February 9, 2012
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Bert Downs
Executive Director |
119 years. In some form or another, we've officially existed as a community of churches since about 1893. During those years we've had days of what appears to be divine blessing and also days of devilish decline. We've faced all the joys and disappointments just about any family faces.
And here we are . . . 119 years later . . . still carrying out Gospel ministry in the Southwest . . . still planting churches . . . still developing and sending missionaries . . . still caring for the needs in the communities and cultures around us . . . still developing leaders . . . still serving an active role in Christ's Kingdom. Churches have come and gone as well as leaders . . . what we stand for, have given our lives for continues to advance.
It really is all so much bigger than we realize on most days. Somehow, when I see the sweep of it all, even in a relatively short 119 year history, it gives me strength, extends my faith, makes me sense a connection to a living, powerful movement. Hope it does that for you, too.
This special edition of Connection Magazine has one purpose . . . to  connect you to a summary of the ministries and the business of our ministries for the latest year in our long associational life. Somehow, when you read the 2011 business meeting bulletin, I think you get a sense of that connection, not just to last year, but to history.
As one attendee of the meeting said, "There's encouraging information in this [bulletin] . . . exciting to read about what God is doing in our churches and the future He has for us."
And I think you'll agree. Even after more than a century of ministry life, I think we can say with confidence that God has a new and exciting season in front of us . . . a faith journey that will be anything but boring. So read, assess, evaluate, enjoy . . . then let's get on with our 120th year!
Bert
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