Over the years, Bethel Church has shown a great deal of care for me and my family in a number of different ways:
- After threats to give us a weekend on Mille Lacs in an ice house, you gave us instead a gift certificate to the Mall of America.
- Following in that tradition, you’ve blessed us with time together as a family by giving gift certificates to the waterpark in Otsego
- Last year, it was a coupon book with pictures, coupons and hand-written notes. While we haven’t taken advantage of all of the coupons and the offers there, we do appreciate your desire to show your love to us.
- We now have a calendar that we have begun to flip through on a daily basis. It’s fun to see your notes of encouragement and to think about the people behind them.
As thankful as I am for your gifts, I am even more thankful for how you have embraced my family.
- You don’t treat us as “the pastor’s family” nearly as much as you do “brothers and sisters in Christ.”
- You love my children and help Brenda and I as we raise them to love the Lord Jesus.
- You offer expressions of love and concern to Brenda and myself.
- You offer me your respect and honor without putting me on a pedestal or holding me at a distance.
In these and many other ways, you have loved me and my family. Thank you.
I am quite jealous of you and the support that your and your family get from our church. I was screaming at God and Matt’s church in my head while the Matt was in the process of leaving me to intervene. Help both of us with a more Godly perspective to serve the other instead of thinking of ourselves. But that wasn’t meant to be at that time. I still pray that God will intervene and lead Matt back to the desire to reconcile our marriage onto Him.
Love in Christ,