VAST EXPANSES—PAST & PRESENT
Sandra Kalland, Vice-President ABC/WI Board of Managers
I had the opportunity to sit by Lake Michigan this morning. As I looked out at the vastness of the water, and as the waves gently hit the shore, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Church. As I looked at the water it seemed to go on forever. There were beautiful shades of blue and green, and in gentle waves it extended to the horizon. In that moment I began to ponder the vastness of our God. His kingdom has no beginning and no ending. Our all loving Heavenly Father, who is and was and evermore shall be.
We are a part of the vastness and greatness of our God. We have been adopted into His kingdom as He reaches out to us with His arms of love.
This year we celebrate part of the vastness of His kingdom. As we come together for the Annual Gathering, we will be celebrating 175 years, a foundation of God moving amongst His people. One of the scriptures we were led to have for this gathering is: “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them” Isaiah 42:9 NKJV. We have a rich and wonderful foundation that has been laid for us by those who have gone before us. We will share stories and testimonies of the things that God has done over the past years, remembering His many blessings and trials that He has brought us through.
We will look and see what He is doing amongst our churches today. As we gather together, we will share with one another our struggles and triumphs while encouraging one another because together, truly we are stronger. As we share with one another, His Holy Spirit moves amongst us with inspiration and anoints us with His message, power, and love so that we can encourage one another and speak His message to the world around us.
We also look to that which He will yet do. As we surrender ourselves to Him with renewed vision and purpose and are strengthened by His Spirit, we will see His living water flow through our lives bringing sustenance, strength, and vitality to those around us. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” John 7:38 NKJV.
I pray that you will be able to join us at Green Lake as we gather together exulting the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remembering what He has done, encouraging one another in what He is doing today, and looking forward with hope and renewed vision to what He has yet to do.
This is your time, as we come together as the body of Christ, to be strengthened and renewed by the power of His Spirit. We will have times of worship and prayer. There are guest speakers who are preparing to come and speak into your lives, so that you will be quickened and strengthened to go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit and continue the work of His ministry that He may be glorified in and amongst us all. Come, join us with expectation and see what God will do.