Happy 25th Anniversary Redeemer!
By: Dan Seale
Anniversaries are a time to give thanks, reflect and share stories. On Tuesday night, the elders and deacons did just that, sharing stories of God’s work at Redeemer over the past 25 years and praying prayers of thanksgiving. It was a beautiful and encouraging time together.
What stories would you share? How has God used Redeemer in your life over the years?
There were some common themes in the officer’s reflections and those same themes were present in written comments from a few of the original Redeemer members: Steve and Suzanne Brown, Kelly Evans, and Rob and Marilyn Helms. Additional original members are:
Randy & Tammy Boss, Mark and Karla Brubaker who recently moved, and two of the adult children of the Helms, Nissa Rudd & Laurel Cortani.
Family
The most mentioned theme was family or community. Many comments were made about how Redeemer has become family and shared life together walking through the peaks and valleys of life.
“Redeemer truly is a family. Thankfully, it is a family centered in God's love for us. This enables us to live in community even though we are sinners and will fail each other. I have watched so many years of loving, helping, hurting, forgiving, challenging, correcting, loving. Not all of it was done perfectly. Life is messy. But what a blessing it is to go through life with others who love and worship the same God, are struggling to live a godly life, and working to point each other to Jesus.”
“As a single person, I have felt tremendously embraced by many people at Redeemer, families, individuals and leadership. I truly consider Redeemer my family.”
I have personally felt that sense of family in hundreds of ways since we arrived in 2006. From two young couples sharing the care of our older daughters while we were in China adopting AnGrace to the way the church cared for us during Debbi’s second battle with cancer. Our entire family has felt loved by Redeemer.
May God continue to help us share our lives together for at least another 25 years.
Hospitality & Generosity
Many thanks were given for the way the individuals of Redeemer and the church as a whole have expressed hospitality and generosity, opening their lives and resources to one another and to missionaries and church planters. Many guests comment on the warmth and welcoming nature of Redeemer.
“One thing that is a hallmark at Redeemer is hospitality….Whether it’s greeting people on Sunday morning, or bringing meals, or embracing the kids during VBS…It is one of the things that caused me to return the second week and when I walked in the person who greeted me remembered my name and was thrilled to see me. That had such tremendous impact on me.”
Debbi and I first experienced that warmth during the interview process, and it is part of what drew us to Redeemer.
May God continue to enable us to welcome others as Jesus has welcomed us.
Biblical Teaching
The centrality of the Word of God, and the consistent biblical teaching, that God has used to bring people to faith and to mature in their faith was mentioned time and again.
“The teaching here at Redeemer has grown me as a believer. I’ve grown from not even knowing what the word grace meant the first week I attended to truly understanding the Bible, covenant theology, propitiation and just learning the Bible. And it happens every week whether you’re involved in a Bible study or not. The teaching at Redeemer is a tremendous blessing to our congregation and it certainly has been to me.”
“We have always been grateful to God for the teaching, fellowship, and support we have received over the years through Redeemer from our brothers and sisters in the Lord…. Now as members of the church’s older generation, we thank God especially for Redeemer’s ministry to so many young people (unlike the early days when teenagers were few!) and its lifelong commitment to faithfully proclaiming God’s Word.”
May God keep Redeemer anchored in teaching the whole counsel of God and proclaiming the good news of Christ crucified and risen.
Love for the church worldwide - Local and Global Missions
Over the years Redeemer has directly planted 5 churches and financially supported many more. Redeemer has also partnered with missionaries around the world to proclaim the Gospel, making disciples. The people of Redeemer have been generous to help support these works and special projects over the years.
“We’ve been exposed to many things here at Redeemer and Redeemer has brought the world to our neighborhood with teaching from missionaries and partners from all over the world. We’ve heard of challenges of sharing the faith in many countries, in contrast to the ease here”
“I am thankful that Redeemer has always had a heart to share Jesus' love outside the walls of our own church building. Outreach and missions have been a part of Redeemer since the beginning. Our leaders have always looked for ways to bring missions to our body to remind us that we need to be praying for and supporting those who are the "hands and feet" of Jesus around the world.”
May God keep us committed to the great commission and willing to give sacrificially of our resources to spread the Gospel and engage in kingdom work.
What stories would you share? How has God used Redeemer in your life over the years?
How can you be a part of the history of the next 25 years as we strive to help others come to know, love and follow Jesus?
Join with me in praying for more stories of great faith that glorify God and extend his kingdom.
May the Lord do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20)
Note:
We were planning on a joint 25th anniversary and new facility dedication this month, but due to construction delays we are postponing this celebration until the spring. In the spring we will gather to celebrate the Lord’s goodness, sharing a meal and memories and giving thanks to our great God.