We are so very happy for Mark and Meredith in their upcoming wedding on Saturday. Certainly it is their desire and mine that you will join in the celebration of their marriage with your attendance if at all possible. It is not often a church has the unique privilege of sharing in this very special occasion in the life of a minister. Most of the time when ministers come to a church who are not married, it is as an intern or early in full-time ministry. Not only is it a blessing for Mark and Meredith, but this has been like a learning lab for our students in particular, as well as other single adults. They have shown clearly what it means to wait upon the Lord and to have a relationship prior to marriage which honors faith commitments to the Lord.
Therefore, we rejoice with them and pray God’s most wonderful blessings to accompany them for the rest of their lives as husband and wife after Saturday. We are fully convinced that God will continue to use both of them in ministry to students and others. They will be able to do more for God’s Kingdom in ministry as one than either could have done alone as two people.
We praise the Lord for additions to our church in recent weeks. How exciting it is to see several professions of faith as well as other additions. I am especially pleased to see students and young families coming to our church. If this seems redundant to you, please forgive me. I need to remind you that the best way to grow the Lord’s work and our church is through positive relationships. Unchurched people are far more likely to come at the invitation of someone happy in his or her church than for any other reason.
Also, let me mention a statistic we should not take as unimportant for the church in today’s world. It was reported last week that the single adult population in this country has now surpassed married adults for the first time in our history. Churches, including ours, should take notice and be open to ministries that touch the needs of single adults, both never married as well as previously married, as well as those currently married.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday as well as Sunday.
L. Rick Marshall