Tonight at 6pm EST, my family will gather for a memorial service for my mom, who unexpectedly passed away last week. At the same time, my father-in-law is likely within his last week of life unless the Lord miraculously intervenes. Pam and I are deeply grateful they are both believers, but the combined grief we share feels almost too much to bear at moments.
It’s then that I’m reminded of my church family at Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. We have been members there for less than a year (in fact, I’m interim pastor there), but they’ve become our family. Here’s my gratitude for them on this hard day:
- I know without question they are praying for us. We may be states apart right now as Pam and I spend time with our families in Ohio, but I can just sense the prayers of our church family. I can’t explain it, but I can confirm it experientially: the prayers of God’s people give strength.
- Our elders are an incredible support to me. I’m still learning how to lean on others in difficult times, but these brothers have been gracious to take the initiative to help in any way they can. They’re modeling servant leadership for me when Pam and I just need to receive their care.
- They’ve checked on us regularly. I understand that everyone—beginning with me—is busy (perhaps too busy), but our brothers and sisters in Christ have reached out to us via texts, emails, and phone calls. They’ve taken the time to minister to us through words of encouragement, and we’re thankful for their efforts.
- Many of them have walked similar paths, and they’ve modeled how to trust God through grief—and even grow in the process. Maybe they’ve not always dealt with multiple deaths at once, but they have nevertheless experienced deep loss that could have threatened their faith. Instead, they remained faithful all the way.
- Pam and I miss being with them. That may seem a strange reason to be grateful, but I’ve known pastors who almost couldn’t wait to get away from their congregation. We’re blessed to have a church family who love us, laugh with us, pray for us, weep with us, and support us. I pray all of my seminary students are so blessed in ministry.
- They are pressing on faithfully in our absence. Our pastors, staff, lay elders, and other leaders have kept things moving as we have begun a new church year and re-started some ministries halted during COVID. It’s a great joy to know I can focus on taking care of my family and not worry about the work of the congregation.
I am blessed, indeed. I’m grateful.