God’s Got This!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me…I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world” (John 14:1; 16:33).

The Little Church and Lakewoodgrace is a congregation that loves, cares for, and serves God and God’s people. That is one of her greatest strengths and that is one of the things I love about being one of the pastors here.

This past week Steve George was taken to Seattle Veterans Hospital for a medical issue. As part of the admission process the hospital tested Steve for covid-19 where he tested positive. Steve is not showing covid symptoms and is in the best place for both covid and for his medical care. I ask for your strong prayers for Steve and Karen.

We have been in conversation with all who had contact and possible exposure to covid-19. All who have had possible exposure will be in quarantine and be tested. Everyone who had possible exposure are symptom free.

I assure you that the staff and I have taken steps to ensure the safety of all our members and staff. However, out of an abundance of caution:

• Due to a possible exposure to covid, Patsy, our office manager, and I will remain off campus until Nov. 2. Although we will be off campus, we will continue to be engaged in ministries and meetings by Zoom, phone, and email.
• No one who has had possible exposure is displaying symptoms. Please join us in praying that it continues to be so.
• The office areas (the only areas with possible exposure on the Little Church campus) have been thoroughly sanitized, and we will continue to do so.
• Should you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact me (253)588-6631.

This possible exposure on the Little Church campus did not occur at our worship services. It happened during the week in the office area.

As we move forward, know that the safety and the health of our staff and members are the top priority.

I ask you to join me in praying for the family. Pray for God’s healing and for protection for the family and for the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. Pray for those who may have had possible exposure. It’s never just prayer. Prayer is an awesome opportunity to enlist God’s favor and power for his church. So join me in praying for God’s will over the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace.

We will continue to do our utmost to keep our campus, staff, and people safe. We will continue to wear masks, practice safe distancing, and practice safe cleaning processes on campus. Most of all, we will continue to love, serve, and care for God’s people as we serve God’s church.

Jesus gathered with his disciples on the night of his arrest to prepare them for what they would be facing in the immediate hours and the days to come. That’s the context of John chapters 14-17. That’s the context of the above verses.

Jesus tells his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” because troubling times were mere minutes away. We too have had our share of troubled times lately.

What do believers do when facing troubled times? Jesus tells us, “Believe in God. Believe also in me.”

Why should we believe in God and in Jesus? What does that accomplish?

Jesus tells us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

That is great news. Yeah. It stinks that one of our own has covid. It stinks that there are others who might have been exposed to covid. But none of this changes the fact that God is God, God is in control, and that God is good. We will continue to be a loving, caring, and serving congregation.

So, take heart, Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. God’s got this!