September ~ Pastor's Message
Give thanks to the L
ORD
, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1
My Fellow Members of Bethany, Are you ready for some good news? I'll admit that the world in which we live has very little good news to report. The economy continues in a downward spiral which means a loss of jobs, dollars, and offerings. I don't know of any family that has not felt the pinch of today's economy. But in spite of all that, this article is going to be filled with nothing except good news. As our WELS president Mark Schroeder recently reminded us, the challenges that face our synod are nothing compared to what other church bodies are facing. Our challenges are purely financial. No one is arguing about doctrine. No one is fighting about the truth of God's Word. No one is debating what is Biblically moral and what is not. Our financial problems can slow our work. The problems faced by other church bodies can destroy their work. So, too, the challenges facing our congregation. Yes, we are struggling to meet our budget. But if we all dig a little deeper, we could easily meet that challenge. Other congregations are wrestling with unfaithful workers, declining enrollment in their schools, and parishoners who are not being served. Bethany, by the grace of God and only by the grace of God, retains a positive reputation based on faithful service. Money can restore lost opportunities based on financial losses. The loss of reputaion can hardly ever be recovered. Finally, many congregations are trying to carry out their work without the means to properly accomplish it. That is not our problem. For the first time in years we have all the space and materials to do what the Lord has asked us to do. As a matter of fact, the blessings that the Lord has given us are heading us to using our facility to full capacity. What a blessing in this age when numbers are going down! In summary, the Lord has blessed us in the most important ways. We are his children. He has redeemed us through our Lord Jesus. He has also given us both the materials and the people to carry out his work of proclaiming his gospel. May God lead us to be thankful for his goodness and his mercy today and always. On behalf of the pastors of Bethany Pastor Robert P. Kujawski
