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A Word from Bro. Jerry

Grief is a strange thing. It settles over us whenever we experience loss. Most profoundly, we feel it with the passing of a loved one, but grief is not limited to death alone. It can arise from the loss of a dream, a precious possession, or a cherished relationship. When our church building burned, we all felt grief in our own way. Each Sunday, the sight of the charred remains stands as a stark reminder of what once was.

Yet, the strange thing about grief is that, with time, its sharp edge softens. Gradually, a sense of hope takes root where sorrow once dominated. Grief doesn’t disappear entirely—there are still moments when a memory catches us off guard and the sadness returns. But these months after the fire, our grief has given way to something new—an abiding hope.

Hope has its own mystery. It is born out of faith. Even amidst our sadness, hope and grief can coexist. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NIV).

We will grieve our losses, but, as Paul reminds us, we do not do so as people without hope. Our hope is grounded in faith—in the very next verse, Paul declares, “For we believe…” Hope springs from our trust in God’s promises.

Hope is not just wishful thinking; it is confidence in the faithfulness of God. Our church is moving forward because our hope is anchored in God’s love for us. Every time we gather, we nurture that hope together, encouraging one another as Paul exhorted: “Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Let us continue to comfort each other, strengthening the hope that grows from our shared faith. Together, we will move forward—not by forgetting our losses, but by trusting that God will bring new life even from the ashes.