June 3, 2021

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! Can you believe it? I have been with you folks for a year now as the pastor of FRBC! Well, actually June 1 was the official anniversary date. This has been a challenging year as we have prayed through and worked diligently to successfully navigate effective ministry with a pandemic looming over us.

In this last year, we have been masked and distanced; we have been mandated and restricted; we have been sick with and sick of COVID; we have lost loved ones, and many of us have been vaccinated. It seems that there are as many different opinions regarding how to successfully navigate life in a pandemic as there are humans on the planet. We have seen humanity at its worst and at its best this past year.

During this past year, FRBC has been blessed to partner with other ministries and other churches to meet some significant needs in the region. We have helped to supply an incredible amount of food and basic living needs in a massive distribution effort. We have helped people who had lost their incomes get their bills paid. We supplied bags of encouragement (goodies) to the staff of local schools and front-line medical workers. We have supplied water to the high school. We have hosted several events, within Covid restrictions, to encourage families. We have prayed with and encouraged many people who are outside the fellowship of our church. And behind the scenes, we have met the needs of many of our own. In a sense, it has been a good year!

As we press ahead, I see the need to not only continue what we're doing but also to start reconnecting the family known as Falling River Baptist. There are indeed a great many practical needs that still need to be met as well as spiritual needs (the most important). But there also exists the ministry of meeting relational needs, of knowing, understanding, and appreciating being loved and needed in the church family.

I am excited and ready to see what God is going to do in our midst in this next year as we all faithfully, obediently, and lovingly follow Him. Let us continue to unite humbly as one body with many members and many gifts with one Head (Jesus Christ) as we love God, love people, and make disciples!

I sure do love and appreciate you folks!

Brian