Our church’s 125 th Anniversary is just a few weeks away. I hope you are preparing to come. We will be
having a homemade ice cream social on the October 7 th as well as the main celebration of Sunday, the
8 th . Please help us get the word out and if you know of former members or attendees that we might
need to invite, please let us know.
125 years is a significant amount of time. Have you ever thought of the number of churches who have
begun, but not survived, over the last century and a quarter? Sometimes a community just kind of
withers away and the churches there just cease to be. On many occasions churches die out because the
demographics of the community changes and the church dissolves slowly until there are not enough
people to sustain it.
In this era of “mega-churches” a small church may have sound preaching and teaching, as well as loving
members, but simply can’t offer many of the amenities of large churches and, thus, dies out as the
current membership fails to grow. This church, Church on the Bluff…our church, faces that dilemma.
It’s true.
Yet…here we are, celebrating 125 years of ministry on this mountain. Uncountable numbers of people
have been touched, lives have been blessed, souls have been saved because God honored the
faithfulness of a people who simply would not give up. Yes, times got tough and numbers dwindled, but
the church never gave in to fear or despair. Our heritage is one of strong, faithful children of God who
served and sacrificed to do the will of God through his church: Steadfast (maybe even stubborn) folks
who loved the Lord.
So, as we celebrate 125 years, I want us to realize the magnitude of that accomplishment. Relish what
God has done through faithful, obedient people. But better than that, though, be encouraged for the
future! If we don’t give up, God will not give up on us. What a wonderful thought.
Bro. Tony
having a homemade ice cream social on the October 7 th as well as the main celebration of Sunday, the
8 th . Please help us get the word out and if you know of former members or attendees that we might
need to invite, please let us know.
125 years is a significant amount of time. Have you ever thought of the number of churches who have
begun, but not survived, over the last century and a quarter? Sometimes a community just kind of
withers away and the churches there just cease to be. On many occasions churches die out because the
demographics of the community changes and the church dissolves slowly until there are not enough
people to sustain it.
In this era of “mega-churches” a small church may have sound preaching and teaching, as well as loving
members, but simply can’t offer many of the amenities of large churches and, thus, dies out as the
current membership fails to grow. This church, Church on the Bluff…our church, faces that dilemma.
It’s true.
Yet…here we are, celebrating 125 years of ministry on this mountain. Uncountable numbers of people
have been touched, lives have been blessed, souls have been saved because God honored the
faithfulness of a people who simply would not give up. Yes, times got tough and numbers dwindled, but
the church never gave in to fear or despair. Our heritage is one of strong, faithful children of God who
served and sacrificed to do the will of God through his church: Steadfast (maybe even stubborn) folks
who loved the Lord.
So, as we celebrate 125 years, I want us to realize the magnitude of that accomplishment. Relish what
God has done through faithful, obedient people. But better than that, though, be encouraged for the
future! If we don’t give up, God will not give up on us. What a wonderful thought.
Bro. Tony