A Word from Lance

GOOD DAYS
by Lance Havens


God commanded celebration in the Old Testament—and for good reason. These are good days. God is good. He is carrying His church, and great things are happening.
When Samuel saw God’s faithfulness, he set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, meaning “thus far the Lord has helped us.” These moments of joy and progress—these Hallelujahs—are our Ebenezers.
Let me name a few recent ones:

• New seating in the auditorium
• More new members in the first four months of 2025 than in all of 2024
• The inspiring Ministry Spotlight series on Wednesday nights this spring
• Powerful summer lessons from our members on The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross
• And most recently, the installation of sound baffles in the Family Life Center

Each of these has a story behind it—stories of community, some even unlikely. For example, when Jim Noe and Bill Pursch organized the sound baffle installation, their crew included three teenage boys: Kip, Tell, and Hayden. Potential OSHA violations aside, it was a beautiful intergenerational experience—one that built community and strengthened faith.
I’m especially grateful for the minister transition. With patience, grace, and a lot of prayer, we’ve been able to seamlessly welcome Doug into the pulpit. In a time when many congregations struggle for months or even years to find a minister, we were blessed to overlap Tom’s final weeks and Doug’s first. This has been a gift to both men and to the entire ministry.
Yes, we still live in a fallen world. We still face obstacles. But in the midst of all the busyness, pause. Give thanks. Get involved. This is a special season.