A Note from Pastor

Jesus told His apostles, “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  (Matthew 10:21-22)
    As we celebrate Independence Day this year, pray for our nation and its leaders, the church, and for persecuted Christians everywhere.  While we may not be experiencing the kind of persecution Jesus described to His disciples, according to a recent news article, “A distressing uptick in global Christian persecution is spotlighted in the latest report from the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The report paints a grim picture, stating, "the merciless targeting of Christians, driven by hatred of Christians and the faith itself, emerges as a common denominator in hundreds of testimonies of persecution.” ACN’s annual report reveals that approximately 340 million Christians worldwide, roughly 1 out of every 7, currently reside in a country where they experience some form of persecution. These hostile acts range from arbitrary arrest, violence, and a slew of human rights violations, to even murder.”
     As we pray for those Christians who are bearing the cross for the name of Jesus, give thanks to God for the freedom of worship we still enjoy in our nation.  We should also remember to pray, that if persecution does come, we would remain steadfast in God’s Word, trusting Him, knowing that as Jesus said, “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”