It’s been so good to be home … Yet things have been so busy. So much to write about … so much to say about God’s great goodness.
Who would have thought that there would be significant results from a baseball mission trip to South Africa … Yet, there have been. And our S. African Mission Team looks forward to talking about them and sharing some of our experiences with the OSL Congregation on Sunday, September 17 between services in the Sanctuary from 9:20 AM – 10:30 AM. Don’t miss it …!
It was hard to get back into the realities of ministry and administration here in Lansing … and not just be able to witness, and give personal testimonies, and preach at revival services, and teach at the seminary there. Not that I don’t love what I do here. Here, of course, beyond the numerous opportunities for ministry is the great prospect and excitement about moving to our new campus … and the ground breaking that was to take place this Sunday, September 10. But of course, as is so often experienced now in life and ministry and as was experienced so often in the Bible, there are disappointments, and delays, and difficulties.
It is with some measure of frustration, but total peace, and even a sizable dose of joy (in the Lord) … that I inform you that there will be NO GROUNDBREAKING this Sunday, September 10. (There will still be only one service beginning at 10 AM … followed by a Question and Answer period.) We were notified by our realtor that the proposed purchaser of our present campus has not come to the closing, and that to date there are no funds that have been brought forward or wired. That’s disappointing … to be sure.
However, our confidence is that God is still God … and He knows what He is allowing … and that all things work together for good under His divine guidance. The Groundbreaking is merely delayed. We are aware of some possible reasons regarding our proposed purchaser … but are also gratified that there are other interested parties (plural) that have heard of the delay and may possibly come forward in the next week(s). God is still leading and will continue to.
I am well reminded of a proclamation and response (kind of a litany) that would often take place between the pastors or worship leaders and the people in South Africa. “God is good!” the leader would shout. And the people would respond, “All the time!” Then the leader would shout, “All the time …” and the people would respond, “GOD IS GOOD!” How true! … and for those people to confidently know and sing and shout that in their circumstances is a true confession of faith.
God is still soooo good … and I am delighted that He is still watching over and guiding us and all the ministries at OSL. Together, let us travel forward with the Lord, trusting His Word that He will never leave or forsake us. Let us respond with the same confident faith of St. Paul in Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all -- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
He will … in His time! I’m so glad God is in control.
