Dear Church Family,
I wanted to give you a quick update on where things stand with my health. After a recent trip to the hospital, it turns out I’ve been dealing with a viral infection that brought on both pneumonia and bronchitis. I’m back home resting and working on recovering, but the lingering effects are taking their time. My voice is still pretty non-existent, and I can’t talk for more than a minute or two without coughing and my energy level is very low.
Because of that, I won’t be able to make it back this Sunday like I was hoping to. The good news is that Brother Andrew Wesley from First Baptist Church Eclectic will be preaching in my absence. I’m so grateful he’s stepping in, and I know you’ll give him a warm welcome and support him as he preaches the Word to us.
I really want to say a big thank you again to our deacons, church leaders, and all of you for stepping up, checking in, and praying for me. It means more than I can say.
Please keep praying for a full recovery so I can get my strength and voice back and get back in the pulpit as soon as possible. Man, I miss you guys and miss being together on Sundays—it’s tough being away, and I can’t wait to be back in the middle of our fellowship.
While I’m resting up, I’ve been thinking a lot about Paul’s heart for the church in Romans 5:3-5:
“3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Thank you for letting me be your Pastor and your friend. I love you all and hope to see you very soon!
In Christ,
Pastor Jake