Each week I close my Pastor’s Corner with the following:

God bless,

Jonathan Smith

For Jesus. For People. For Community.

Friends, I want you to know that this closing, or a valediction, has been an intentional choice of mine. In a world that is filled with people who are quick to tell you who and what they are against, I want the world to know who and what I’m for. I believe much of the division around us is rooted in drawing lines based on what we are against rather than what we are for. I know that if I talk with anyone for long enough, we will eventually find something we disagree about. However, I believe unity, peace, and hope are found when we stop focusing on what we are against and set our eyes on what we are for.

So, here’s why I close my Pastor’s Corner the way I do:

For Jesus – Jesus is my Savior and the Lord of my life. His life, death, and resurrection have saved my soul by grace through faith and opened eternity to me. Jesus has called me to bear witness to the Gospel and share it with those around me so that they might know him as Savior and Lord and experience eternity and abundant life with God. My allegiance is to Jesus and his Kingdom above all else. There is no banner that will fly higher in my life than that of Jesus. I believe that Jesus is the only hope for the redemption and restoration of all creation, and I do my best to make sure that my actions and attitudes honor him as I grow in my relationship with him.

For People – God sent Jesus to save sinners—broken people like you and me. John 3:16 tells us “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus’ mission is to meet and reconcile all people to himself. If that is the work my Savior and Lord is doing, then I want to be a part of it. I want to throw wide the doors of our church so that everyone who comes in can know God’s love for them.

For Community – There is something powerful that happens when people come together. When we are in relationship with one another new connections are built, hurts are healed, and we become more compassionate. Not only that, but when we, as Christians, are in community we can share Christ with one another and spur one another on in love. When we are in community with those outside of the faith, we can extend love and hospitality to share Christ with those who do not yet know him. A true, authentic community opens new opportunities for us to grow and be stretched for the sake of being a part of God’s Kingdom together.

The mission of our church is “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.” I believe we can best live into our mission by focusing on what we are for…Jesus, People, and Community.

 God bless,

Jonathan Smith
For Jesus. For People. For Community.