This Sunday we celebrate City on a Hill's birthday! We're going to give God thanks for all he has done amongst us over these past eight years.
One of the things that I am most thankful to God is the number of people who were there right at the beginning who are still with us today. A quick look in the database tells me that there are 29 people who were at our first service on 8th November 2015 who are still with us at City on a Hill eight years later.
The reason this gives me joy is because it is this sort of long-term partnership in the gospel that is essential in planting and growing a healthy, faithful and effective church. This sort of commitment helps to stabilise a fledgling ministry and also leads to deep relationships of discipleship and connection that can only come over time.
This could clearly be seen last Saturday when we had a bunch of the OGs over for dinner. It was obvious to see the joy at being together and the depths of connection that had formed through many seasons of life. (There were four marriages and six children in the room who didn't exist 8 years ago!)
In a time and season where long-term commitment is on the decline and where we always want to always keep our options open, deep partnership is counter-cultural. It is increasingly common that we meet people who are allergic to commitment but yet they express feelings of disconnection and loneliness. It is not hard to see the connection between the two!
So as much as a birthday is a time to give thanks for what God has done, it is also a time to look forward to what he might yet do.
As we do look forward, why not commit to being here in 8 years time? Why not join in this deep, long-term partnership that bears much fruit for the gospel as well as richness and depth in relationships as well?
I want to remember the words of Paul in Philippians 1 who saw the immense value in deep gospel partnership,
'I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.'
Grace & peace,
Andrew