From The Pastor's Desk - February 2012
I greet everyone in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. It is with a real sense of both excitement and expectation that I write this month edition of the Pastors’ desk. Last year we all possibly without exception expected 2011 to be a great one for the church. We cannot say the year was a failure, disappointing perhaps that our anticipated expectations were not fully realised. I am now inclined from a perspective that looks back to say that it was both a year of some shaking and also consolidation. Yet out of what could be said to be a difficult period of time, I believe that we have emerged into 2012, knowing in whom we believe and stronger in our faith. There is one thing I have learnt in almost 40 years of full-time ministry and that is real spiritual growth does not occur in mountain top experiences, we may be allowed to see more of the Lord’s glory on top of a mountain, but it is in the valleys that we really get to know the grace and mercy of the Lord towards us, mountain tops are for revelation and have very little to sustain us, however there is spiritual food and water to be found plentifully in the valleys which bring reality and spiritual growth. In Psalm.23:4, David says that, although he had to walk through the valley of shadow and death, he had no reason to be fearful for the Lord was walking with, protecting and guiding him all the time. So he confidently continued to walk through the valley until he came into the fullness of God’s blessings.
So having put 2011 behind us it is time to press forward by faith into the promises and blessings that God has given to us, they are there to be taken and appropriated. So it is necessary for us to take giant forward steps of faith in 2012.
The first happening or event is that I have felt led to invite Pastor John Sloan From the River of Life Church, in Grahamstown to minister to us at our very first Cornerstone Family Church Convention to be held from Friday the 17th to Sunday the 19th of February 2012, the theme of the meetings will be “VISION AND PURPOSE 2012”
John has been greatly used not only in Grahamstown, also in a number of the Assembly of God Churches, promoting Vision, Purpose and Growth. The Grahamstown AOG where he has ministered for the last 14 years is a church that on numerous occasions prior to John taking over the leadership was close to being closed, and although it is primarily a church comprised of university students, they frequently meet with approximately 600 attending the church, and this year they are trusting for even greater numbers to join the assembly.
Regarding the Cornerstone Family Church, I had the privilege of showing our Regional Leader Pastor Robin Jakins and other senior Pastors around the assembly this week. They were extremely complimentary about the improvements that have been made including the Gallery, all expressed that the Cornerstone has all the potential to become a really great church, able to make a powerful and significant impact upon the Central area of Port Elizabeth.
2012 can be our year of significance providing we all pull together as a team determined to bring glory to the Lord. THIS REQUIRES US ALL TO BE POSITIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC, AND INVOLVED.
LET US REALLY MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THIS FIRST CONVENTION A GREAT SUCCESS, AND PUT THE CORNERSTONE PROMINENTLY AND PERMANENTLY UPON THE SPIRITUAL MAP OF PORT ELIZABETH AND SOUTH AFRICA.
Blessings your friend in Christ Jesus Senior Pastor Terry Brinded