesus, Storm clouds, and the New Normal

Vision 2020 for Jesus (Bible reading, Bible Memorization, Praying and journal, and evangelism

Romans 12:1-2 the week before COVID started to shut things down

Pandemic

Wake up call to believers and the church in the midst of the storm

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Yet, You have not returned to me

Second Resurrection Sunday (but doing it on Zoom)

The New Normal (still something we are in—we will never go back in January 2020)

Spiritual gifts (Romans 12)

Christmas 2020: A year of reflection

2021: Starting off fresh

The year we finished Romans

What lessons did we learn from this letter of Paul?

Trip to Montana

Community Church Service in September 2021

2022: Remaining Holy

Began Daniel - Remaining Holy in this world of hostility

2023: What is Next...