Pastor Chris' Letter June 2016

Dear Trinity Family,
           It sometimes seems like time flies. One year ago I was packing boxes and looking  forward with great  anticipation to coming and be your pastor.   I  remember being nervous about living and serving in a different place and worrying about all of the problems that come with transition. All of these feelings were outweighed by the excitement of getting the opportunity to be in ministry with all of you.
This  last  year  has lived up  to all of that anxious  anticipation  and excitement. Transitions are hard both for pastors and for congregations, but I thank you so much for the way that you all have welcomed me and my family to Kendallville. You have been patient with us as we transitioned into life and ministry in a new place,  and the excitement of being in ministry with you has been a blessing  to  see  Trinity  in action making disciples. Over the last year, I have seen Trinity invite the community over for a block party and to our  family  movie  night, “Inside Out,” where we had  a great time together. I was  delighted to see Trinity’s creativity and heart for the community as I experienced my first Apple Festival and we set up Rotten Apple Golf. I witnessed Trinity being the hands and feet of Jesus as we served over 700 Thanksgiving meals. I witnessed Trinity’s capacity to give as we raised $3500 for refugees around the world as a Christmas present for Jesus and as you supported our youth and children allowing for 16 youth to go to Momentum, 10 children to go to day camp, and 3 children to go to church camp. I personally experienced Trinity’s great gift for hospitality as you welcomed my family in many ways both great and small.   And I  witnessed the unifying power of this hospitality through the many FUN Team events over the last year. These events helped bring our church family which has two services but is one  church together  in both fun and creative ways. These events included  everything from game nights to  movie  nights  and, my personal favorite, celebrating my 31st birthday with the Trinity family at a Tin Caps game.
This list of exciting things only begins to highlight the marvelous opportunities that God has presented Trinity church with over the last year. Because of this I find myself in much the same position as I was last year, waiting with great anticipation to see the marvelous ways God is going to  work through Trinity  church  and how  I can be a part of that as I am in ministry with all of you. 


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