After celebrating eight years of God's faithfulness in building a thriving church community, it's time to reflect on the deeper calling beyond mere church attendance. The journey from a small group of 20 people to a flourishing congregation has been marked by trials, blessings, and answered prayers, but celebration should prepare us for what God has ahead, not keep us where we are.

Being rooted and growing isn't about adding more programs or activities—it's about becoming who God has called us to be as His people. Paul's words in Colossians 2:6-7 remind us that just as we received Christ through faith, we must continue living in Him through that same faith. The relationship that began with trust continues with trust, remaining rooted, built up, and strengthened in faith. This means understanding that salvation isn't a one-time event followed by self-effort, but an ongoing relationship of dependence on Christ.

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 gives us our true mission: making disciples, not just converts. This involves sharing the gospel, baptizing new believers, and teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded. True discipleship means being with Jesus in a relationship, being changed by Him, and living on mission with Him. The measure of a church's success isn't attendance numbers or financial giving, but whether people are making disciples because of our influence. Personal discipleship involves spending time with someone over a period, teaching them to follow God's ways, showing them how to study Scripture, and walking alongside them in spiritual growth. Every believer must honestly evaluate where they are spiritually and take their next step—whether following Jesus for the first time, growing intentionally, or beginning to disciple others.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
Be. Make. Multiply.

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The question of why a loving God allows suffering has troubled believers and skeptics for centuries. From a biblical perspective, suffering entered the world through humanity's rebellion against God, as described in Romans 5:12. When humans chose to push God aside, His goodness no longer resided with mankind in the same way, introducing sin, death, and suffering into creation. This affects everyone - rich and poor, famous and unknown - because we all live in this fallen condition.

Interestingly, modern progress hasn't eliminated suffering despite longer life expectancy, higher incomes, and better healthcare. Research shows rising rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and substance dependence even in developed nations. This suggests that external comfort cannot address the deeper spiritual needs of the human heart. Many Christians mistakenly believe God's primary role is ensuring their happiness, but His purposes often transcend our immediate comfort.

The Bible reveals that suffering can actually benefit us spiritually by softening our hearts toward God, provoking good works, increasing our appetite to seek Him, and allowing Him to reveal Himself more clearly. Examples like Joni Eareckson Tada, Nick Vujicic, and others demonstrate that suffering need not define us but can refine us. Christianity offers something unique among world religions: a God who entered into human suffering through Jesus Christ. Rather than demanding explanations from God, we can choose to draw closer to Him in times of difficulty, trusting His character even when we cannot understand His ways.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
Be. Make. Multiply.

multiplypeople.com

Marriage requires more than romantic feelings or grand gestures - it demands following biblical principles that create lasting relationships. The Bible distinguishes between different types of love, with agape representing the selfless, sacrificial love that God demonstrates toward humanity. This divine love serves as the foundation for marriages that endure through all of life's challenges.

Three biblical keys unlock the secret to making love last in marriage. First, husbands bear the responsibility for establishing the tone of love in their relationship, following Christ's example of loving the church sacrificially and unconditionally. This means loving regardless of circumstances or their spouse's actions. Second, couples must pray together regularly, not just for each other but with each other, creating a spiritual bond that draws them closer as they both seek God. Third, both partners must eliminate any backup plans or escape routes, committing fully to working through difficulties together rather than looking for ways out.

True biblical love operates differently from worldly love. While the world's version of love is often flashy but temporary, God's love is permanent, unconditional, and based on choice rather than feelings. This sacrificial love motivates couples to serve each other selflessly, showing patience during difficult times, kindness when tensions arise, and forgiveness when mistakes happen. When two broken people choose to love according to God's design, they create relationships capable of weathering any storm life brings their way.

Our mission is to multiply God’s Kingdom through being and making disciples everywhere.
Be. Make. Multiply.

multiplypeople.com