I was overcome by feelings of humility and gratitude when I stood before the over six hundred who attended this year’s annual gathering! After joining our voices to sing “Blessed Assurance” and “I Have This Hope,” together we committed the evening to prayer using the text found in the attached PowerPoint presentation (click here).
To share with as many as possible what God did in 2018 and His vision for us in 2019, a video was made of my message and that of Bishop Lawrence (click here); the 2018 Annual Report had been previously posted on our webpage (click here). Among the many highlights of the evening were:
- The fellowship promoted during the dinner;
- The election of Joanne Byrd and Michael Simon to serve three-year terms on the Vestry;
- The affirmation of Lynelle Jensen and Don Hurst to join our Wardens as delegates to the 2019 Diocesan Convention;
- The accomplishments made possible thus far by The Present For The Future;
- The live broadcast of the groundbreaking for The Chapel at Cross Schools;
- The introduction of plans to launch Mision Cristiana de la Cruz; and
- The unveiling of a strategy for multiplying the effectiveness of every ministry by enhancing our connectedness and communications under the direction of Rebecca Hamilton.
The 2019 Annual Gathering moved toward a close with the faithful standing to sing “It Is Well” and “Because He Lives.” A benediction in Spanish from Pastor Juan preceded a spirited singing of “Build Your Kingdom Here” . . . it was a God-honoring evening for sure!
