AN EASTER LETTER FROM PASTOR CODY

Dear Life Pointe Church Family, 

I doubt that I am the only one constantly comparing what life is like today with what it was like last year at this time. But I can’t help it. I think about it everyday. Last year during this week our staff was preparing for our first ever (and LORD willing the only one ever!) completely virtual Good Friday & Easter services. And leading up to Easter we were meeting with a handful of very special people who had recently come to faith in JESUS in order to baptize them and record it here at the church so we could show it during the service on Easter Sunday. I remember having so many things running through my head the day that we baptized them, most of the thoughts were things revolving around safety and what public opinion might be about what we were doing. But I will never forget the number one thing that kept coming to mind in those days was, “I miss the church.” Hearing those amazing testimonies and baptizing my friends was so special and I know that the LORD used their stories to encourage our church so much during those times, but when they came out of the water your cheers and celebrations were heartbreakingly absent. (The staff tried, by the way, to make up for it with lots of happy shouting and we’re a pretty loud staff, but there is just no replacing all of you!) And our longing to be together was at its deepest as soon as the Good Friday & Easter services were over. Our staff remembers it vividly and speak about it often. When we were done and the camera was switched off on Easter Sunday we all just stood around the room looking at each other with lumps in our throats and said, “Well, see you next week, I guess.” It felt so empty. So sad. So wrong. And I have never missed you so much as I did that day Life Pointe…

If I am honest though, I never want to forget that feeling. I never want to forget how much I missed you that day. I never want to fall back into some routine that begins to take for granted that we will be together on Sunday morning to sing with each other. I pray I will never again overlook the mostly small, seemingly insignificant things that I missed so desperately last year. Things like someone smiling at me from across the sanctuary or some quick small-talk before the service or a simple high-five or hug after the service. For all the things that I am loving about everything going back to normal, I hope my deep gratitude for getting to be together with you on Sundays only increases for the rest of my life. 

I know it is an understatement to point out what a strange 365 days these have been and it feels useless to guess what the next 365 will hold for us because who really knows? Like James advised, “…you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” I am trying to take this wisdom to heart this week because as a church we have lots of plans in the coming days. We are opening a brand new worship building in the coming weeks, we are planting a new church in the coming months, and we are hoping to see more and more people come to faith in JESUS in the coming years! And if the LORD wills we will live and do this and that. But for now, I am simply looking forward to this Friday when we will gather, not online, but in person around the LORD’s Table to remember the death of our SAVIOR on a cross. And I could never fully describe for you how much I am looking forward to this Sunday when we will gather with invited friends and family members to remember the resurrection of CHRIST and call for people to place their faith in HIM. I can’t wait! 

So, I just wanted to take some time at the beginning of this Holy Week to express my thankfulness for all of you and tell you that I am honored to be a member of this community of JESUS followers. And I wanted, if I can, to encourage you to prioritize this coming Friday and Sunday. Plan on gathering with us on those days. Plan on remembering the LORD with us on Friday and plan on celebrating with us on Sunday. Plan to be with us if for no other reason than the amazing grace that the LORD has shown us over the last year and for the incredible joy that it is to be together with the LORD’s people! 

I love you Life Pointe Church, I will see you soon. 

Gratefully, 

Cody