On The Road to Oak Grove Mennonite Church

Thank you for your continuing prayers!

I think that I am feeling particularly grateful today since I had my medical check up with the Center for Disease Control regarding my TB treatment. The blood test results indicate that my liver is in great shape. While the medication often causes damage, according to my doctor, the results indicate an uncharacteristic improvement in the liver function. So I am thanking God for answered prayers beyond our expectations.

We also had a great weekend in Ohio with the Oak Grove congregation. Friday and Saturday we met with individual Sunday School classes, as well as individual sessions with the church staff, the church board, and the spiritual council. On Sunday morning we had short sessions with the youth Sunday School class as well as a joint class of young adults and young marrieds. Then I preached in the the morning worship service.

After a carry-in meal there was a question and answer period for anyone of the congregation, which was very well attended. Actually all of the meetings were very well attended. I think that the search committee did an excellent job of planning the schedule and doing their work of preparation. We were very warmly received.

While it was a vigorous schedule I found it was very engaging and energizing. We came home exhausted but with a good sense of fulfillment. We are very positive about the investment of our time and energy in this process.

Now we are trying to wait patiently for the congregation to discern their next steps. They had a congregational meeting with opportunity for discussion with the search committee on Wednesday evening and will decide on Sunday, April 5 if they will accept their search committee and church board recommendations and invite us to come to Oak Grove.

We are blessed by your interest, your continued prayers and the goodness of God in the midst of this wilderness journey. As a recent devotional time learning put it:

"Beloved, do not try to get out of a dark place, except in God's time and in God's way. The time of trouble is meant to teach you lessons that you sorely need. . . You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God's will, but you harm and do not help the work."