A Hopeful Vision in this Time

Dear Grace Van Family,

As protests erupt all around us revealing systemic issues of institutionalized racism that have plagued us as a race of people for generations, I wanted to pass on this video that was put together in 2017 by people in Nebraska very close to us. The Lead Musician in the video Crystal Davy has been the Music Director for 14 years at the church we planted called Grace Chapel. Mona Reeves, the African-American lady featured in the video is a dear woman we got to know in the late 90s when I was interning at our mother church. Renee Welstead is one of the singers at the end of the video, a white woman, mother of four African-American children (also featured in the video). Renee and her husband Ben were our first youth leaders in our church. There are others in the video who mean a lot to us as well. I forward it because though the video is called "I'm Not Fine," you'll see that it is a hopeful vision of shalom and the peace of God.

Coming off the Eastertide season, I want for us to keep our eyes on the "hope that does not disappoint because God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us" (Romans 5:5). The Gospel is bigger than even the greatest evils, sorrows and injustices in our world. I know it's not Christmas time, but I had this line from this great hymn running in my head today: 

"No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found."

Be blessed today friends,

Pastor Mike